Delfin FLNG Terminal

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Delfin FLNG Terminal is a proposed LNG export terminal in United States.

Location

Table 1: Location details

Name Location Coordinates (WGS 84)
Delfin FLNG Terminal Port Delfin, Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States[1] 29.1369774, -93.533951 (exact)

The map below shows the exact location of the terminal:

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Project Details

Table 2: Infrastructure details

mtpa = million tonnes per year
Name Facility type Status Capacity Total terminal capacity Offshore Associated infrastructure
Delfin FLNG Terminal export[2] proposed[3] 13.2 mtpa[2] 13.2 mtpa True –

Table 3: Cost

Name Facility type Cost Total known terminal costs
Delfin FLNG Terminal export[2] US$4,300,000,000[4] US$4,300,000,000

Table 4: Financing

Name Facility type Financing
Delfin FLNG Terminal export[2] In June 2023, Delfin announced that it had secured an investment from Japan's shipping company MOL, moving the project closer to FID.[5]

Table 5: Project timeline

FID = Final Investment Decision, used by some developers to indicate a project will move forward
Name Facility type Status Proposal year FID year Construction year Operating year Inactive year
Delfin FLNG Terminal export[2] proposed[3] 2015[3] 2025 (Pre-FID)[4] – 2030[6][7][8] –

Ownership

Table 6: Ownership

Name Facility type Status Owners Parent companies Operator
Delfin FLNG Terminal export[2] proposed[3] Delfin LNG LLC [100%][9] Fairwood Peninsula Energy Corp [30.7%]; Talisman Global Alternative Master LP [25.5%]; Talisman Global Capital Master LP [20.1%]; unknown Fairwood Peninsula Energy[10]

Background

Delfin FLNG Terminal is a proposed LNG terminal in Louisiana, United States.[11] An early version of the terminal would have consisted of four floating LNG trains with a total export capacity of 13 million metric tonnes per year of LNG. It is planned for operation in 2021-2022.[12][13] The project costs are estimated at US$7 billion.[14] In an prior version of the proposal, the capacity would have been 12 mtpa.[15] As of September 2025, the facility was planned to have a deepwater port with as many as 3 floating LNG export vessels, and a total capacity of 13.2 mtpa.[16]

In June of 2017, the US Department of Energy approved the companies' application to export LNG from the proposed facility.[17]

As of June 2019, the project is being delayed by more than three years, the company told the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) in a filing. Delfin LNG told regulators that it expects to finish the project 3 years and 6 months later than anticipated and requested an extension. Initial plans were to begin delivering LNG by 2021 at the earliest.[18]

In August of 2019, Golar, an original partner in the project, announced that it had decided to drop out of the project, citing insufficient reliable customers. The chief operating officer (COO) of Delfin LNG LLC, Wouter Pastoor, disagrees that the project isn't viable. However, Delfin LNG LLC has not made a final investment decision (FID) or said how it will finance the project. The FID was originally expected in 2018.[19]

In October of 2019, Delfin LNG LLC announced that it would further delay the FID from 2019 to 2020. Delfin LNG LLC cited the trade war between China and the U.S.'s Trump administration as a reason for the delays. Operations are now expected to begin in 2024.[20]

In July 2020, U.S. FERC granted Delfin LNG LLC a further extension out to September 2021 to commence the building of the terminal. The crisis in global LNG markets which has been amplified by the COVID-19 pandemic was thought to be the main factor behind the project's ongoing delay.[21]

In September 2020, as Delfin LNG LLC was engaged with multiple buyers on flexible contracts for 10 to 25 years, Delfin Midstream Chief Executive Dudley Poston told Reuters that FID for the project was now delayed until 2021. The company needs to sell approximately 2.5 million metric tons of LNG per annum before it can sanction the project, according to Poston.[22]

In November 2022, the project was granted an extension from FERC to begin service by September 2023.[23]

In July 2023, Delfin LNG requested more time from the U.S. Federal Energy Regulatory Commissions (FERC) to complete the facility. In a letter to FERC, Delfin LNG sought to extend its permit to construct the facility until September 2023. Delfin has requested FERC extensions three times in the past.[24]

According to the July 2023 GIIGNL report, Delfin FLNG Terminal is fully approved and expected to take FID before the end of 2023, with a start year of 2026.[25] Delfin Midstream said it expects to take FID in October 2023.[26] The FID date has been pushed back by a few months throughout 2023; in March, the company said it would occur in Q2 2023,[27] and in April the company said it would occur by mid-2023.[28]

