FERC approves Venture Global pipeline expansion to feed Plaquemines LNG plant
The US Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) Sep. 10 continued its push to boost supply to LNG export plants by approving the Gator Express pipeline expansion bring an additional 627,000 dekatherms/day (Dth/d) to Venture Global’s Plaquemines LNG plant about 20 miles south of New Orleans, La.
FERC’s certificate allows Gator Express, also owned by Venture Global, to uprate its 26.8-mile, 42-in. OD line, now capable of transporting 3.9 million Dth/d, to 4.6 million Dth/d. The expansion involves no new construction or modifications to the pipeline and infrastructure that were put in service in late 2024. After entering service, Venture Global found that the pipeline experienced less internal frictional loss and less pressure drop than originally modeled, but it needed FERC’s approval before increasing horsepower and begin physically flowing more gas through the line.
The commission dismissed environmental protests that the higher operating pressure should be studied for safety and found that Venture Global demonstrated need for the pipeline’s increased throughput.
Plaquemines LNG plant during constructionPlaquemines LNG plant is exporting at its full authorized levels of 3.85 billion cubic feet per day (bcfd)–roughly equal to about 3.85 million Dth/d–to both Free Trade Agreement (FTA) and non-FTA nations, accounting for up to 16% of total US daily outbound LNG shipments. If approved, its Phase 3 expansion, totaling over 58–65 million tonnes/year, would raise capacity to about 6.1-6.3 bcfd, making it the largest single LNG export plant in North America.
At the same meeting, FERC authorized the construction and operation of the $1.1 billion Kosciusko Junction Pipeline Project in Mississippi to bring 1.175 million Dth/d of incremental firm transportation capacity to growing power-generation, industrial, and downstream delivery markets across the Southeast.
Jointly proposed by Gulf South Pipeline Co. and Texas Gas Transmission (Boardwalk Pipeline subsidiaries), the project involves constructing the 102.9-mile Kosciusko Junction Pipeline and the 8.1-mile Columbia Gulf Lateral. It also includes Texas Gas abandoning and selling its 98-mile Greenville Lateral and Isola Compressor Station to Gulf South, followed by major compressor and meter station expansions.
About the Author
Cathy Landry
Washington Correspondent
Cathy Landry has worked over 20 years as a journalist, including 17 years as an energy reporter with Platts News Service (now S&P Global) in Washington and London.
She has served as a wire-service reporter, general news and sports reporter for local newspapers and a feature writer for association and company publications.
Cathy has deep public policy experience, having worked 15 years in Washington energy circles.
She earned a master’s degree in government from The Johns Hopkins University and studied newspaper journalism and psychology at Syracuse University.