中太能源贸易有限公司
SinoPacific Energy Trading Limited
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
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Natural gas is purified and cooled to -260° F
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The process removes water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, and sulfur compounds
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The remaining gas is mostly methane
How it's used
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LNG is also used in medium- and heavy-duty vehicles
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LNG is transported in specially designed tankers to terminals around the world
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At the terminals, the LNG is returned to its gaseous state and transported by pipeline
Benefits and drawbacks
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LNG is a way to move natural gas long distances when pipeline transport is not feasible
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LNG is odorless, colorless, non-toxic, and non-corrosive
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However, LNG has a relatively high production cost and must be stored in expensive cryogenic tanks
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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
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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.
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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).
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Very large ethane carrier (VLEC): 87,000 cubic meters
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Small: Up to 250 meters long and up to 40 meters wide, with a capacity of up to 90,000 cubic meters
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Small conventional: 270–298 meters long and 41–49 meters wide, with a capacity of 120,000–149,999 cubic meters
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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
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LNG terminals receive LNG from ships, temporarily store it, and then regasify it.
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The regasified LNG is then sent into the national gas transmission network.
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LNG terminals are used to import LNG from other countries and export LNG to other countries.
LNG terminal locations
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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
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LNG terminals allow natural gas to be transported over long distances, often by sea, in specialized tanks.
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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.