Freeport LNG shuts down Train 1 after fire, compressor trip at US facility: operator

Houston — One of Freeport LNG's three liquefaction trains remained shut down Oct. 26 as the operator assessed damage from a recent fire that was discovered after a compressor tripped at the Texas facility, according to a spokeswoman.

The disruption has sharply reduced utilization at the terminal south of Houston since the fire was discovered Oct. 21. Feedgas deliveries to the facility topped 2 Bcf/d that day, then fell to 1.5 Bcf/d the following day and were down further at 1.4 Bcf/d Oct. 26.

Spokeswoman Heather Browne declined to provide an estimate of when Train 1 will resume service.

In an e-mail responding to questions, Browne said a trip of the low-pressure mixed refrigerant compressor on Train 1 occurred on Oct. 21. While investigating the trip, officials discovered a small fire, which was put out. No gas was released, she said.

"The cause of the initial trip and damage assessment remains under investigation," Browne said.

Earlier this year, Freeport LNG delayed its target for making a final investment decision on whether to build a fourth liquefaction unit at its export facility until 2021, amid market and coronavirus pandemic-related challenges that have hurt development efforts.

Even with Train 1 being down at Freeport LNG, total US feedgas deliveries stood at 9.2 Bcf/d on Oct. 26, near pre-pandemic highs, S&P Global Platts Analytics data showed.

Fires have caused disruptions at several other US liquefaction terminals in recent months.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has asked Cheniere Energy for information related to a small fire involving Train 1 of its Sabine Pass LNG facility in Louisiana that occurred on Oct. 11. According to Cheniere, the fire was identified on a piece of equipment within a thermal oxidizer. There are five trains that have been completed at Sabine Pass and a sixth under construction.

In May, a fire at Kinder Morgan's Elba liquefaction facility in Georgia occurred in a mixed refrigerant compressor of Unit 2, shutting down that unit and temporarily, as a precaution, two adjacent units.

Elba, the smallest of the six major US liquefaction facilities, has 10 trains and a capacity of 2.5 million mt/year. The terminal near Savannah -- originally built to import LNG and later converted to handle exports after the US shale revolution -- utilizes Shell's Movable Modular Liquefaction System design.