In October 2023, FERC granted Delfin LNG an extension for its permit allowing the developers until September 28, 2027 to build the project.[29]

As of February 2024, Deflin FLNG was targeting an FID over the coming months.[30]

In April 2024, the U.S. Department of Transportation, Maritime Administration (MARAD) rejected Delfin FLNG's permit application and requested it resubmit it after making alterations to the planned development.[31]

In March 2024, Deflin FLNG was seeking a five-year extension for its LNG export authorization from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Its existing deadline for commencing exports was June 1, 2024.[32] The extension was approved a year later, in March 2025.

In June 2026, Delfin FLNG took a positive final investment decision (FID) on the first of its planned vessels, which will have a production capacity of 4.4 mtpa. The terminal will be the first operating FLNG facility in the United States and the largest such project in the world by capacity. A financial close of US$5 billion was taken to advance the project, according to Delfin Midstream, by "a group of investors led by Global Infrastructure Partners (“GIP”), a part of BlackRock, including existing Delfin investors Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (“MOL”), owner of the world’s largest fleet of LNG carriers, Vitol, a leading energy and commodities trader, and Diameter Capital Partners, a leading alternative credit asset manager...." Companies that have signed sales and purchase agreements with the project include Vitol, Expand Energy, Centrica and Gunvor.[33]

Contracts

In July 2022, Delfin LNG announced a sales and purchase agreement (SPA) with Vitol Inc. for 0.5 mtpa Delfin over a 15-year time period.[34]

In August 2022, Delfin LNG announced a non-binding heads of agreement (HOA) with the UK's Centrica Plc, which agreed to purchase 1 mtpa LNG for 15 years.[35]

In September 2022, Devon Energy agreed to a non-binding HOA with Delfin to purchase 1 mtpa LNG through a long-term contract, with the possibility of increasing its purchase to 2 mtpa through Delfin FLNG Terminal or a future project.[36]

In April 2023, Delfin and Hartree agreed to an SPA for 0.6 mtpa LNG from the facility over a 20-year period.[37]

In July 2023, Delfin announced an SPA with Centrica, finalizing last year's HOA, for 1 mtpa LNG over 15 years, a deal valued at US$8 billion.[38]

In November 2023, Delfin and Gunvor announced an SPA under which Gunvor will buy 0.5 to 1 mtpa LNG for a 15-year period.[39]

In February 2024, Chesapeake Energy entered an agreement with Delfin LNG and Gunvor to offtake 0.5 mtpa of LNG from the project for a 20-year period beginning in 2028, which it would deliver to Gunvor. This contract accounts for 0.5 mtpa of the previously contracted amount Gunvor agreed to buy from Delfin LNG.[40]

Financing

In June 2023, Delfin announced that it had secured an investment from Japan's shipping company MOL, moving the project closer to FID.[41]

Articles and Resources

Additional data

To access additional data, including an interactive map of LNG terminals, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Gas Infrastructure Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.

