Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state. It's used for storage and transportation. 

How it's made 

• Natural gas is purified and cooled to -260° F

• The process removes water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and sulfur compounds

• The remaining gas is mostly methane

How it's used

• LNG is also used in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles 

• LNG is transported in specially designed tankers to terminals around the world 

• At the terminals, the LNG is returned to its gaseous state and transported by pipeline 

Benefits and drawbacks

• LNG is a way to move natural gas long distances when pipeline transport is not feasible 

• LNG is odorless, colorless, non-toxic, and non-corrosive

• However, LNG has a relatively high production cost and must be stored in expensive cryogenic tanks 

• LNG is subject to price swings that make it difficult to afford in some parts of the world 

LNG in the US

The US LNG industry has become a major export industry, contributing more than $400 billion to U.S. GDP. 

LNG carriers, also known as LNG tankers, can range in size from small to very large. 

Size ranges

• Q-Max: The Q-Max type LNG carriers are currently the largest in the world, with a  capacity of around 266,000 cubic meters (roughly 119,700 metic on)  and are 345 meters long and 53.8 meters wide. 

• Q-flex: About 315 meters long and about 50 meters wide, with a capacity of 200,000–220,000 cubic meters (roughtly 90,000 metric ton thru 99,000 metric ton). 

• Very large ethane carrier (VLEC): 87,000 cubic meters 

• Small: Up to 250 meters long and up to 40 meters wide, with a capacity of up to 90,000 cubic meters 

• Small conventional: 270–298 meters long and 41–49 meters wide, with a capacity of 120,000–149,999 cubic meters 

• Large conventional: 285–295 meters long and 43–46 meters wide, with a capacity of 150,000–180,000 cubic meters (roughly from 67,500 metric ton- 81,000 metric ton).

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Features

LNG carriers are designed to transport liquefied natural gas in large quantities. They have heavy insulation and temperature-controlled tanks to keep the gas in a liquid state. They also use boil-off-gas (BOG) from LNG, boiled liquid fuels like oil, or a combination of both for propulsion. 

LNG carriers are built to transport liquefied natural gas under cryogenic condition. 

1 million tonnes (LNG) = 48.7 Bcf* (gas) = 1.379 bcm (gas)

1 Bcf (gas) = 45,000 cubic meters (LNG)

1 million tonnes per year (mtpa) (LNG) = 48.7 Bcf/year* (gas) = 1.379 bcm/year (gas)

1 cubic meter (m3) = 35.315 Cubic feet (cf)

1 cubic meter (m3) = 0.45 metric ton = 24.11 MMBtu.

1 tonne (LNG) = 53.57 MMBtu**

1 kilocalorie (kcal) = 4.187 kilojoule (kJ) = 3.968 Btu

1 Dth = 1 MMBtu = 10 therms = 1,000,000 Btu
 

* Assumes a specific gravity of LNG at 0.45
** Assumes a natural gas heating value of 1,100 Btu/cf

A liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminal is a facility that receives, stores, and ships LNG. LNG terminals are located near gas liquefaction and storage plants or gas regasification and storage plants. 

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How LNG terminals work

• LNG terminals receive LNG from ships, temporarily store it, and then regasify it. 

• The regasified LNG is then sent into the national gas transmission network. 

• LNG terminals are used to import LNG from other countries and export LNG to other countries.

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LNG terminal locations 

• Some LNG terminals in the United States include Sabine Pass, TX, Plaquemines Parish, LA, Calcasieu Parish, LA, Corpus Christi, TX, Port Arthur, TX, and Brownsville, TX.

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LNG terminal benefits 

• LNG terminals allow natural gas to be transported over long distances, often by sea, in specialized tanks.

• LNG is the liquefied form of natural gas, which has a much smaller volume than natural gas in its gaseous form.

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LNG terminal definition

An LNG terminal includes all natural gas facilities used to receive, store, transport, or process natural gas.