Delfin LNG (Delfin LNG, LLC)

Deepwater Port Type: LNG Export Facility (Average throughput capacity: 585 million standard cubic feet per day; Peak throughput capacity: 657.50 million standard cubic feet per day)

On May 8, 2015, the Maritime Administration received an application from Delfin LNG, LLC for Federal authorization required for a license to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port to export natural gas to foreign markets abroad.  The application was deemed complete on June 29, 2015, and a Notice of Application acknowledging receipt of the completed application was published in the Federal Register on July 16, 2015 (80 FR 42162).  On March 13, 2017, the Maritime Administration issued its Record of Decision approving the project with certain technical, financial, and environmental conditions.

On April 8, 2023, Delfin LNG submitted an Environmental Impact Assessment to both the Maritime Administration and the USCG that incorporated project changes that had taken place since the issuance of the Record of Decision.  On July 19, 2023, Delfin LNG submitted an updated financial plan to the Maritime Administration.  On April 17, 2024, the Maritime Administration notified Delfin LNG that after a thorough review of the new financial and operational plan submitted by Delfin LNG, there was a need for the applicant to submit an amended deepwater port license application.

For additional information regarding Delfin LNG, please see the Federal Docket for the project at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number: USCG-2015-0472).

Blue Marlin (Blue Marlin Offshore Port LLC)

Port Type: Oil Export Facility. Proposed capacity: 80,000 barrels per hour; 1,920,000 barrels per day.

On October 1, 2020, Blue Marlin Offshore Port, LLC (BMOP) submitted an application to the Maritime Administration (MARAD) and the United States Coast Guard (USCG) for the ownership, construction, operation and eventual decommissioning of an offshore oil export terminal under the statutory authority provided by the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, as amended.  MARAD and USCG will serve as co-lead agencies for review of the application.

BMOP is proposing to construct, own and operate a deepwater port terminal in the Gulf of Mexico to export domestically produced crude oil.  Use of the deepwater port would include the loading of various grades of crude oil at flow rates of up to 80,000 barrels per hour (bph).  The BMOP deepwater port would allow for up to one Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) or other crude oil carriers to moor at the catenary anchor leg mooring (CALM) and connect with the deepwater port via floating connecting crude oil hoses. The maximum frequency of loading VLCCs or other crude oil carriers would be approximately two million barrels per day, 365 days per year.

MARAD and USCG determined the application was complete on October 22, 2020.  A Notice of Application announcing public availability of the application was posted in the Federal Register on November 4, 2020 (85 FR 70233).  The project has been assigned a Federal Docket Management System ID of MARAD-2020-0127 and public comments may be submitted to that docket through the www.regulations.gov website.  The BMOP application materials may also be viewed on the docket.

The virtual open houses and public scoping meetings were scheduled for December 2, 2020 and December 3, 2020, for the communities of Cameron Parish, Louisiana and Jefferson County and Orange County, Texas. A Notice of Intent announcing this meeting was published in the Federal Register on November 5, 2020 (85 FR 70707) and is available on the public docket at www.regulations.gov under docket number MARAD 2020-0127.  Meeting notices were also placed in the local newspaper and social media.

Currently, the statutory processing clock for the BMOP deepwater application is on hold for receipt of additional technical and environmental information from the applicant.  The statutory clock will remain on hold until the required information is received, evaluated and deemed sufficient.

For additional information regarding this proposed port as well as the deepwater port application review and licensing process, see the Federal Docket for the for the application at www.regulations.gov (Docket number MARAD-2020-0127).

Bluewater (Bluewater Texas Terminals LLC)

Port Type: Oil Export Facility. Proposed capacity: 80,000 barrels per hour; 1,920,000 barrels per day.

On May 30, 2019, the Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard received an application from Phillips 66 for all Federal authorizations required for a license to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port to export domestically produced crude oil.  The application was deemed complete on June 20, 2019, and a Federal Register Notice of Application was issued to that effect on June 26, 2019 (84 FR 30301).  Texas is the Adjacent Coastal State for this project.  The proposed Bluewater deepwater port terminal would be located approximately 15 nautical miles off the coast of San Patricio County, Texas, in a water depth of 89 feet. 

