LNG Meaning

LNG is the acronym that stands for liquefied natural gas, which is natural gas that has been cooled to a liquid state, below -161°C or -258°F, making storage and transport easier and more cost effective.

Why Natural Gas is Liquefied

The liquification process reduces the volume of the natural gas by more than 600 times, making storage and transport more feasible and economical to locations without a pipeline.

This makes long distance transport possible, including transoceanic shipments by LNG ships.

LNG allows the supply of natural gas to areas that are not served by natural gas pipelines.

Summary of How LNG Works

• Raw natural gas is cleaned of impurities, any water is removed, natural gas liquids are stripped out, and then it is processed by an LNG plant.
• Dry natural gas (methane) is cooled to its liquid state, below the methane boiling point of -161°C or -258°F.
• The liquefied natural gas (LNG) can then be stored in cryogenic tanks or transported in special cryogenic trucks or ships.
• At the point of use, the LNG is warmed to convert it back into a gas, called regasification, and then used on site or distributed through a pipeline.

Regasification of LNG

At the point of use, the LNG is warmed to transform it back to its gaseous state, using an LNG vaporizer.

This process is called regasification.

Then the LNG is either used on site or transported by pipeline to distribution companies, industrial consumers, and power plants.

Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) Explained

Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) , or Liquefied Natural Gas, is simply natural gas (methane) in a liquid form.

Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas cooled cryogenically to below its boiling point of −161°C.

This changes the natural gas from its gaseous state to a liquid, reducing its volume by 600:1 (1m³ of LNG = 600m³ of methane gas).

To use Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), it goes through a regasification process, transforming from a liquid back to a gas.

Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is used just as you would pipeline natural gas.

Put simply, Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is Natural Gas Made Portable™.

Liquid Natural Gas (LNG), which is predominantly Methane, is an odourless, non-toxic and non-corrosive.

If spilled, the Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) evaporates quickly and disperses, leaving no residue.

Benefits of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)

• Reduced storage volume of natural gas of more than 600 times as LNG goes from its gaseous state to liquid.
• The volume reduction allows it to be transported more efficiently over long distances.
• Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) can be supplied to locations without a pipeline, including remote destinations.
• Small LNG plants can be used to process “stranded natural gas” in gas fields to small to justify a pipeline.

Advantages of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG)

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  LNG GJ/Tonne

  Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is a locally supplied Australian resource which does not rely on imports. This increases supply reliability and provides flexibility for growth.

• Unlike the price of diesel which is linked to the ever-volatile oil market, the price of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is much more stable, which allows for more control in business budgeting.
• Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) can be transported over 1,000KM efficiently from its source of supply.
• The energy content of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) ranges from 24 MJ/L to 21 MJ/L or 52-55 MJ/Kg.
• The energy density of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is roughly 0.41 kg/L to 0.5 kg/L, depending mostly on temperature and pressure.
• The energy density of Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is 2.4 times greater than CNG.
• Liquid Natural Gas (LNG) is stored in vertical tanks and reduces the required space for large energy or large volume fuel source requirements.

LNG Trade

• LNG is used domestically, in Australia, for larger industrial customers without pipeline access.
• LNG is also being used as a transport fuel for large reticulated trucks.
• LNG is traded internationally, with Australia being one of the largest LNG exporters.