LNG Research
A primary function of the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG) is to serve as a clearinghouse of information about LNG. This section provides access to research papers on natural gas, liquefied natural gas and U.S. energy needs.
LNG: The Cleaner Fuel Choice, February 2009
A one page summary of the PACE LNG and coal lifecycle assessment.
LifeCycle Assessment of GHG Emissions from LNG and Coal Fired Generation Scenarios:
Assumptions and Results, FEBRUary 2009
As U.S. demand for electricity rises, so does the scrutiny of greenhouse gas emissions produced by coal and natural gas. With America’s growing need for liquefied natural gas to supplement our nation’s natural gas supply, the Center for Liquefied Natural Gas retained PACE to perform an independent analysis to quantify the greenhouse gas emissions released through the lifecycle of electricity production. The study provides a transparent “apples to apples” comparison of the emissions attributable to LNG and the leading coal technologies.
FACING THE HARD TRUTHS ABOUT ENERGY - ONE YEAR LATER, SEPTEMBER 2008
The following presentation is a one year update to the National Petroleum Council’s 2007 Facing the Hard Truths About Energy Report. This report reinforces key findings of the 2007 report including: Demand for fuel and power will grow significantly, requiring increases in efficiency, and expansion of all economic energy sources, increasing risks to the expansion of conventional liquids supplies, significant additions of unconventional liquids supply are projected, recent studies report a larger oil and gas resource endowment, exploration and production expenditures have increased dramatically, growing pressure on cost and availability of project resources is hindering the ability to expand energy production capability, pressures to address carbon emissions and energy security are increasing. In order to meet the accumulating risks, all recommendations of the 2007 Report require implementation with increased urgency.
SANDIA REPORT, MAY 2008
The 2008 Sandia National Laboratories Study, Breach and Safety Analysis of Spills Over Water from Large Liquefied Natural Gas Carriers, assessed the new class of large LNG ships and determined that the risks associated with these larger ships are similar to conventional ships. Although the new ships are up to 80 percent larger than conventional ships, hazard distances are only seven to eight percent greater than with conventional ships. According to the Sandia study “given the location of many proposed offshore facilities, these hazard distances suggest the potential for minimal impact to public safety or property from even a large spill from these larger capacity LNG carriers.”
Facing the Hard Truths about Energy, July 2007
In the last quarter-century, world energy demand has increased by nearly 60 percent. Although the world is replete with energy sources, risks and challenges such as geopolitical restrictions on energy development, trade and security may hinder access to these resources needed to meet the growing global demand. Based on its studies encompassing a broad and long-term view of global energy projections, the National Petroleum Council proposes five strategies to assist markets in meeting future energy challenges and finds that coal, oil and natural gas will remain indispensable to meeting total projected energy demand growth over the next 25 years.
Sandia Report, December 2004
The underlying theme of the December 2004 Sandia report is to develop guidance on safety and security steps that industry and government could take based on a risk-based approach to assess and quantify potential accidents and intentional threats. Such an approach takes into account both the potential consequences of an event and prevention and mitigation steps.
Among the report’s key conclusions:
“Risks from accidental LNG spills, such as from collisions and groundings, are small and manageable with current safety policies and practices.
Risks from intentional events, such as terrorist acts, can be significantly reduced with appropriate security, planning, prevention and mitigation.”
Interstate Natural Gas Association of America Foundation’s Update Assessment of Pipeline and Storage Infrastructure for the North American Gas Market, July 2004
The report is an update of studies performed for the Foundation in 1999 and 2001 with respect to natural gas pipeline and storage infrastructure requirements in the context of the changes in market fundamentals that have taken place since those years. It projects that about $61 billion will have to be spent in infrastructure to accommodate North American demand growth that could reach 30 trillion cubic feet 2020. It projects the negative economic consequences that will affect natural gas customers by 2020 if there is a two-year delay in getting needed infrastructure in place.
LNG Safety and Security, October 2003
In the second segment of the Guide to LNG in North America, the Center for Energy Economics explains how technological advancements, research and stringent policies have ensured an outstanding safety record in the LNG industry for over 40 years.