Gas Compression
LNG Infrastructure
LNG infrastructure is one of the most capital-intensive and compression-dependent sectors in the global energy industry — moving natural gas across oceans in liquefied form and regasifying it for distribution at import terminals worldwide. At every stage of the LNG chain, from liquefaction through shipping to regasification, compressors play a critical role in keeping the facility operating safely and continuously.
NEXT Lubricants supports LNG infrastructure with compressor lubricants developed for liquefaction refrigerant circuits, boil-off gas compression and regasification duties.
Compression process
LNG Infrastructure — Process, Applications & Compressor Role
Liquefied natural gas is produced by cooling natural gas to approximately -162°C, reducing its volume by a factor of around 600 for efficient ocean transport by LNG carrier. At export terminals, natural gas is pretreated, liquefied through multi-stage refrigerant compression circuits and loaded onto carriers. At import terminals, LNG is received, stored in cryogenic tanks and regasified for injection into the local gas grid or direct supply to industrial consumers. Each stage of this chain involves compression duties with distinct operating conditions — from the demanding refrigerant circuits of liquefaction through to the boil-off gas management systems that handle vapour generated during storage and loading.
Compressors in LNG facilities operate at some of the most demanding conditions in the gas industry — combining cryogenic or near-cryogenic suction temperatures, high operating pressures and continuous duty in facilities where compressor availability directly determines plant output and shipping schedules. Boil-off gas compressors at both export and import terminals handle cold, low-pressure gas generated by heat ingress into cryogenic storage tanks, returning it to the process or using it as fuel — requiring reliable performance at sub-ambient conditions throughout the facility’s operating life.
LNG Liquefaction
Refrigerant compression circuits cool natural gas through multiple stages from ambient temperature down to -162°C, using propane, ethylene and methane refrigerant circuits in cascade or mixed refrigerant liquefaction processes at export terminals.
Boil-Off Gas Compression
Compressors handle boil-off gas generated by heat ingress into LNG storage tanks and carrier cargo tanks — returning it to the liquefaction process, using it as fuel for the facility or reliquefying it for storage, depending on the terminal configuration.
Regasification & Send-Out
At import terminals, LNG is vaporised and compressed to the pressures required for injection into high-pressure transmission pipelines, with send-out compressors maintaining supply pressure across the range of demand conditions and seasonal flow rates.
Floating LNG & FSRU
Floating LNG production and floating storage and regasification units bring the same liquefaction and regasification compression duties to offshore and nearshore locations, where compactness, weight constraints and marine operating conditions add further requirements to the compression system.
Related Applications
Explore Other Gas Compression Applications
LNG infrastructure is one part of a broader gas compression landscape. NEXT Lubricants also supports the following applications.
CO₂ Compression
Compression of carbon dioxide in carbon capture, industrial CO₂ supply and process applications where high-pressure CO₂ handling requires specific consideration.
Hydrocarbon Gas Compression
Process gas compression in oil refining and gas processing across a range of hydrocarbon gas streams and operating conditions.
Petrochemical Gas Compression
Process gas compression in petrochemical manufacturing where gas streams include reactive and specialty components under demanding operating conditions.
Sour Gas Compression
Compression of gas streams containing hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) and carbon dioxide (CO₂) where gas composition places specific demands on materials and lubricant compatibility.