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Released November 24, 2025 | SUGAR LAND
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Written by Daniel Graeber for Industrial Info Resources (Sugar Land, Texas)
IIR Energy in its NATGAS TODAY report from November 21 found that the amount of natural gas flowing to the operational export terminals for LNG was down to 17.8 billion cubic feet due to lower volumes at Freeport.
Freeport can handle as much as 2.37 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in feed gas deliveries, and the facility was operating at only 80% of its design capacity as of Friday. Subscribers can read the Breaking Energy News (BEN) feature on Freeport that was delivered to clients late last week.
The Texas facility has experienced regular issues since operations began in 2019. Feed gas dropped in half, from 1.8 billion cubic feet to 900 million cubic feet, in early November, and then moved as low as 400 million cubic feet after the Gulf South Pipeline, one of nine arteries feeding the Freeport terminal, said deliveries were suppressed after the operator failed to take confirmed quantities at a delivery meter.
Boardwalk Pipeline's (Houston, Texas) Gulf South network declared force majeure in March due to a "weather-related impact to downstream third-party facilities." The outage forced Freeport LNG, the fourth-largest LNG export facility by feed gas volume, to take all three of its liquefaction units, or trains, offline.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Oil & Gas Plant Database can learn more from a detailed Freeport LNG plant profile.
The United States emerged as the world leader in LNG exports during the early stages of the war in Ukraine, helping to offset the loss of Russian deliveries due to sanctions. Since his return to office in January, President Donald Trump has pressed hard for more LNG options, dusting off projects in Alaska and along the Gulf Coast.
On Thursday, the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Riyadh) signed a handful of memoranda of understanding for U.S. LNG, though the facilities in question are facing construction delays for various reasons. Several studies, meanwhile, have suggested the LNG market is getting saturated and import-dependent regions such as Europe face over-reliance on U.S. supplies.
Much of the gain came from states such as Oklahoma and Wyoming, which helped push mid-continental gas volumes up nearly 10% from October levels. But gas production levels might not be able to keep pace with the expected surge in LNG volumes.
Venture Global (Arlington, Virginia) already filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) to increase the export capacity for LNG by 30 million metric tons per year (MTPA), adding on to the 28 MTPA that's already been sanctioned from its Plaquemines facility in Louisiana.
Delivering a video address to last month's Gastech conference, meanwhile, Vivek Chandra, the chief executive officer of Gulfstream LNG, which is proposed for Louisiana, said there is "way too much" LNG expected from the United States, which could be "a recipe for disaster."
Based on U.S. Department of Energy estimates, inland natural gas production is on pace to increase by only 0.3% next year, while LNG export volumes should climb by 6.6% annually in 2026.
By the Numbers
About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
Summary
The Freeport LNG terminal in Texas saw feed gas volumes decline. Natural gas production is holding up, but year-on-year gains might not keep up with increases in LNG exports.Freeport Feed Gas at About 80%
Issues at the Freeport, Texas, terminal for exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) once again curtailed the amount of feed gas running to the U.S. Gulf Coast, data from IIR Energy showed.IIR Energy in its NATGAS TODAY report from November 21 found that the amount of natural gas flowing to the operational export terminals for LNG was down to 17.8 billion cubic feet due to lower volumes at Freeport.
Freeport can handle as much as 2.37 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in feed gas deliveries, and the facility was operating at only 80% of its design capacity as of Friday. Subscribers can read the Breaking Energy News (BEN) feature on Freeport that was delivered to clients late last week.
The Texas facility has experienced regular issues since operations began in 2019. Feed gas dropped in half, from 1.8 billion cubic feet to 900 million cubic feet, in early November, and then moved as low as 400 million cubic feet after the Gulf South Pipeline, one of nine arteries feeding the Freeport terminal, said deliveries were suppressed after the operator failed to take confirmed quantities at a delivery meter.
Boardwalk Pipeline's (Houston, Texas) Gulf South network declared force majeure in March due to a "weather-related impact to downstream third-party facilities." The outage forced Freeport LNG, the fourth-largest LNG export facility by feed gas volume, to take all three of its liquefaction units, or trains, offline.
Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Oil & Gas Plant Database can learn more from a detailed Freeport LNG plant profile.
Deliveries High, Saudis Keen on More
Five of the 34 vessels laden with LNG left from Freeport during the seven-day period ending November 19, the U.S. Department of Energy reported. Most vessels departed from Sabine Pass, Louisiana, the largest of the operational LNG export terminals.The United States emerged as the world leader in LNG exports during the early stages of the war in Ukraine, helping to offset the loss of Russian deliveries due to sanctions. Since his return to office in January, President Donald Trump has pressed hard for more LNG options, dusting off projects in Alaska and along the Gulf Coast.
On Thursday, the Saudi Arabian Oil Company (Riyadh) signed a handful of memoranda of understanding for U.S. LNG, though the facilities in question are facing construction delays for various reasons. Several studies, meanwhile, have suggested the LNG market is getting saturated and import-dependent regions such as Europe face over-reliance on U.S. supplies.
Gas Production Supportive -- For Now
Total natural gas production from the shale basins in the Lower 48 states was holding at around 109 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d), nearly 3% above month-ago levels, IIR Energy reported on Friday.Much of the gain came from states such as Oklahoma and Wyoming, which helped push mid-continental gas volumes up nearly 10% from October levels. But gas production levels might not be able to keep pace with the expected surge in LNG volumes.
Venture Global (Arlington, Virginia) already filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) to increase the export capacity for LNG by 30 million metric tons per year (MTPA), adding on to the 28 MTPA that's already been sanctioned from its Plaquemines facility in Louisiana.
Delivering a video address to last month's Gastech conference, meanwhile, Vivek Chandra, the chief executive officer of Gulfstream LNG, which is proposed for Louisiana, said there is "way too much" LNG expected from the United States, which could be "a recipe for disaster."
Based on U.S. Department of Energy estimates, inland natural gas production is on pace to increase by only 0.3% next year, while LNG export volumes should climb by 6.6% annually in 2026.
By the Numbers
- 80%: peak capacity for feed gas at Freeport LNG
- 6.6%: annual increase in LNG exports expected for 2026
- 0.3%: annual increase in U.S. shale natural gas production by the end of 2025
- Freeport LNG has experienced issues since operations began.
- "Way too much" LNG is expected from the U.S., Gulfstream LNG has said.
- Aramco inks U.S. LNG MOUs.
About Industrial Info Resources
Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).
