First U.S. Floating LNG Facility Moves Forward

June 23, 2026


The first floating liquefied natural gas facility in the U.S. just moved one step closer to reality (Upstream Online).

What’s going on: Earlier this month, North American LNG export project developer Delfin Midstream “reached the $5 billion final investment decision (FID) for the first of three planned liquefied natural gas vessels as part of a 13.2 million tonnes per annum development in the US Gulf.”

  • The project, off the coast of Louisiana, will be the world’s largest floating liquefaction facility.
  • The first of its vessels will have a capacity of 4.4 million tonnes per annum, with delivery of the first U.S. LNG slated for 2030.

Manufacturers’ big role: Infrastructure designer and maker “Black & Veatch will provide topsides engineering and procurement as well as pre-commissioning and commissioning of the FLNG vessels.”

  • Samsung Heavy Industries will construct the first unit, for which it secured a $2.9 billion contract earlier this month.

Other FLNGs: Fourteen floating LNG facilities are now either operating or under construction worldwide, and Black & Veatch’s proprietary PRICO liquefaction technology is being used on seven of them, according to the company (bv.com).

  • The Delfin news follows the announcement of at least two other final investment decisions on U.S. LNGs projects in 2026, according to Upstream Online.