In final recovery phase, Freeport LNG returns third LNG storage tank to service
Freeport LNG Development LP, Houston, has returned service to the third of the company's three 160,000-cu m LNG storage tanks with the approval of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) and the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
The storage tank had been offline for nearly 3 years after LNG piping to the tank was damaged in a June 8, 2022, explosion at Freeport LNG's natural gas liquefaction and LNG export plant in Quintana Island, Tex. (OGJ Online, June 9, 2022; Aug. 4, 2022; Dec.5, 2022).
Late in 2022, a report pinned the explosion on procedural and safeguard shortcomings (OGJ Online, Nov. 16, 2022).
Returning the third LNG storage tank safely back into service is the final phase of the company's recovery and restoration work that followed the incident, the company said in a release May 21 (OGJ Online, Feb. 2, 2023).
"Freeport LNG has emerged from this incident as a more resilient company, with an enhanced safety focus based largely on process safety management initiatives implemented across the organization after the June 8th incident. While the physical restoration is complete, our efforts in continuous improvement in process safety and operational excellence will continue each day,” said Michael Smith, Freeport LNG founder, chairman, and chief executive officer.
Since the incident, the company said, it has “implemented improvements to its organization, doubling the size of its operations and maintenance workforce and strengthening key leadership positions across the company.”
Over the past year, with two of its three LNG storage tanks in service, Freeport LNG said it “safely achieved record LNG production rates, most recently achieving an all-time company record LNG production month in April 2025.”
Freeport LNG developed, owns, and operates the three-train, 17-million tonnes/year (tpy), all-electric drive motor liquefaction plant. LNG export operations began in 2019 (OGJ Online, Sept. 4, 2019).
The company has plans to expand by adding a fourth liquefaction train, which has received all regulatory approvals for construction. The expansion will allow for the export of an additional 5 million tpy, increasing Freeport LNG’s total export capability to more than 20 million tpy of LNG.
