Northeast Gateway Deepwater terminal hits record gas flow

Excelerate Energy LP reports its Northeast Gateway Deepwater terminal, located 21 km offshore Boston, hit a record peak send-out flow rate of over 800,000 mmbtu/day of natural gas on 1 February 2019. The operation was completed by two of Excelerate’s floating storage regasification units (FSRUs), Exemplar and Express, discharging in parallel through offshore buoys.

“Excelerate’s Northeast Gateway has helped New England prepare for the winter months by supplying natural gas to meet the increased energy demand of the region,” said Excelerate managing director Steven Kobos. “Deliveries of LNG directly into the Algonquin system helps to bring much-needed market stability and fuel security to the northeast, an added benefit for consumers.”

During the coldest days of the year, demand for natural gas from residential customers rises in New England. Historically, during these times, as natural gas deliverability becomes constrained, power generators have been forced to burn dirtier fuels such as oil. This year, LNG imports from Excelerate’s Northeast Gateway facility have provided a stable, reliable supply of natural gas for the generators during this peak demand.

Excelerate said the terminal is designed to respond to local market conditions in real-time and can ramp up service to ensure energy providers meet customer demand. At a flow rate of 800,000 mmbtu/day, this represents approximately the average gas demand of power generators during recent January-February periods.

Commissioned in 2008, Northeast Gateway Deepwater terminal uses a dual submerged turret-loading buoy system that allows for the connection of FSRUs that have been specifically designed to meet the challenging conditions of the North Atlantic. FSRUs act, in all aspects, similar to a land-based terminal and have the onboard capability to vaporise LNG and deliver natural gas directly via a 26-km pipeline into the existing subsea HubLine pipeline operated by Enbridge’s Algonquin Gas Transmission.