U.S. LNG export capacity will double by next year
The United States is the world’s top producer of petroleum and natural gas hydrocarbons and the country is fully embracing the exportation of liquified natural gas (LNG). In 2016, Brazil was the recipient of Cheniere’s first export of LNG, and now, countries around the globe receive American LNG. By the end of 2020, the export capacity of LNG is expected to double and continue to grow until within the next five years we become the world’s top exporter of liquified natural gas. And Cheniere, the country’s top producer and exporter of LNG, is on the road to readiness for bringing this prediction to fruition. On August 28, Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemical, completed Train 2, Cheniere’s second LNG train at Corpus Christi.
Bechtel Oil, Gas and Chemical and Cheniere have worked together before, completing a total of seven LNG trains in the United States, with more on the way. Train 3, also in Corpus Christi, is already under construction and should be completed by 2021. Bechtel offers a full range of services aside from the construction of LNG train facilities. They construct refineries, chemical plants and tanks. And, impressively, they have constructed enough pipelines to circle the globe twice.
What is an LNG Train?
In order for natural gas to be safely transported from one country to another, it must be liquified (i.e., condensed). Cooling the gas to an amazing -257° F reduces it to a more manageable liquified state. However, raw natural gas contains a few impurities that will freeze at this temperature and cause trouble with equipment, so the natural gas must be purified before it is cooled. This is where the “train” comes into play. An LNG train, rather than being a line of cars on a track, is a line of processes for liquifying natural gas. A typical train generally consists of the following areas:
- Compression
- Propane condenser
- Methane
- Ethane
Supplying the world, while helping at home
Countries around the world have signed agreements to receive our LNG. France, Spain, Indonesia and Singapore are only a few benefitting from America’s natural gas abundance. And not only them, but everyone gains something from our LNG exports: It provides thousands of jobs for our people; thousands of homes around the world have access to reliable energy; and the global environment benefits from the increased use of natural gas for electricity.