Natural gas deliveries to U.S. facilities producing liquefied natural gas (LNG) for export to other countries set a monthly record in July 2019, the U.S.' Energy Information Administration (EIA) said in a statement on Monday.
Gas deliveries to the U.S.' LNG export facilities averaged 6 billion cubic feet (170 million cubic meters) per day in the month of July, which was equal to 7% of the total U.S. dry natural gas production, according to data from OPIS PointLogic Energy, the EIA said.
The previous record was set in the month of May this year, and in comparison to July 2018, the new record represents a substantial rise from the volumes recorded then of slightly above 3 billion cubic feet (85 million cubic meters) per day.
"In the first seven months of 2019, natural gas feedstock deliveries to LNG export facilities have been the fastest growing among all U.S. natural gas consumption sectors," the statement said.
The U.S. has been exporting more natural gas than it imports on an annual basis since 2017, the EIA said, adding that it expects U.S. natural gas exports will continue to increase as new LNG facilities come online.
The administration said it estimates that the U.S.' LNG exports will set new record highs in the months of June and July this year with 4.8 billion cubic feet (136 million cubic meters) per day and 5.2 billion cubic feet (147 million cubic meters) per day, respectively.
- LNG facilities
In the U.S., there are currently four facilities that export LNG to other countries, while an additional two will come online during the third quarter of 2019.
The four operational facilities have a total of nine liquefaction trains with an LNG export capacity of 5.4 billion cubic feet (153 million cubic meters) per day.
The four facilities comprise Sabine Pass and Cameron in the state of Louisiana, Corpus Christi in the state of Texas, and Cove Point in the state of Maryland.
The two export facilities due to come online in the third quarter are Elba Island in the state of Georgia and Freeport in the state of Texas.
By Ovunc Kutlu
Anadolu Agency
energy@aa.com.tr