The Greenhouse Gas Footprint of LNG Exported from the United States

This paper presents a full lifecycle assessment for greenhouse gas emissions from LNG. These emissions depend on the type of tanker used to transport the LNG, with emissions far larger when LNG is transported by older, steam-powered tankers burning heavy fuel oil. The largest source of emissions in this case is from venting of methane lost by evaporation from the storage tanks, called boil off. Proponents of the increase in LNG exports from the United States often claim a climate benefit, arguing that the alternative to the increased export of LNG both to Europe and Asia would be greater use […]