LNG is the liquid form of natural gas, which is a gaseous mixture of simple hydrocarbon compounds usually found deep in underground reservoirs formed by porous rock. The main ingredient in natural gas is methane, along with minor amounts of other gases. When LNG is made from natural gas, any traces of other gases, as well as liquid hydrocarbons and water are removed.
LNG is turned into a liquid by being cooled to -162 degrees Celsius This cooling process reduces the volume of natural gas more than 600 times making it easier and safer to store and transport. Every year, over 220 million metric tonnes of LNG is transported through deep sea shipments. As of end of 2011, there were 359 LNG carriers worldwide operating in the shipment of LNG.
LNG is not toxic or corrosive, and it quickly vaporizes and dissipates when in waterways or the atmosphere.
Air Quality Impacts
Natural gas is one of the cleanest burning fuels, producing primarily carbon dioxide, water vapour, and small amounts of nitrogen oxides when combusted.
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 approximately 22% lower than fuel oil, 43% lower than coal, and 45% lower than wood and wood waste. The impacts to air quality that might be associated with the Project’s development will be extremely minor relative to most other industrial or commercial development activities. For more information, see the chart below:
- Natural gas releases virtually no ash or particle matter, and lower levels of carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and other reactive hydrocarbons than coal and oil fuels
- Natural gas for home heating, as opposed to firewood, has even lower carbon emissions.
- Natural gas does not contribute significantly to smog formation, as other fossil fuels do, due to the low levels of nitrogen oxides
- Natural gas emits low levels of SO2, unlike the burning of coal, which eliminates the need for “scrubbers” that generate thousands of tonnes of toxic waste for disposal
- Natural gas is also one of the most efficient fossil fuels and most affordable.
LNG is not explosive in its liquid state. LNG vapours (its natural gas form) are only flammable within a limited range of concentration in the air and require a number of factors to occur such as a closed space, ignition source and proper ratio of natural gas to air. If the concentration of natural gas in the air is lower than 5%, it cannot burn because of insufficient fuel.
LNG Story Part 1
LNG: The Facts
Natural gas is used extensively in residential, commercial, industrial and power generation applications:
- Natural gas is also used directly by residential and commercial users as a source of home heating, water heating, clothes drying, and in cooking applications.
- The industrial sector uses natural gas as a source of process heat, as a fuel for the generation of steam and as a feedstock in the production of petrochemicals and fertilizers.
- The electric power generation sector uses natural gas to produce clean electricity.
- Natural Gas is also seeing increased use in the marine, rail and road transportation sectors as it provides many cost saving and environmental benefits