What is Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) ??
What is LNG) ?
LNG is liquefied natural gas, a clear, colourless, non-toxic liquid that forms when natural gas is cooled to around -160ºC. This shrinks the volume of the gas 600 times. In its liquid state, LNG is a clear liquid with a density about half that of water. LNG is odorless, colorless, non-corrosive and non-toxic. LNG has been produced domestically and imported into the United States for more than three decades.
Where does it come from?
Indonesia, Algeria, Malaysia, Qatar, Trinidad, Egypt and Australia are currently the leading exporters of LNG. Russia and Iran also have the greatest potential.
The LNG Industry
Worldwide there are 17 LNG production and export terminals, 41 import terminals and 141 LNG ships altogether handling approximately 120 million metric tons of LNG every year.
LNG in the United States
The United States has the highest number of LNG facilities in the world. There are currently 113 active LNG facilities across the U.S. with a higher concentration of facilities in the northeast region. Among this number are 58 facilities to liquefy and store natural gas, 39 facilities that are used for LNG storage only, four facilities that received imported LNG and regasify it for domestic use, and one export terminal in Alaska. Currently, LNG imports account for less than three percent of the total U.S. consumption of natural gas.
With domestic U.S. gas prices falling and demand for LNG in Europe growing, and drawing investment away from the U.S., LNG has largely dropped off of the U.S. energy debate agenda. LNG is unlikely to be a major player in 2009, although local protests against LNG projects will continue.
CERA’s Robert Ineson told an industry conference in Houston that the consultancy was cutting its prospects for U.S. LNG imports “from 3.2 billion cubic feet per day as of last fall to 2.6 bcfd now,” a nearly 19% reduction. That was close to a contemporaneous EIA forecast of a 16% reduction in LNG imports for the year.
-Caroline Keddy
Short URL: http://naturalgasforamerica.com/?p=357
Posted by admin
on June 3rd, 2009. Filed under Natural Gas.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0.
You can leave a response or trackback to this entry
