Liquified Natural Gas Basics 

• Natural gas is consumed by industrial power generation and residential, commercial, and vehicle sectors.

• Natural gas is mostly methane (CH4), but also contains other hydrocarbons, water, nitrogen, sulfur, oxygen and carbon dioxide in varying amounts. 

• Natural gas is converted to liquid in a refrigeration process called ‘liquification.’ 

• Liquification removes most compounds except CH4 and reduces the volume by 1:610.

• The purpose of converting natural gas to LNG is to make transportation over long distances economical.

• LNG is natural gas stored and transported as a liquid at atmospheric pressure at a temperature of -162 degrees C (-260^o F). 

• LNG is transported on purpose built, double hulled ships in insulated tanks.

• LNG is transported in a liquid state without refrigeration through the ‘boil off’ process.

• The 'boil off' process is the evaporation of a small amount of LNG which keeps the tanks cool, pressure constant, and LNG at its boiling point.

• When transported LNG reaches its destination, it is returned to gaseous state through a process called ‘regasification.’

• Regasification is basically warming the LNG.

Exmar's LNG Fleet

View the EXMAR LNGRV Vessel Video