The Coastal Bend LNG is a new natural gas liquefaction and export terminal on the Texas Gulf Coast. The project selected KBR and Tecnicas Reunidas for front-end engineering and design (FEED) phase. The award also marks a step toward final investment decision (FID) for the 22.5 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) export facility. Designed around ConocoPhillips’ Optimized Cascade Process technology, Coastal Bend aims to supply cost-competitive, lower-emissions liquefied natural gas (LNG) to markets around the world. Other than the Coastal Bend LNG, the Rio Grande LNG Train 1 is also taking shape in fine style.

NextDecade has noted it looks forward to its first LNG from Texas Rio Grande LNG Train 1 in 2027. The firm expects its first production from its liquefaction plant known as train at its Rio Grande facility. Commercial activity ⁠in the LNG sector in the U.S., world’s largest exporter of LNG, has been increasing rapidly. Moreover, the company said it was evaluating multiple areas ‌on ⁠the site for the development of Trains 7 and 8.

It also expects to advance the development of these trains throughout 2026. “There is ⁠sufficient space at the Rio Grande LNG Facility site for up to 10 liquefaction trains,” the ⁠company said in a statement. As of January 2026, project completion for Trains 1 and ⁠2 at the Rio Grande LNG Facility had reached 64.5%, it said.

More on the Recent Coastal Bend LNG Development

Under the FEED contract, KBR and Tecnicas Reunidas will design large-scale liquefaction trains for Coastal Bend LNG’s planned terminal. KBR will lead the FEED, covering the entire inside battery limits (ISBL) scope including liquefaction, nitrogen rejection, gas treatment, and heavy hydrocarbon removal. Additional coordination from technology licensors such as Honeywell UOP also feature as part of the deal. Once FID is reached, both companies expect to transition into the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) phase.

As aforementioned, the facility is also being designed around ConocoPhillips’ Optimized Cascade Process. The liquefaction technology is said to beat conventional designs in reducing production costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

A Look at the U.S. Natural Gas Exports

The U.S. has been expanding its liquefied natural gas export capacity since the early 2010s. Central to this has been Gulf Coast terminals that have since become key suppliers to Europe and Asia, with Port Arthur LNG Phase 2 being another example of this.

Additionally, the project is also part of a newer wave of projects aimed at incorporating lower-carbon operational features, including carbon capture and storage (CCS) and other technologies.

Coastal Bend LNG Export Facility Project Factsheet

Developer: Coastal Bend LNG

Location: Texas Gulf Coast

Capacity: 22.5 Mtpa LNG

FEED Contractors: KBR and Tecnicas Reunidas

Technology Use: ConocoPhillips’ Optimized Cascade Process

Project Timeline

2025: Coastal Bend starts development of the 22.5 Mtpa export facility.

January 2026: FEED contracts awarded to KBR and Tecnicas Reunidas.

2026 Onward: Completion of FEED and start of EPC.