Williams Partners' Gulf Connector project, intending to connect two Gulf Coast liquefied natural gas (LNG) facilities under construction in Corpus Christi and Freeport, also heralds continental U.S.'s first time export of this commodity.

Texas-based Cheniere Energy Inc. is due to make its groundbreaking international shipment of LNG in late February or March from its Sabine Pass LNG export terminal in Cameron Parish, La. Williams Partners is building the Gulf Trace project (the installation of eight miles of new 36-inch concrete-coated pipe from the existing Transco pipeline in St. Helena Parish to the Sabine Pass Liquefaction Facility meter station, inter alia) to serve this export facility.

“Gulf Connector is another great example of Williams Partners leveraging our existing infrastructure to serve new and growing market opportunities for North America’s natural gas,” said Rory Miller, senior vice president of Williams Partners’ Atlantic-Gulf operating area.