Main Pass Energy Hub

This article is part of the Global Fossil Infrastructure Tracker, a project of Global Energy Monitor and the Center for Media and Democracy.

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Main Pass Energy Hub is a proposed LNG terminal in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, United States.

Location

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Project Details

• Parent: Freeport McMoRan Energy (50%), United LNG (50%)
• Location: in the Gulf of Mexico, off the coast of Louisiana, United States
• Coordinates: 29.85, -93.2 (approximate)
• Capacity: 24 mmtpa, 3.22 bcfd
• Status: Proposed
• Type: Export
• Trains: 6
• Start Year:

Note: mmtpa = million tonnes per year; bcfd = billion cubic feet per day

Background

Main Pass Energy Hub (MPEH) has applied to export about 3.22 Bcf/d of gas as LNG from a proposed facility in US federal waters 16 miles offshore Louisiana. MPEH is owned by Freeport McMoRan Energy and United LNG, with eachholding 50%. MPEH has applied to the US Department of Energy for authorization to export LNG to countries that have free trade agreements with the US. The company plans to file a separate application to export to non-FTA countries as well. The export project, which is slated to cost around $14 billion, is expected to begin construction of its first vessel in 2013 and begin operations in mid-2017. MPEH was authorized by the US Maritime Administration (MARAD) in January 2007 to construct an offshore facility for importing LNG. Due to market conditions, the import project was never built. Since the export project would be in federal waters, it would be permitted by MARAD.

The project, which would be located in 210 feet of water, would use five existing interconnected platforms and three existing satellite platforms, which were previously configured for sulfur mining. These platforms are owned by Freeport McMoRan Energy, which holds the sulfur and salt lease on MainPass Block 299. Processing facilities would be constructed on the platforms to prepare the gas for liquefaction. The project would also consist of six floating liquefaction trains and offloading vessels, which would cost roughly $2 billion each.

There is also a large salt dome under the hub that could be used to store gas and other energy products such as natural gas liquids and oil. The formation could store about 365 Bcf of gas. MPEH would have the potential to connect with nine major natural gas pipelines, according to the application.

As of April 2019, Global LNG Services said it had made significant progress on its wholly-owned Main Pass Energy Hub™ (MPEH) LNG export project in the Gulf of Mexico that will eventually export as much as 48 MTPA of LNG.