Venture Global LNG, a Washington, D.C.-based energy firm, wants to build a natural gas export facility near Pointe-a-la-Hache on the west bank of the Mississippi River south of New Orleans. And Louisiana LNG Energy LLC. wants to build a smaller facility on the east bank of the river near Davant.

The projects are an outgrowth of the nation's boom in natural gas production that has resulted from developments in hydraulic fracturing. Natural gas is then turned into liquid form and exported by ship.

Until now, the area around Lake Charles has been the center of a boom in the market to import and export natural gasUntil now, the area around Lake Charles has been the center of a boom in the market to import and export natural gas with 10 projects in various stages of development there. Two facilities — Cheniere Energy's Sabine Pass LNG and Sempra Energy's Cameron LNG — are under construction. Cheniere plans to make its first overseas shipment of LNG in January.

The Venture Global facility would be built on 632 acres and the Louisiana LNG site would be 190 acres in size, according to company documents reported by the Associated Press. Both Plaquemines parish facilities would tap into existing natural gas pipelines and ship liquefied natural gas overseas, the companies say.

Venture says that its facility, to be built in phases, would be capable of exporting 20 million metric tons a year, the AP says. Louisiana LNG says its facility would be capable of exporting 6 million metric tons annually. Both facilities hope to begin operations in 2020, according to company documents.