How to Make Liquefied Natural Gas, and Why Bother?
Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (predominantly methane (CH4)with some mixture of ethane (C2H6) that has been converted to liquid form for ease of storage or transport. Natural gas is cooled to –260°F to change it to the liquid state. As a liquid, it takes up about 1/600th the volume of natural gas in the gaseous state, making it much more cost-efffective to store and ship. In addition, all contaminants (such as sulfur) are removed during the liquefaction process. As a result, it is odorless, colorless, non-toxic, and non-corrosive.
This animation by Exxon Mobil describes the full liquefied natural gas (LNG) value chain of production, liquefaction, transportation, and regasification. According to the video, the ship depicted above carries enough liquefied natural gas to heat 70,000 homes for one year.