References

  1. ↑ https://naturalgasintel.com/glossary/delfin-flng-facility/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-25/delfin-lng-eyes-investment-decision-for-us-project-by-november. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 http://bit.ly/2nOu7Lj. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 https://financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/delfin-lng-eyes-investment-decision-for-us-project-by-november?utm_source=substack&utm_medium=email. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ↑ https://lngprime.com/americas/delfin-moves-closer-to-fids-on-two-floating-lng-producers-after-mol-deal/83508/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  6. ↑ (PDF) https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2023-04/Delfin%203_31_2023%20DOE%20Progress%20Report%20%28final%29.pdf. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  7. ↑ https://lngprime.com/americas/delfin-inks-long-term-lng-supply-deal-with-vitol/56968/. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  8. ↑ (PDF) https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/Delfin%20April%202025%20DOE%20Progress%20Report%20%28final%29_13-129-LNG%20%26%2013-147-LNG_0.pdf?utm_source=chatgpt.com. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. ↑ https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150701005765/en/Delfin-LNG-Announces-Equity-Investment-by-Enbridge-Inc. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ↑ https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=&ved=2ahUKEwio_bzJrNj3AhXmm-AKHczJDOMQFnoECAUQAQ&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.eia.gov%2Fnaturalgas%2FU.S.liquefactioncapacity.xlsx&usg=AOvVaw1j_si7Na5KXVQFt8C6umme. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  11. ↑ Delfin LNG Expanding in the Gulf of Mexico, Oil & Gas 360, 3 March 2015
  12. ↑ "Project Overview," Delfin LNG, accessed Aug 2017
  13. ↑ "Delfin FLNG Project Brings Golar LNG Onboard After U.S. Grants Key Export License" Industrial Info Resources, June 23, 2017
  14. ↑ "Delfin Floating LNG Project, Gulf of Mexico" Offshore Technology, accessed July 17, 2020
  15. ↑ U.S. Liquefaction Capacity, Energy Information Administration, November 3, 2020
  16. ↑ https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-09-25/delfin-lng-eyes-investment-decision-for-us-project-by-november
  17. ↑ U.S. Approves First Offshore LNG Export Application, The Maritime Executive, 1 May 2017
  18. ↑ Kristen Mosbrucker, Delfin LNG project in Cameron Parish delayed for years The Advocate, June 26, 2019
  19. ↑ Kristen Mosbrucker, Delfin LNG loses partner, still plans floating export facility in Cameron Parish The Advocate, September 4, 2019
  20. ↑ UPDATE 1-Delfin pushes decision to build Louisiana floating LNG export project to 2020 Reuters, October 30, 2019
  21. ↑ Scott DiSavino, "U.S. gives Delfin another year to build Louisiana floating LNG project" Reuters, Jul. 15, 2019
  22. ↑ Ekaterina Kravtsova, Scott DiSavino, "LNG investments vanish in 2020 as coronavirus slashes oil and gas prices" Reuters, Sep. 8, 2020
  23. ↑ LNG Prime Staff (2022-11-22). "Delfin secures extension to build its US floating LNG export project". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  24. ↑ LNG Prime Staff (2022-07-18). "Delfin seeks more time to build its US floating LNG export project". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  25. ↑ GIIGNL. The LNG Industry: GIIGNL Annual Report 2023. Accessed July 28, 2026.
  26. ↑ LNG Prime Staff (2023-07-25). "Delfin expects to take FID on first floating LNG producer in October". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  27. ↑ LNG Prime Staff (2023-03-27). "Delfin plans to take FID on first floating LNG producer in Q2". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  28. ↑ Natural Gas Intelligence. Delfin LNG Project Said on Track for FID by Mid-2023 After Hartree SPA. April 24, 2023.
  29. ↑ Staff, LNG Prime (2023-10-05). "Delfin gets extension to build US FLNG project". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  30. ↑ Energy Intelligence. Delfin LNG Targets FID as Permit Expiry Looms. February 28, 2024.
  31. ↑ Hine (l_hine), Lucy (2024-04-22). "Delfin LNG denied licence by US authorities after multiple changes to FLNG project". TradeWinds | Latest shipping and maritime news. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  32. ↑ Staff, LNG Prime (2024-03-08). "Delfin seeks DOE extension for FLNG project". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  33. ↑ https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2026/06/03/3306350/0/en/delfin-midstream-announces-5-billion-final-investment-decision-for-first-flng-vessel.html
  34. ↑ LNG Prime Staff (2022-07-13). "Delfin inks long-term LNG supply deal with Vitol". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2022-07-19.
  35. ↑ "UK's Centrica signs LNG deal with U.S. supplier Delfin Midstream". financialpost. Retrieved 2022-09-01.
  36. ↑ LNG Prime Staff (2022-09-05). "Delfin inks FLNG pact with Devon Energy". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  37. ↑ GlobeNewswire. Delfin Signs LNG Sale and Purchase Agreement with Hartree. April 24, 2023.
  38. ↑ LNG Prime Staff (2023-07-11). "Delfin, Centrica seal $8 billion US LNG supply deal". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
  39. ↑ Inc, Delfin Midstream (2023-11-27). "Delfin Midstream Signs Long-Term LNG Supply Agreement with Gunvor". GlobeNewswire News Room. Retrieved 2024-07-02. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  40. ↑ Staff, LNG Prime (2024-02-13). "Chesapeake seals LNG deal with Delfin and Gunvor". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2024-07-02.
  41. ↑ LNG Prime Staff (2023-06-09). "Delfin moves closer to FIDs on two floating LNG producers after MOL deal". LNG Prime. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
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