Liquefied Natural Gas Exporting is
scheduled to expand its exporting capacity at Elba Island in Savannah GA harbor
for export via LNG tankers.
“Subject to regulatory approvals,
the first of 10 liquefaction units is expected to be placed in service in the
first quarter of 2018, with the remaining nine units coming online before the
end of 2018.
In 2012, the project received
authorization from the Department of Energy to export to Free Trade Agreement
(FTA) countries. An application to export to non-FTA countries is pending.
Under full development, the Elba Liquefaction Project is expected to have a
total capacity of approximately 2.5 million tonnes per year of LNG for export,
which is equivalent to approximately 350,000 Mcf per day of natural gas.”
http://www.kindermorgan.com/business/gas_pipelines/projects/elbaLNG
What
is LNG?
Liquefied natural gas, or LNG, is
natural gas in its liquid form. When natural gas is cooled to minus 259 degrees
Fahrenheit (-161 degrees Celsius), it becomes a clear, colorless, odorless
liquid. LNG is neither corrosive nor toxic. Natural gas is primarily methane,
with low concentrations of other hydrocarbons,
water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, oxygen and some sulfur compounds. During the
process known as liquefaction,
natural gas is cooled below its boiling point, removing most of these
compounds. The remaining natural gas is primarily methane with only small
amounts of other hydrocarbons. LNG weighs less than half the weight of water so
it will float if spilled on water.
Where
does LNG come from?
A majority of the world's LNG supply
comes from countries with large natural gas reserves. These countries include
Algeria, Australia, Brunei, Indonesia, Libya, Malaysia, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar,
and Trinidad and Tobago.
What
countries import LNG?
There are 91 LNG receiving terminals
located worldwide. Japan, South Korea, and a number of European Counties import
LNG. The United States still imports small amounts of LNG, but far less than it
did prior to the current increases in shale gas production. (Source: Bureau of
Economic Geology, University of Texas at Austin, Introduction to LNG.)
Will
California become an exporter of LNG?
The increase in shale gas production
and lower price in the United States has renewed interest in exporting LNG.
Currently, there are 28 planned LNG export terminals that have filed with the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) for licenses
to export to non-Free Trade Agreement
countries. DOE has been cautious about approving these licenses because of
concerns that high levels of LNG exports might cause gas shortages and price
increases in the United States. Prospective export terminals can take two to
four years to build and cost billions of dollars. In that time frame, the
foreign market for U.S. LNG could be met by other sources closer to demand,
such as Australia or Qatar. Among the four approved export terminals, only the
Sabine Pass LNG terminal in the Cameron Parish of Louisiana has begun
construction. The prospects for California to be an exporter are extremely low
as the state is neither a big producer nor net exporter of natural gas.
Where
are LNG import terminals located in the United States?
Currently, there are neither
existing LNG import terminals located in California, nor are there any pending
LNG import terminals awaiting approval. A few LNG projects were proposed in the
Pacific Northwest. LNG terminals in the United States are located in Everett,
Massachusetts; Cove Point, Maryland; Elba Island, Georgia; and Lake Charles,
Louisiana; Offshore Boston; Gulf of Mexico; Freeport, Texas; Sabine, Louisiana;
and Peñuelas, Puerto Rico.
For more information, please visit: DOE
LNG maps: http://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2013/04/f0/LNG%20Import%20%26%20Export%20Terminal%20Maps%2012-18-2012.pdf
DOE list of proposed and approved
LNG export applications:http://www.energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/02/f8/Summary%20of%20LNG%20Export%20Applications.pdf
How
is LNG transported?
LNG is transported in double-hulled
ships specifically designed to handle the low temperature of LNG. These
carriers are insulated to limit the amount of LNG that boils off or evaporates.
This boils off gas
is sometimes used to supplement fuel for the carriers. LNG carriers are up to
1000 feet long, and require a minimum water depth of 40 feet when fully loaded.
As of 2012, there were 360 ships transporting more than 220 million metric tons
of LNG every year. (Source: Bureau of Economic Geology, University of Texas at
Austin, Introduction to LNG.)
How
is LNG stored?
When LNG is received at most
terminals, it is transferred to insulated storage tanks that are built to
specifically hold LNG. These tanks can be found above or below ground and keep
the liquid at a low temperature to minimize the amount of evaporation. If LNG
vapors are not released, the pressure and temperature within the tank will
continue to rise. LNG is characterized as a cryogen, a
liquefied gas kept in its liquid state at very low temperatures. The
temperature within the tank will remain constant if the pressure is kept
constant by allowing the boil off gas to escape from the tank. This is known
as auto-refrigeration. The boil-off gas is collected and used as a fuel source in
the facility or on the tanker transporting it. When natural gas is needed, the
LNG is warmed to a point where it converts back to its gaseous state. This is
accomplished using a regasification process involving heat exchangers.
How
is natural gas stored?
Natural gas may be stored in a
number of different ways. It is most commonly stored underground under pressure
in three types of facilities. The most commonly used in California are depleted
reservoirs in oil and/or gas fields because they are more available. Aquifers
and salt cavern formations are also used under certain conditions. The
characteristics and economics of each type of storage site will dictate its
suitability for use. Two of the most important characteristics of an
underground storage reservoir are its capability to hold natural gas for future
use and its deliverability rate. The deliverability rate is determined by the withdrawal capacity of the
associated valves and compressors and the total amount of gas in the reservoir.
In other states, natural gas is also stored as LNG after the natural gas has
been liquefied and placed in above-ground storage tanks. (Source: U.S.
Department of Energy, Energy Information Administration.)
How
is LNG used?
LNG is normally warmed to make
natural gas to be used in heating and cooking as well as electricity generation
and other industrial uses. LNG can also be kept as a liquid to be used as an
alternative transportation fuel.
Why
use LNG?
Natural gas is the cleanest burning
fossil fuel. It produces less emissions and pollutants than either coal or oil.
Historically the United States imported LNG to numerous import facilities along
the Gulf Coast and on the East Coast, but as shale gas production has grown in
numerous U.S. supply basins, many existing and proposed LNG facilities have
applied for licenses to export LNG to foreign countries. Since LNG occupies
only a fraction (1/600) of the volume of natural gas, and takes up less space,
it is more economical to transport across large distances and can be stored in
larger quantities. LNG is a price-competitive source of energy that could help
meet future economic needs in many foreign countries.
Is
LNG flammable?
It depends. When cold LNG comes in
contact with warmer air, it becomes a visible vapor cloud. As it continues to
get warmer, the vapor cloud becomes lighter than air and rises. When LNG vapor
mixes with air it is only flammable if within 5%-15% natural gas in air. Less
than this is not enough to burn. More than this, there is too much gas in the
air and not enough oxygen for it to burn.
Is
LNG explosive?
As a liquid, LNG is not explosive.
LNG vapor will only explode if in an enclosed space. LNG vapor is only
explosive if within the flammable range of 5%-15% when mixed with air.
Comments
As
projects like the expansion at Elba Island are completed, we will have the
capacity to export our natural gas. US LNG exports will reduce our trade
deficit. This increase was made possible
when fracking was employed to extract oil and natural gas from US drilling
sites. The US will be energy independent
and will be an exporter of oil and natural gas.
Norb
Leahy, Dunwoody GA Tea Party Leader
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