About This Course

Liquefied natural gas (LNG) is natural gas (predominantly methane, CH4, with some mixture of ethane C2H6) that has been converted to liquid. Natural gas is frequently cooled for ease of transportation and storage. It must be cooled to at least –162°C (–260°F) when it becomes liquefied natural gas, or LNG. It is clear, odourless, non-toxic and non-corrosive.

Liquefaction takes place when natural gas is cooled under high pressure, condensed and then reduced in pressure for storage. The resulting liquid is 1/600th of the volume of natural gas, and about half as dense as water

Natural gas is mainly converted into LNG to achieve the natural gas transport over the seas where laying pipelines is not feasible technically and economically. Once LNG is transported to markets, it is then regasified and distributed as pipeline natural gas. It can also be further transported as a liquid in what is called in this value chain a "virtual pipeline".

The most important infrastructure needed for LNG production and transportation is an LNG plant consisting of one or more LNG trains, each of which is an independent unit for gas liquefaction.

The import/export trade in natural gas is not nearly as large as the oil trade because it is more difficult to export gas.

This Learning Pathway covers all the elements of the value chain, not only from a technical perspective (liquefaction, cryogenic transportation, and regasification) but it covers as well the specific markets, commercial aspects, pricing and an analysis of project developers and participants.

This Flexible Learning Pathway is structured in a way that allows learners to take only one or several specific courses or embark in a complete understanding of all the elements of this complex value chain.