ABSTRACT
The rationale for liquefying natural gas is simple: at atmospheric pressure, the liquid density at the normal boiling point of methane is approximately 610 times greater than that of the gas at ambient temperature and pressure. Consequently, a given volume of liquid contains over 600 times the heating
value as the same volume of ambient gas. This density increase at ambient pressure makes it attractive to liquefy, transport, and store natural gas in large quantities and makes technically feasible the transport of the equivalent of several Bcf of gas per ship load from “stranded” gas fields to markets. Liquefaction and transport becomes economically feasible when the size of the reserves justify the capital investment of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) plant. Storage applications include storage at LNG terminals and, just as important, storage for peak shaving operations of gas utilities.
