LNG storage tanks
LNG storage tanks:
LNG tanks are the biggest type of storage tanks in the world. LNG stands for liquid natural gas. These tanks are specially designed to maintain the -163 degrees celcius temperature to keep the natural gas liquid. The relatively high cost of production of LNG and the need to store it in expensive cryogenic tanks ( to maintain the low temperatures ) gives the need of big tanks ( larger then in the oil industry ) to minimize costs. LNG tanks are always of double-wall construction with extremely efficient insulation between the walls. Large tanks are low aspect ratio (height to width) and cylindrical in design with a domed roof. There are a lot of safety measures to these tanks because if it escapes from a storage tank or ship, it can quickly vaporize. If this vapor ignites, it can create an immense fireball that would incinerate everything in its path.
The biggest LNG storage tank in the world is situated on Elbas Island near Savannah in the U.S. Below you can see some pictures ( from live search maps birdview) during it's construction:
The world's largest LNG export terminal is called the Sakhalin II terminal and is situated on the Sakhalin island in the Russian Far East. The storage tanks on this project belong to the largests in the world and have a storage capacity of 1.2 mln barrels (190,000 m3 ), The picture below shows what a giant impact these structures have on the once peaceful beach of the village nearby:
Another large LNG terminal is the Bontang LNG Plant in Bontang in Indonesia. The 6 tanks on this site are all more then 80 metres in diameter:
And what about the liquefied natural gas storage tanks at the Yemen L.N.G project which was recently build near (not yet visible in google maps) Balhaf in Yemen. These storage tanks are aboslutely huge as you can see in the pictures below (Click to enlarge)
Here you can see a worker who walks through one of two main storage tanks:
Another large liquid gas storage tank was build in the Senboku LNG terminal II in the harbour of Osaka. This thing was build in 2000 and was the world's largest aboveground LNG storage tank for a long time. This thing is 60 metres high and has diameter of 80 metres.
To view the size of these LNG tanks even better you can enlarge the picture below by clicking on it. The people on top are dwarved by the huge tank. This thing stands here in the harbour of Guangdong in China:
