Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (primarily methane, CH₄) that has been cooled down to liquid form for ease of storage or transport. Liquefying natural gas reduces its volume by about 600 times, making it much more efficient to store and ship, especially over long distances where pipelines are not practical.
Key Points about LNG:
1. Production: Natural gas is extracted from underground reserves, cleaned to remove impurities, and then cooled to around -162°C (-260°F) to condense it into a liquid.
2. Transportation: Once in liquid form, LNG can be loaded onto specialized tankers and transported across oceans. This makes LNG an important part of global energy trade, especially for countries that do not have easy access to gas pipelines.
3. Storage and Regasification: Upon reaching its destination, LNG is offloaded and stored in insulated tanks. Before it is distributed for use, LNG must be regasified by warming it to convert it back into its gaseous state.
4. Uses: LNG is primarily used as a fuel for heating, electricity generation, and as an alternative to diesel and gasoline in transportation. It’s also increasingly popular in industries as a cleaner-burning fuel compared to coal or oil.
