Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Commitments and Contingencies

v3.19.3.a.u2
Commitments and Contingencies
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2019
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]  
Commitments and Contingencies COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
 
We have various contractual obligations which are recorded as liabilities in our Consolidated Financial Statements. Other items, such as certain purchase commitments and other executed contracts which do not meet the definition of a liability as of December 31, 2019, are not recognized as liabilities but require disclosures in our Consolidated Financial Statements.

LNG Terminal Commitments and Contingencies

Obligations under EPC Contract

SPL has a lump sum turnkey contract with Bechtel for the engineering, procurement and construction of Train 6 of the Liquefaction Project. The EPC contract price for Train 6 of the Liquefaction Project is approximately $2.5 billion, reflecting amounts incurred under change orders through December 31, 2019, and including estimated costs for an optional third marine berth.  As of December 31, 2019, we have incurred $1.1 billion under this contract. SPL has the right to terminate the EPC contract for its convenience, in which case Bechtel will be paid (1) the portion of the contract price for the work performed, (2) costs reasonably incurred by Bechtel on account of such termination and demobilization and (3) a lump sum of up to $30 million depending on the termination date.

Obligations under SPAs

SPL has third-party SPAs which obligate SPL to purchase and liquefy sufficient quantities of natural gas to deliver contracted volumes of LNG to the customers’ vessels, subject to completion of construction of specified Trains of the Liquefaction Project.

Obligations under LNG TUAs
 
SPLNG has third-party TUAs with Total and Chevron U.S.A. Inc. to provide berthing for LNG vessels and for the unloading, storage and regasification of LNG at the Sabine Pass LNG terminal.
 
Obligations under Natural Gas Supply, Transportation and Storage Service Agreements

SPL has physical natural gas supply contracts to secure natural gas feedstock for the Liquefaction Project. The remaining terms of these contracts range up to 10 years, some of which commence upon the satisfaction of certain events or states of affairs. As of December 31, 2019, SPL has secured up to approximately 3,850 TBtu of natural gas feedstock through natural gas supply contracts, a portion of which are considered purchase obligations if the certain events or states of affairs are satisfied.

Additionally, SPL has natural gas transportation and storage service agreements for the Liquefaction Project. The initial terms of the natural gas transportation agreements range up to 20 years, with renewal options for certain contracts, and commence upon the occurrence of conditions precedent. The initial terms of the SPL natural gas storage service agreements range up to 10 years.

As of December 31, 2019, SPL’s obligations under natural gas supply, transportation and storage service agreements for contracts in which conditions precedent were met were as follows (in millions): 
Years Ending December 31,
Payments Due (1)
2020
$
2,248

2021
1,334

2022
849

2023
640

2024
320

Thereafter
1,914

Total
$
7,305

 
(1)
Pricing of natural gas supply contracts are variable based on market commodity basis prices adjusted for basis spread. Amounts included are based on estimated forward prices and basis spreads as of December 31, 2019. Some of our contracts may not have been negotiated as part of arranging financing for the underlying assets providing the natural gas supply, transportation and storage services.
    
Services Agreements
 
We have certain services agreements with affiliates. See Note 14—Related Party Transactions for information regarding such agreements.
 
Restricted Net Assets
 
At December 31, 2019, our restricted net assets of consolidated subsidiaries were approximately $3.0 billion.

Other Commitments
 
State Tax Sharing Agreements
 
SPLNG, SPL and CTPL have state tax sharing agreements with Cheniere. See Note 14—Related Party Transactions for information regarding such agreements.
Other Agreements

In the ordinary course of business, we have entered into certain multi-year licensing and service agreements, none of which are considered material to our financial position.

Environmental and Regulatory Matters

The Sabine Pass LNG Terminal and CTPL are subject to extensive regulation under federal, state and local statutes, rules, regulations and laws. These laws require that we engage in consultations with appropriate federal and state agencies and that we obtain and maintain applicable permits and other authorizations. Failure to comply with such laws could result in legal proceedings, which may include substantial penalties. We believe that, based on currently known information, compliance with these laws and regulations will not have a material adverse effect on our results of operations, financial condition or cash flows.
 
Legal Proceedings

We may in the future be involved as a party to various legal proceedings, which are incidental to the ordinary course of business. We regularly analyze current information and, as necessary, provide accruals for probable liabilities on the eventual disposition of these matters. In the opinion of management, as of December 31, 2019, there were no pending legal matters that would reasonably be expected to have a material impact on our operating results, financial position or cash flows.