The two LNG export terminals in Louisiana continued to operate normally after a powerful hurricane pummeled the southeastern part of the state.
Total flows to the six major U.S. LNG export facilities were about 10.6 Bcf/d on Aug. 29, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence pipeline flow data. These flows were consistent with feedgas delivery volumes over recent weeks as favorable global gas market dynamics have kept the facilities running at close to full capacity for months.
At Cheniere Energy Inc.'s flagship Sabine Pass LNG export terminal in Cameron Parish in southwestern Louisiana, feedgas deliveries remained at about 3.5 Bcf/d. The terminal is the biggest LNG export facility in the country.
"Sabine Pass sustained no damage from Hurricane Ida, produced LNG as normal throughout the storm, and full operations including shipping have returned to normal conditions," Cheniere spokesperson Eben Burnham-Snyder said in an email Aug. 30. "Our thoughts are with our Louisiana neighbors affected by this storm, and we stand ready to assist in recovery efforts."
At the Sempra-led Cameron LNG facility in Hackberry, La., south of Lake Charles, feedgas deliveries were about 1.8 Bcf/d.
"Hurricane Ida made landfall in southeast Louisiana and did not affect operations at Cameron LNG," Cameron spokesperson Anya McInnis said in an email. "Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the storm as they begin the recovery process."
The Sabine Pass and Cameron LNG plants have a combined capacity to produce about 40 million tonnes of LNG per year from eight liquefaction trains. That is expected to increase to about 45 Mt/y when Cheniere starts up its sixth liquefaction train at Sabine Pass by the end of the year.
Ida made landfall at about 11:55 a.m. CT on Aug. 29 in southeastern Louisiana as a Category 4 hurricane with winds up to 150 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center. The first landfall of the powerful storm was reported near Port Fourchon, La., which is about 100 miles southwest of New Orleans. The storm left more than 1 million residents of the Gulf Coast, primarily Entergy Corp. customers, stuck without power as of Aug. 30.
The storm came almost exactly a year after Hurricane Laura blew through southwestern Louisiana. Sabine Pass and Cameron LNG were both forced to temporarily shut down operations after that storm, although it occurred during a period of widespread cancellations of U.S. cargoes due to low international prices and weak demand exacerbated by the coronavirus pandemic. After Hurricane Laura, Cheniere was able to restart operations more quickly than Cameron LNG because it produces power on-site.