Delfin Midstream has reached two significant regulatory milestones for its flagship offshore liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in the Gulf of America. The company recently received a deepwater port license from the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Maritime Administration (MARAD), enabling it to own, construct, and operate the first offshore LNG export facility in U.S. history, according to its leadership. The approval, issued to Delfin LNG LLC — a subsidiary of Delfin — marks a breakthrough for the U.S. LNG sector and was granted under the Deepwater Port Act of 1974, with collaboration from multiple federal agencies and the states of Louisiana and Texas.

In a further boost to the project, the U.S. Department of Energy approved an extension of Delfin’s LNG export permit earlier in March. The extension, announced by Secretary Wright during CERAWeek in Houston, provides the company with additional time to commence exports from its floating LNG infrastructure off the Louisiana coast. The permit, which had faced delays under the previous administration, reinforces the federal government’s support for advancing energy infrastructure projects.

“The Delfin floating LNG project has the potential to be not just the first LNG export deepwater port facility in the United States, but a significant economic contributor and job creator over the long-term,” said Delfin CEO Dudley Poston in a press release published by the company. He also acknowledged the support of Louisiana and Texas state leaders, as well as the current administration’s role in accelerating the project’s progress. 

Delfin’s project stands out for its use of low-cost floating LNG technology, which reduces the need for extensive onshore infrastructure. The brownfield deepwater port will support up to three floating LNG vessels with a combined export capacity of up to 13.2 million tonnes per annum (MTPA). Delfin’s ownership of the UTOS pipeline, the largest natural gas pipeline in the Gulf of America, further strengthens its position as a key player in U.S. LNG infrastructure development.