Summary
While remote parts of the world are awash with hundreds of trillions of
cubic feet (Tcf) of natural gas, the industrialized West and emerging economies
of the East cannot get enough of the clean-burning, environmentally friendly
fuel. The problem is transporting this compressible fluid long distances and
across major bodies of water. For markets more than 1,500 miles distant,
liquefied natural gas (LNG) has proved to be the most economic option. By
refrigerating natural gas (primarily methane) to 260°F (162°C), thereby
shrinking its volume by 600:1, natural gas in the form of LNG can be
transported in large insulated cryogenic tankers at reasonable cost.
Natural-gas liquefaction is a series of refrigeration systems similar to
home air-conditioning (AC) systems, consisting of a compressor, condenser, and
evaporator to chill and condense the gas. The difference is in the scale and
magnitude of the refrigeration. A typical single-train LNG plant may cost USD
1.5 billion and consume 6 to 8% of the inlet gas as fuel. Because many of the
impurities (e.g., water vapor, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide) and heavier
hydrocarbon compounds in natural gas would freeze at LNG temperatures, they
must first be removed and disposed of or marketed as separate products.
This paper will provide an overview of LNG liquefaction facilities, from
inlet gas receiving to LNG storage and loading. However, the focus is on the
liquefaction process and equipment. Differences among the commercially
available liquefaction processes (e.g., cascade, single mixed refrigerant,
propane precooled mixed refrigerant, double-mixed refrigerant, nitrogen) will
be discussed. The aim is to provide SPE members with a clear understanding of
the technologies, equipment, and process choices required for a successful LNG
project.
© 2011. Society of Petroleum Engineers
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History
- Original manuscript received:
22 October 2010
- Meeting paper published:
20 September 2010
- Revised manuscript received:
28 December 2010
- Manuscript approved:
8 January 2011
- Published online:
13 September 2011
- Version of record:
16 December 2011
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