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- About
PO&G
- History
- About LNG
- Business Divisions
- Corporate ID Manual
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An Introduction
to LNG
What is LNG ?
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is natural gas treated
and cooled to -161oC and stored at pressure 1 Bar.
LNG is a liquid form of the natural gas. As liquefied
gas, the volume of the natural gas is very much reduced and the
volume reduction of the natural gas vapor to liquid is 600 : 1
Typical LNG composition is:
| |
|
low |
high |
| Methane |
C1 |
80% |
99% |
| Ethane |
C2 |
1% |
17% |
| Propane |
C3 |
0.1% |
5% |
| Butane |
C4 |
0.1% |
2% |
| Pentane and heavier |
C5+ |
< 1% |
|
| Nitrogen |
N2 |
0 |
1% |
LNG is odorless, colorless, non-corrosive, and non-toxic.
However , as with any gaseous material besides air and oxygen, the
natural gas vaporized from LNG can cause asphyxiation in an unventilated
confinement.
Comparison of LNG and Other Fuels:
| Hazard |
LNG |
LPG |
Gasoline |
Fuel Oil |
| Toxic |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Carcinogenic |
No |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Flammable |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Form Vapor Clouds |
Under special condition |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Asphyxiant |
Yes, without adequate O2 |
Yes, same as LNG |
No |
No |
| Other health hazards |
No |
No |
Eye irritant, Narcosis, Nausea, others |
Same as gasoline |
| Flash Point, oC |
-188 |
-104 |
-46 |
60 |
| Boiling Point, oC |
-161 |
-42 |
32 |
204 |
| Flammable limits in Air % |
5~15 |
2.1~9.5 |
1.3~6 |
N/A |
Why LNG ?
Natural gas is a clean and safe energy that is far
less dangerous and volatile than gasoline, propane or butane, all
of which are commonly used fuels. People use natural gas in their
homes for cooking and heating (city gas). Natural gas is also used
as fuel for generating electricity.
Optional usage of natural gas are:
· to develop local industry (fertilizers,
aluminum, chemicals, etc.)
· Recycled to produce liquids
· Injected in nearby oil field to enhance oil production
· Convert the natural gas to liquids (oil products or methanol)
· Install pipelines to deliver the natural gas to nearby
market
· Convert the natural gas to LNG for transfer to markets
beyond pipeline limits.
During the cooling process to LNG, natural gas is
also purified, removing compounds such as mercury, sulfur compounds,
moisture, and heavy hydrocarbons, to enhance its clean-burning properties.
As such, LNG is known as an environmentally friendly energy source.
The Development of The LNG Industry
| Early 20th Century
1920/30s
1940
1959
1964
1969
1970s
1980s
2000
2000 |
Liquefaction of gas to extract helium
LNG used to store natural gas in USA
First (and only) major accident in Cleveland, USA. 140 people
killed
Voyage of Methane Pioneer from USA Gulf to UK
Arzew plant in Algeria commissioned, first commercial LNG
deliveries to UK
First deliveries of LNG to Japanese market (from Kenai, Alaska)
Start up of Libya, Brunei, Indonesia (Arun/Bontang), Abudhabi
projects
Start up of Qatargas, Trinidad, Nigeria and RasGas projects
Start up of Oman project
Annual LNG trade reaches 100 mtp |
LNG production by country in 2000
· Indonesia 26%
· Malaysia 15%
· Brunei 6%
· Australia 7%
· Alaska 1%
· Qatar 10%
· Oman 3%
· UAE 5%
· Algeria 19%
· Libya 1%
· Trinidad 3%
· Nigeria 4%
Total 100%
Today, natural gas accounts for 24.7% of the world’s energy
requirements while LNG only accounts for 5.7% of this supply. This
translates to LNG contributing only 1.5% of total world energy market,
hence there is huge room for growth.
The use of natural gas is experiencing a major expansion
world wide. The use of clear burning natural gas as fuels to fire
CCGT power plants is becoming widely accepted and encouraged world
wide including China.
The Chinese Government plans to increase natural
gas consumption from its current 2% level to 8% by 2010. This translates
into an increase in gas requirements from 20 million tons in 2000
to about 69 million tons by 2010.
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