LNG – what is it?
When natural gas is cooled to 260° F, it becomes a liquefied natural gas (LNG). LNG requires 600 times less storage space than the regular natural gas, making it possible to ship large quantities to distribution centers like the one planned at Ocean Cay. LNG is then regasified into natural gas and fed into pipelines. LNG is the same natural gas used by millions of Americans – and billions of people worldwide – for heating and cooking, only in a different form.

The LNG industry in the U.S. and other countries was developed in order to bring huge gas reserves in different parts of the world, such as North Africa, Indonesia, Australia, the Middle East, Nigeria, Trinidad, and even Alaska to markets in need of more natural gas. Japan imports LNG to meet all its natural gas needs and half of Spain’s natural gas demand is met through LNG.

What are LNG’s physical properties?
Like natural gas, LNG is composed primarily of methane, which is the earth’s most abundant hydrocarbon fuel. Because it contains the least amount of carbon, natural gas burns cleaner than any other fossil fuel. Therefore, it is an excellent fuel choice from an environmental standpoint.

How safe is the equipment used to handle LNG?
The LNG industry has one of the best safety records among fuel suppliers worldwide. The ships and storage tanks are all double-walled, with insulation between the walls to ensure the LNG stays cold. This type of construction makes these vessels extremely resistant to failure.

Is LNG really safe for the environment?
Environmentally, LNG has the least impact of the fossil fuels. If spilled on water or land, it will not mix with the water/soil but evaporates and dissipates into the air. As a vehicle fuel, natural gas is much cleaner, reducing particulate emissions to near zero and CO2 emissions by 70%. When burned for power generation, because of the volumes, the results are even more dramatic – SO2 emissions are virtually eliminated, and CO2 emissions are reduced by 40%.

What safety factors are considered in the design of LNG facilities?
All facilities that handle LNG are essentially designed to prevent fires and contain the LNG. This is true in plant areas for processing LNG, transferring LNG to and from LNG ships, shipping LNG or vaporizing (or regasifying) LNG. There are differences in design, but the environmental, health and safety issues are the same. The major risk factors for LNG are its very cold temperatures (cryogenic) and its flammability.

What happens if LNG spills on the water?
When small amounts of LNG are spilled over water, most of the liquid will vaporize before it comes in contact with the water unless a very large spill occurs. If liquid does make its way to the water surface, the LNG absorbs the heat from the water very quickly. LNG does not mix with the water and it does not form “slicks” as other petroleum products do. It simply evaporates and dissipates.

*taken from the British Petroleum article, “Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Safety and Environmental Facts.”