Liquefied Natural Gas — A Cool Source of Energy

Government and industry leaders concerned about the need for more natural gas are increasingly interested in imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a way to help meet rising demand. Gas is chilled to minus 260 degrees Fahrenheit, turning it to liquid. In its liquid form, the gas takes up one six hundredth the space occupied by an equivalent amount of vapor, a little like reducing a car to the size of your fist. The liquid is pumped onto an LNG tanker for ocean shipment to the U.S. where it is returned to vapor and sent under pressure through pipelines for use in home heating and cooling, or in factories or producing electricity. All of the gas consumed in Japan comes from LNG imports. In the U.S., just 1 percent of the gas consumed by residents is imported LNG. By 2008, that number is expected to grow to 3 percent, according to the Energy Information Administration of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). At the moment, there are just four U.S. facilities equipped to take LNG ashore: in Everett, Mass; Cove Point, Md.; Elba Island, Ga.; and Lake Charles, La. There have been a variety of proposals to build additional facilities, especially on the West Coast, which has none.

Since September 11, 2001, there has been concern about the vulnerability of LNG tankers to terrorist attack. In Boston Harbor, for example, the U.S. Coast Guard has put the waters near any LNG ship off limits to small boats or any kind of shipping. But, according to the Department of Energy, LNG tankers are not likely to explode. Only if the gas vaporizes and mixes with air does it become flammable. Second, the tankers are solidly built to withstand collision or bad weather. Over the last few decades, there have been eight accidents involving LNG tankers in which the cargo was spilled. In no case was there explosion or fire. Only if gas is somehow released into the air and floats as a cloud with the wind is there any risk of ignition. And in almost all cases, when gas is released, it disperses and rises harmlessly into the atmosphere, according to DOE.

Other technologies

Millions of dollars have been spent by natural gas companies and universities to create a permanently liquid form of gas that could be easily transported all over the world, much like oil So far, they have not been successful, but, because there are vast amounts of natural gas reserves in many countries, the search continues. Unlike LNG, the new type of liquid gas would remain in that form, dramatically reducing the ease and costs of transportation worldwide. It may well be the natural gas of the future.

For more information on liquefied natural gas

Play the "LNG: The Safe, Clean Energy Source" video and learn more about LNG safety and security measures. [Video length - 8:25]

Please see The Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Web site listing LNG information resources.

Please see Shell's Web site introducing the "Shell and LNG: A Bridge to a Cleaner Future" brochure [PDF 965KB].