Pilot LNG is a newly established independent company registered in Houston, Texas, purposely created for this Galveston LNG Bunker Port project on the Pelican Island near Galveston on the US Gulf Coast of Texas, USA.
PILOT LNG GALVESTON LNG BUNKER PORT (GLBP) FLNG History
The purpose of the project is to use liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a marine fuel to reduce emissions.
On January 2020, a new regulation has become effective to reduce sulfur emissions (SOx) and other emissions (NOx) from the shipping industry.
In addition in USA, the LNG is offering a more competitive fuel than conventional marine heavy fuel.
Pilot LNG completed the pre-front end engineering and design (pre-FEED) and is proceeding with the permitting for the site location on the Pelican Island.
This small-scale FLNG project should include a:
- Floating LNG vessel to upload the ships refilling for LNG fuel
- Onshore infrastructure to receive the natural gas from the local gas transportation system
- Gas connector pipeline to supply the onshore installation.
- The FLNG should be equipped with one LNG Train of 0.65 million tonnes per year (t/y)
- The onshore infrastructures should host 3 tanks of 18,000 cubic meter.
Pilot LNG selected the:
Houston-based CH-IV and Clough for the front end engineering and design (FEED) work on the onshore gas infrastructures and the topsides of the FLNG.
Shanghai-based Wison for the FEED work on the vessel and the future engineering, procurement, construction, installation and commissioning (EPCIC) of the vessel. This FEED work and FERC permitting process are expected to be completed on second half 2021, so that the project should move into EPCIC phase in 2022.
— October 2023 —
Seapath, Libra Group’s maritime unit, is joining Pilot LNG to support financially the project.
Pilot LNG is still in FEED development and aims to move to EPC in 2024.
The $150 million FLNG should operate by 2026, with a capacity of 186,000 t/y, instead of the 650,000 t/y originally planned.
— April 2024 —
Pilot LNG and Seapath applied for construction permission to:
– Texas Railroad Commission (TRRC)
– United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
– United States Coast Guard (USCG)
The project should to EPC stage before the end of 2024.
— October 2024 —
Pilot LNG signed an agreement with Energy Transfer who should the necessary gas to produce the LNG.
Pilot LNG and Seapath aims to take FID before the end of 2024, with operations expected by 2027.
— January 2025 —
Pilot LNG made significant progress in its permitting process as it received the:
– Water quality certification from the Texas Railroad Commission
– Air permit from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Pilot LNG expects to receive the last required permits on Q1 2025, so that it could make the final investment decision (FID) on Q3 2025.
Pilot LNG still targets the first production in 2027.
— May 2025 —
Pilot LNG received the final authorization to build the project from:
– U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
– U.S. Coast Guard
— September 2025 —
Pilot LNG awarded the EPC work to NV5 LNG Engineering Services (NV5).
NV5, the US engineering company, will perform the EPC for the first phase which should produce up to 200,000 t/y.
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