LIQUEFIED
NATURAL GAS (LNG) INFO
- Natural
gas is a combustible, gaseous mixture of simple hydrocarbon
compounds, usually found deep in underground reservoirs
formed by porous rock. The main ingredient in natural gas
is methane (CH4), along with minor amounts of other gases,
including ethane, propane, butane, and pentane. Natural
gas is one of the cleanest burning fuels, producing primarily
carbon dioxide, water vapor, and small amounts of nitrogen
oxides when combusted. It is among the most efficient fossil
fuels for the production of power with little global warming
impact.
- Liquefied
Natural Gas (LNG) is the liquid form of natural gas.
- Natural
gas is converted to a liquid to reduce its storage volume.
LNG is safer, easier, and less expensive to transport and
store than natural gas. Natural gas is turned into LNG by
processing it in a liquefaction plant, where it is cooled
to 260 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. Once the natural gas
is converted into LNG, it can be transported and stored
at atmospheric pressure in insulated tanks that are similar
to large thermos bottles.
- Use
of natural gas for power generation is more efficient than
other fossil fuels and leads to far lower carbon emissions.
Carbon emissions for natural gas used in a single-cycle
gas turbine for power generation are
- 22%
lower than fuel oil.
- 43%
lower than coal.
- 45%
lower than wood and wood waste.
- There
are more than 40 LNG marine receiving terminals throughout
the world. 24 of them are in Japan, and 6 are in the U.S.
Many of these terminals operate in urban locations. Within
about 5 years, there are likely to be more than 60 LNG marine
terminals.
- The
U.S. already has about 110 LNG facilities. In New England,
there are 46 LNG storage tanks located in 31 communities.
- LNG
has an excellent operating history. All of these facilities
have been operating without serious public safety incidents,
some for as long as 40 years.
- LNG
is transported in specially built, state-of-the-art tankers.
Although LNG tankers look a bit like oil tankers, they are
much more advanced and better constructed. All LNG tankers
have double hulls. The LNG is stored within two other internal
containers to protect against leaks and to keep it cold.
- LNG
shipping has an excellent safety record: no major accidents
in more than 30 years, and no release of LNG during a total
of about 40 million miles traveled on 45,000 voyages.
More
info on LNG
The
Center for Liquefied Natural Gas
Reports from other organizations (PDF
format requires free Adobe
Acrobat Reader).
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