Regasifying

Regasifying is the process of converting liquefied natural gas (LNG) back into gaseous natural gas by heating it to ambient temperatures. LNG is produced and transported at cryogenic temperatures around -162°C, which allows for efficient long-distance shipment and storage. Regasification returns LNG to a form suitable for injection into natural gas transmission and distribution systems or for use as fuel.

In a regasification facility, LNG is pumped from storage tanks and passed through heat exchangers where heat is transferred to the cryogenic liquid. The heat sources used to vaporize LNG include seawater circulated through open rack vaporisers, submerged combustion vapourisers that use burner heat to warm circulating water, and ambient air vapourisers that transfer heat from outdoor air via finned-tube exchangers. Indirect systems may transfer heat through a circulating medium such as water or oil. The resulting natural gas is then brought up to the required pressure for delivery into pipelines or for use by customers.

Regasification terminals are typically sized to meet regional gas demand and are common at import facilities. Output is commonly expressed in terms of million tonnes per year or in terms of volume such as billion cubic meters per year. The process is integrated with upstream LNG storage and downstream gas pipelines or power plants.

Safety and environmental considerations include handling cryogenic liquids, preventing cold burns and spills, and managing energy usage and seawater impacts in open-rack systems. Regasification is the final step in converting LNG to usable natural gas for markets and energy users.