FERC approves pipeline for LNG terminal off Florida

By OGJ editors
HOUSTON, Dec. 7 -- The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved construction of an onshore pipeline to connect with the proposed Port Dolphin deepwater LNG port off western Florida.

Construction is to begin in 2012 with completion in 2013. The terminal would lie 28 miles off Tampa Bay and, with LNG carriers especially designed to regasify LNG, deliver natural gas through a subsea pipeline into the state's pipeline system 4 miles inland from Port Manatee.

Port Dolphin will have peak sendout capacity of up to 1.2 bcfd, said the company’s announcement, enough to power more than 1 million homes. At full operation, the terminal can meet 15% of Florida's projected gas demand, it said.

The FERC order follows approval last month of the Port Dolphin terminal project by the US Maritime Administration and US Coast Guard (OGJ Online, Nov. 3, 2008). And that action followed formal approval of the proposed project in September by Florida Gov. Charlie Crist.

Port Dolphin is a subsidiary of Hoegh LNG, which operates a fleet of five LNG carriers, including a recently added shuttle and regasification vessel. In addition to transporting LNG, these vessels act as floating terminals while delivering gas to markets.

Hoegh said it is developing several deepwater LNG terminals based on SRV/floating storage and regasification unit technology (OGJ, July 27, 2009, p. 33).