Natural Gas Term of the Week: Gasification

What it means: The process during which liquefied natural gas (LNG) is returned to its vapor or gaseous state through an increase in temperature and a decrease in pressure.

See it in action: While LNG is an excellent method for the storage and transport of natural gas; conventional use requires it to be warmed from its liquid form at -160c (-256f) back to a gas. This physical process involves slowly warming the LNG through a series of pipes and vaporizers. Four NWGA members own and operate their own LNG facilities as a means of providing extra capacity in times of high demand, they are:

• FortisBC, on Vancouver Island
• Intermountain Gas, in Nampa, ID
• NW Natural, in Portland, OR and Newport, OR
• Williams NW Pipeline in Plymouth, WA

Each facility siphons off a small portion of their gas supply during warmer months to be stored as LNG; once needed, this LNG undergoes gasification and is added to the system to ensure adequate supply for customers.

A Natural Gas Term of the Week is posted each Monday, check back weekly to boost your natural gas IQ.  Follow the NWGA on Twitter @Ben_at_NWGA

Author: Ben
Published: July 11, 2012
Last Updated: July 11, 2012