Golden Pass Becomes Ninth U.S. LNG Terminal

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Written by Daniel Graeber for IIR News Intelligence (Sugar Land, Texas)

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Summary

Feed gas levels show the Golden Pass export facility for liquefied natural gas is in the commissioning phase. That makes it the ninth terminal in operation in the United States.

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Golden Pass Open for Business

The U.S. supported its position as the sector's global leader with the commissioning of the Golden Pass facility in Texas.

Subscriber-based Breaking Energy News (BEN) reported that Golden Pass had entered the commissioning phase, with feed gas running at around 303 million cubic feet on Wednesday.

"The facility, set to become the ninth U.S. LNG export terminal, continues to ramp up ahead of its first commissioning cargo," Maria Sanchez, a senior natural gas analyst at IIR Energy, wrote in the Wednesday NATGAS Today report.

Natural gas to the facility started at a trickle earlier this year. U.S. federal regulators in mid-December gave joint venture partners Exxon Mobil Corporation and Qatar Energy the green light to start operations from the first liquefaction unit, or train.

With a total investment value of $3.8 billion, the facility will eventually churn out 5.2 million metric tons per annum (MTPA) of LNG. The first phase is expected to be completed before this month is out.

Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Oil & Gas Project and Plant databases can learn more about Golden Pass--including capacities, investment values and necessary equipment--in a detailed project report and plant profile.

U.S. Anchors No. 1 Spot

Natural gas inputs into all U.S. functioning terminals reached 19.09 billion cubic feet on Wednesday. That compares with the 9.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) in expected pipeline exports, solidifying the U.S. position as the world leader in LNG exports.

U.S. President Donald Trump used executive action last year to pursue global energy dominance, singling out LNG exports as part of the strategy. Volumes last year were supported by Venture Global's Plaquemines facility in Louisiana. In November, the company filed an application with the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) to increase the LNG export capacity by 30 MTPA, adding on to the 28 MTPA that's already been sanctioned.

With a design capacity of 3.8 Bcf/d in feed gas volumes, Plaquemines is already the second-largest LNG export terminal in the U.S., after Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass terminal in Louisiana.

GMI subscribers have access to the plant profiles for Plaquemines and Sabine Pass.

By the Numbers

• 303 million cubic feet running to Golden Pass
• Nine operational U.S. LNG export facilities
• 19 Bcf in total feed gas on Wednesday

While the Trump administration is pressing hard for more LNG facilities, the market could be approaching a glut. Meanwhile, the feed gas commitments are giving rise to concerns that they could be eating into domestic supplies, given that 40% of U.S. households get their heat and electricity from natural gas.

Based on federal estimates, the U.S. LNG export capacity is on pace to increase by 10% by next year, while total U.S. natural gas production is expanding by only 1.3%. Henry Hub, the U.S. benchmark for the wholesale price of natural gas, was trading at around $3 per million British thermal units (MMBtu) on Wednesday. The government expects it to average $4.48 per MMBtu this year, about 20% higher than the average for 2025.

As recently as November, market participants had concerns about prices. Anatol Feygin, the chief commercial officer for Cheniere Energy, said U.S. feed gas could be as high as 40 Bcf/d within the next few years, putting further support behind Henry Hub.

Key Takeaways

• Golden Pass is the latest U.S. LNG facility
• Trump administration can herald the sector's success
• Too much LNG commitments could lead to higher consumer bills

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About IIR News Intelligence
IIR News Intelligence is a trusted source of news for the industrial process and energy markets, powered by Industrial Info Resources' Global Market Intelligence (GMI).

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 250,000 current and future projects worth $30.2 Trillion (USD).