The proposed project involves designing, engineering, and constructing an offshore deepwater port, approximately 56.48 miles of pipeline infrastructure, and a booster station.  The Bluewater project would allow for up to two (2) very large crude carriers (VLCCs) or other crude oil carriers to moor at single point mooring (SPM) buoys and connect with the deepwater port via floating connecting crude oil hoses.  During single vessel loading operations, the proposed project would be capable of loading rates of up to approximately 80,000 barrels per hour (bph), and during simultaneous vessel loading operations, capable of loading rates of 40,000 bph.  The facility is expected to service 16 Very Large Crude Carriers (VLCCs) per month.

The Maritime Administration, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, hosted an open house and public scoping meeting on Monday, July 22, 2019, in Corpus Christi, Texas, for the Bluewater deepwater port license application.  A Federal Register Notice was published on August 15, 2019 (84 FR 41806) to advise the public that the public scoping comment period was extended to August 30, 2019. On November 7, 2019, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the regulatory timeline for the Bluewater deepwater port license application. A Federal Register notice was published on August 7, 2020 (85 FR 48070 to announce the receipt and availability of project scope changes for the Bluewater Deepwater Port license application. The statutory timeline was restored on January 8, 2021, retroactive to October 23, 2020, due to the applicant providing adequate responses to information requests related to the application review and development of the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. In a letter dated April 18, 2022, and after a thorough review of further environmental information, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard decided to suspend the regulatory timeline to allow the applicant to gather all the necessary information needed for the EIS review.

The Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard issued a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) for the proposed project.  The DEIS and the appendices are available for public viewing in the www.regulations.gov site, docket: MARAD-2019-0094. The DEIS included a 45-day public comment period that started on the date of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) publication of the DEIS on October 29, 2021. Comments on the DEIS were accepted until December 13, 2021. The public comments received during this time will aid the federal agencies during the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) preparation period, which is expected to occur in the year 2023.  The DEIS document and the Executive Summary, both in English and Spanish, are now available for public review on the www.regulations.gov website.  Further, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard held an open house informational website at (www.BluewaterEIS.com] and a virtual public meeting on the DEIS, which was held on Thursday, November 18, 2021.

For additional information regarding this proposed port and deepwater port application review and licensing process, see the Federal Docket for the application at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number MARAD-2019-0094).

New Fortress Energy Louisiana FLNG (New Fortress Energy Louisiana FLNG, LLC)

Port Type: Gas Export Facility. Proposed capacity 2.8 MTPA.

On March 31, 2022, the Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard received an application from New Fortress Energy Louisiana FLNG for all Federal authorizations required for a license to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port to export domestically produced natural gas.   After a coordinated completeness review by the Maritime Administration, the U.S. Coast Guard, and other cooperating Federal agencies, the application was deemed complete on April 21, 2022. Accordingly, a Federal Register Notice of Application was issued on April 25, 2022. (87 FR 24388)

The proposed deepwater port will be located approximately 16 nautical miles off the southeast coast of Grand Isle, Louisiana. The Project proposes to source domestic natural gas from multiple supply hubs in the Southeast Louisiana local market, liquefy, and export the gas as LNG up to 2.8 million metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) from the deepwater port.

The Project will involve the installation of two nominal 1.4 MTPA liquefaction systems (FLNG1 and FLNG2) installed in the West Delta Outer Continental Shelf Lease Block 38 (“WD-38”) in approximately 30 meters (98 feet) of water. Each system will contain three platforms consisting of natural gas processing, natural gas liquefaction, and utilities and accommodations. FLNG1 will incorporate self-elevating platforms (known as jack-up platforms or rigs) and FLNG2, which will be located adjacent to FLNG1 and will utilize fixed platform structures. The gas processing platform of FLNG2 would also include gas compression equipment. Other than temporary construction staging areas, there are no onshore facilities associated with the Project. Staging for construction, if needed, will utilize existing staging, lay down, and warehouse space near Port Fourchon, Grand Isle, and / or Venice.

