top of page

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).

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. 

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.

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.

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.

LNG terminal definition

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

bottom of page