Port Arthur LNG, a Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) subsidiary, requested that the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) begin the pre-filing review for its proposed Port Arthur LNG facility in Port Arthur, Texas, Sempra said March 23.

The project includes two liquefaction trains handling about 10 million tonnes per year of LNG. This equates to 1.4 billion cubic feet per day (Bcf/d). There are two 160-Mcm storage tanks, marine facilities for vessels, NGL and refrigerant storage, truck loading and unloading areas and feed gas pre-treament, the company said.

On March 20, Port Arthur LNG also filed a permit application with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for authorization to export any LNG produced to all current and future Free Trade Agreement countries. It plans to submit an authorization to the DOE for export to non-FTA countries.

The proposed project would be on a portion of Sempra's nearly 2,900 acres, with three miles of waterfront on the Sabine-Neches Ship Channel. The property also has 1.25 miles of waterfront on the Intracoastal Waterway. FERC evaluated and certified the site in 2006 for a regasification facility and pipeline. The Texas Department of Transportation permitted potential relocation of part of State Highway 87.

The project is contingent on agreements and approvals being met.

The north and south ends of the Port Arthur LNG facility would be connected to intrastate and interstate pipeline segments from Sempra U.S. Gas & Power, if it is approved.

Port Arthur LNG is one of three liquefaction projects being developed by Sempra Energy, which is based in San Diego.