The feed gas supply to the Project will be transported to the WD-38 site via the existing Kinetica Energy Express, LLC (“Kinetica”) offshore natural gas pipeline system and two newly constructed 24-inch pipeline laterals connecting the Kinetica pipeline system to the Project. The Kinetica pipeline has been in continuous natural gas service since it was placed in service. The pipeline pressure is currently operating at 750 pounds per square inch (“psi”) with an onshore Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (“MAOP”) of 1,000 psi and an offshore MAOP of 1,250 psi.

Both FLNG1 and FLNG2 will be connected to a single Floating LNG Storage Unit (“FSU”) via a flexible, partially submerged, 220-meter cryogenic hose transfer system. The FSU will be positioned approximately 107 meters (350 feet) from the FLNGs. To export the LNG, the FSU will receive one (1) commercially traded LNG carrier (LNGC) at a time, with a nominal cargo capacity of approximately 125,000 m3 to 160,000 m3. The LNGCs will berth along the starboard side of the FSU and receive the LNG cargo through a ship-to-ship transfer cargo transfer system. The LNGC will approach the DWP and depart from the DWP using an extension to the established safety fairway, which serves maritime traffic calling at the Louisiana Offshore Oil Port. Approximately 40 LNGCs will call on the Project per year. Information can be found online about the Project at http://louisianaflngnepaprocess.com.

On August 16, 2022, MARAD and the USCG suspended ("issue stop clock") the statutory timeframe required by 33 U.S.C. §§ 1504(g) and 1504(i)(4), and 33 CFR § 148.276. MARAD and the USCG restarted the statutory clock on October 28, 2022. On November 28, 2022, MARAD and the USCG issued a second stop clock. The "stop clock" will remain in effect until MARAD and the USCG review the required information and determine that the requested information is sufficient to resume preparation of the DEIS.

For additional information regarding this proposed port and the deepwater port application review and licensing process, see the Federal Docket for the application at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number MARAD-2022-0076).

GulfLink (Texas GulfLink LLC)

Port Type: Oil Export Facility. Proposed capacity: 85,000 barrels per hour; 1,000,000 barrels per day.

On May 30, 2019, the Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard received an application from Texas GulfLink for all Federal authorizations required for a license to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port for the export of domestically produced crude oil. The deepwater port would be located approximately 26.6 nautical miles off the coast of Brazoria County, Texas, in a water depth of approximately 104 feet. The Texas GulfLink application was deemed complete on June 20, 2019, and a Federal Register Notice of Application was issued to that effect on June 26, 2019 (84 FR 30298).

Texas GulfLink LLC proposes to construct, own, and operate a deepwater port terminal in the Gulf of Mexico. The proposed project involves the design, engineering, and construction of a deepwater port, and one fixed offshore platform with piles in Outer Continental Shelf Galveston Area Lease Block 423, approximately 45 statute miles of pipeline infrastructure, and a booster station. The Texas GulfLink deepwater port would allow for up to two (2) very large crude carriers (VLCCs) to moor at single point mooring (SPM) buoys and connect with the deepwater port via floating connecting crude oil hoses. Although two VLCCs can be moored to the deepwater port simultaneously, only one can be loaded at a time. The proposed project is capable of loading rates of up to approximately 85,000 barrels per hour.

An open house and public scoping meeting were held on Wednesday, July 17, 2019, in Lake Jackson, Texas. A Federal Register Notice was published on September 6, 2019 (84 FR 47059) to advise the public that the public scoping comment period was extended to September 24, 2019.

On November 8, 2019, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the regulatory timeline for additional information to complete the project's Environmental Impact Statement. The regulatory timeline suspension was removed on April 27, 2020. On September 15, 2020, the regulatory timeline for the GulfLink deepwater port license application was suspended a second time for additional information that was needed for the National Environmental Policy Act review until it was reinstated on November 10, 2020.

