Two LNG terminals receive commissioning cargoes

July 14, 2009
Two more land-based LNG regasification terminals received first cargoes in the last few days.

Warren R. True
OGJ Chief Technology Editor-LNG/Gas Processing

HOUSTON, July 14 -- Two more land-based LNG regasification terminals received first cargoes in the last few days.

Over the weekend, a BG Group-owned LNG carrier tied up at the Quintero LNG regasification terminal in Chile. On July 14, Dragon LNG, the UK’s third land-based terminal and second in Milford Haven in Wales, saw the arrival of another BG Group-owned carrier with its first commissioning cargo.

South America
The 145,000-cu m Methane Jane Elizabeth docked at the Quintero LNG regasification terminal, about 65 miles west of Santiago. The cargo was loaded at Atlantic LNG in Trinidad and Tobago.

The vessel is from BG Group’s fleet of LNG carriers; BG also holds a 40% interest in GNL Quintero SA, which will operate the terminal. Other partners in the project are the Chilean national oil and gas company ENAP (20%), power company Endesa Chile (20%), and gas distribution company Metrogas SA (20%).

BG Group signed a 21-year LNG sales and purchase agreement 2 years ago to supply the terminal with up to 1.7 million tonne/year of LNG. The company said in its press release that, once fully operational, the terminal will have the capacity to meet up to 40% of Chile's current demand for natural gas.

The Quintero terminal will include two 160 000-cu m LNG storage tanks.

UK
On July 14, another BG Group LNG carrier, the 145,000-cu m Methane Lydon Volney, docked at Dragon LNG in which BG Group holds a 50% interest. Its cargo was also from Atlantic LNG.

In addition, BG Group has an agreement to use up to 50% of the terminal's sendout capacity for the next 20 years.

Dragon LNG has built and will operate the 4.4 million tpy terminal. Equity partners in Dragon LNG, besides BG Group, are Petronas (30%), and 4Gas (20%). BG Group (50%) and Petronas (50%) also have agreements governing capacity rights for a 20-year term, allowing them each 2.2 million tpy of throughput.

Dragon LNG is near the South Hook LNG terminal that began operation in March and in April received the first cargo out of the newly completed 15.6 million tpy Qatargas 2 project (OGJ Online, Apr. 6, 2009). South Hook is a joint venture of ExxonMobil, Total, and Qatar Petroleum.

In the next week or so, the Qatari Q-Max (266,000 cu m) LNG carrier Bu Samra will arrive at South Hook from Ras Laffan in Qatar.

Contact Warren R. True at [email protected].