FERC granted Cheniere Energy Inc. affiliates' request to introduce natural gas to the East Meter Pipe project that will feed the Sabine Pass LNG export terminal.

The Dec. 22 order allows Sabine Pass Liquefaction LLC and Sabine Pass LNG LP to begin commissioning activities for the project, which will transport 2,100 MMcf/d from Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Co. LLC facilities to the existing feed gas header pipe at the terminal. The project is related to Transco's Gulf Trace expansion project.

FERC in August 2015 cleared the Sabine Pass pipeline project and Transco's Gulf Trace expansion project in an environmental assessment. The Transco expansion is under construction. Once complete, it will provide 1.2 MMDth/d of additional firm gas transportation capacity from the pipeline's Station 65 in St. Helena Parish, La., to Sabine Pass. (FERC docket CP15-482)

Sabine Pass has two liquefaction trains in service, with the third and fourth expected to reach substantial completion in 2017. Natural gas flows to the terminal reached an all-time high in November, peaking at 1.59 MMDth/d, the highest level since the facility began taking gas. (FERC dockets CP11-72, CP14-12)