The Maritime Administration, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, reissued the DEIS and published a Notice of Availability in the Federal Register on September 24, 2021 (86 FR 53144-53147) to announce a virtual open house and public scoping meeting which was held on October 14, 2021. The DEIS was reissued to ensure the meaningful engagement of identified Spanish-speaking Limited English Proficient (LEP) persons in the environmental impact review process.

A Federal Register Notice announcing the availability of the Supplemental Draft Environmental Impact Statement (SDEIS) was posted in the Federal Register on September 30, 2022 (87 FR 59487). The SDEIS public meeting and open house took place on October 18, 2022, with the comment period initially ending on November 14, 2022, and an extension to November 30, 2022, via a Federal Register published on November 10, 2022 (87 FR 68001-68002).

A Notice of Availability for the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) was published in the Federal Register on July 5, 2024 (89 FR 55679). On August 16, 2024, a Federal Register Notice (89 FR 66757) was published to advise the FEIS public comment period was extended from August 19, 2024, to August 30, 2024, and of the virtual final public hearing on September 13, 2024.

The Governor of the Adjacent coastal State of Texas has a 45-day period ending on October 28, 2024, to inform MARAD of his decision under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974 (DWPA) to approve, approve with conditions or disapprove the Texas GulfLink deepwater port license application. If the Governor does not respond, then approval, consistent with 33 U.S.C. 1508(b)(l) is conclusively presumed. The Record of Decision will be issued will be issued no later than December 12, 2024.

For additional information regarding this proposed port as well as the deepwater port application review and licensing process, see the Federal Docket for the application at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number MARAD-2019-0093).

West Delta LNG (West Delta LNG LLC)

Port Type: Gas Export Facility. Proposed average throughput capacity 750 million standard cubic feet per day. Peak capacity: 900 million standard cubic feet per day.

On August 28, 2019, the Maritime Administration and U.S. Coast Guard received an application from West Delta LNG for all Federal authorizations required for a license to own, construct, and operate a deepwater port for the export of domestically produced natural gas.   The application was deemed complete on September 18, 2019, and a Federal Register Notice of Application was issued to that effect on September 26, 2019 (84 FR 50880).  Louisiana is the designated Adjacent Coastal State for this deepwater port license application.  The proposed deepwater port would be located approximately 10.5 nautical miles off the coast of Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana.

The proposed facility would consist of a 30-inch outside diameter, 19.8-nautical mile long pipeline from the onshore Venice Pretreatment Plant through a shoreline crossing in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana to the offshore West Delta LNG deepwater port.  The deepwater port would consist of 13 fixed bridge connected platforms in a water depth of approximately 57 to 60 feet.   There will be three types of platforms at the facility: (1) A LNG production and storage platforms; (2) a LNG loading platform and (3) a Marine Berth Facilities and Support Facilities.  Eleven (11) bridges will connect the platforms and marine berth as well as provide for piping, electrical instruments/automation and personnel transport between platforms.

The Maritime Administration, in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard, hosted an open house and public scoping meeting on October 29, 2019 in Belle Chasse, Louisiana for the West Delta LNG deepwater port license application.  The public scoping period for the West Delta LNG deepwater port license application ended on November 6, 2019.

On December 12, 2019, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard suspended the regulatory timeline for the West Delta LNG deepwater port license application. The timeline suspension provides the applicant an opportunity to submit additional information and/or analyses determined necessary for the completion of the project's Environmental Impact Statement.  During the timeline suspension, the Maritime Administration and the U.S. Coast Guard will continue to work on other resource areas not related to the requested information. The regulatory timelime will remain suspended until the applicant provides the necessary information to complete the Environmental Impact Statement

For additional information regarding this proposed port as well as the deepwater port application review and licensing process, see the Federal Docket for the for the application at www.regulations.gov (Docket Number MARAD-2019-0095).