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| About The Project - Liquefied
Natural Gas |
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What is Liquefied Natural Gas?
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Liquefied natural
gas – LNG – is simply the liquid
form of natural gas created through the process
of “liquefaction.” LNG is formed
when natural gas is cooled to minus 260 degrees
Fahrenheit (minus 162 degrees Celsius). In
gaseous state, natural gas is mostly methane
with low concentrations of heavier hydrocarbons,
water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen and
possibly sulfur compounds. Liquefaction removes
most of these components leaving primarily
methane with small amounts of heavier hydrocarbons.
LNG is clear, colorless, odorless and non-toxic.
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Natural gas is
the cleanest burning fossil fuel, producing
less greenhouse emissions and pollutants
than coal or oil. As LNG, natural gas can
be efficiently transported and stored.
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LNG makes it possible
to import natural gas from distant sources
around the world. LNG takes up only a fraction
(1/600) of the volume of natural gas. This
makes it economical to transport across large
distances, and it can be stored in larger
quantities than gas.
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The Department of Energy (DOE) and the Federal
Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) have
both issued publications containing detailed
information
on LNG and the regulatory process involved
in siting these needed facilities
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Where does it come from?
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There are abundant supplies
of natural gas located throughout the world.
Often these abundant supplies are in located
in remote areas with limited demand for this
resource, such as Trinidad or northern Russia.
These countries convert these supplies into
LNG for export to other nations. Australia,
Algeria, Indonesia, Qatar and Trinidad are
just a few of the countries that currently
export LNG, while many more nations, such
as Norway and Russia, have liquefaction
plants
planned or under construction.
- A map which shows the location of LNG export facilities throughout the Pacific Basin is available from The California Energy Commission website
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How does it get here?
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Specially designed and insulated ships transport the
ultra-cold LNG. LNG ships are among the most expensive
ships of the commercial fleet. These double-hulled
ships, which employ robust containment and safety
systems, are required to meet international maritime
construction and operating standards and stringent
Coast Guard regulations.
- A recent edition of the US Coast Guard's Proceedings Magazine focused on the issues surrounding the marine transport and operations of LNG terminals. This publication can be downloaded at http://www.uscg.mil/proceedings/fall2005lng/toc1.htm
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Why LNG?
- “Access to world natural gas supplies will require a major expansion of LNG terminal import capacity. Without the flexibility such facilities impart, imbalances in supply and demand must inevitably engender price volatility.” Alan Greenspan, April 27, 2004
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- The United States has reached the point
where domestic natural gas supplies are
insufficient to meet growing demand.
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Nearly
one third of the gas produced
in Canada is exported to the
west coast of the U.S.
- Imports
from Canada provide about 90
percent of the gas used in Washington
and about 60 percent used in
Oregon; the remainder of Oregon's
supply
comes from western Wyoming.
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Reliance
on imported
Canadian gas
to meet
the shortfall
in U.S.
natural gas
production is
no longer
a sustainable
solution.
- Although
drilling for
natural gas
in Canada
has increased,
production is
declining at
a rate
of about
2 ½ percent
per year.
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Simultaneously,gas
consumption
is
on
the
increase,
resulting
in
greater
competition
for
these
dwindling
supplies. |
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