Rendering of the proposed Monkey Island LNG terminal
Greg Michaels, CEO of Monkey Island LNG, said: “After an extensive technology selection study and analysis on multiple technologies, Monkey Island LNG selected the Optimized Cascade® process based on its operational flexibility, quick restart capabilities, high efficiency, and proven performance above nameplate capacity.” He added: “The decision marks a major milestone in advancing Monkey Island LNG’s mission to deliver TrueCost LNG™—a radically transparent, cost-efficient model that eliminates hidden fees and aligns incentives across the LNG value chain.”
According to project plans, Monkey Island LNG will consist of up to five liquefaction trains, each capable of producing about 5 mtpa. The facility will also include three storage tanks, each with a capacity of around 180,000 cubic meters. Project developers expect that the use of ConocoPhillips’ Optimized Cascade® technology will help deliver long-term, competitively priced LNG to global customers.
Darren Meznarich, head of ConocoPhillips LNG Technology and Licensing, noted: “We are pleased to support Monkey Island LNG with our new, mega-module Optimized Cascade template, designed to reduce costs, plot size, and overall project risks for clients.” ConocoPhillips stated that its technology can achieve up to 96% thermal efficiency at LNG facilities while reducing emissions. The same technology was also selected for the Coastal Bend LNG development in Texas earlier this month.
The project is part of a wider expansion of LNG infrastructure in Cameron Parish. Monkey Island is also the site of Venture Global’s CP2 project, a 20-mtpa LNG facility. The final investment decision (FID) for CP2 was taken in late July, enabling Worley to begin work on the first phase under an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract.
Shortly before that, Eni entered into a 20-year agreement to purchase 2 mtpa of LNG from CP2’s first phase, marking the company’s first long-term supply contract with a U.S. LNG developer.
The Monkey Island LNG project, by combining large-scale production capacity with ConocoPhillips’ liquefaction technology, aims to deliver secure, efficient, and cost-effective LNG to international markets. Its progress represents a significant step forward in expanding Louisiana’s role as a hub for natural gas liquefaction and exports.
