The natural gas delivered by pipelines to LNG facilities is just like the gas people use to power the furnaces and stoves in their homes. At an LNG facility, the natural gas is passed through a filter, which cleans the gas, and removes microscopic quantities of compounds such as carbon dioxide, water and other gases are removed so that they don’t freeze and cause a blockage in the cooling equipment.

The natural gas then goes through a train, which is like a giant refrigerator, that cools the natural gas down to -162C, turning it into a liquid.

That liquid, now LNG, is then stored at near atmospheric pressure (like water in a swimming pool) in insulated, double walled storage tanks specifically designed for LNG storage. These LNG storage tanks typically feature an inner containment chamber and multiple layers of insulation.

Liquefied natural gas at an LNG facility is stored like liquid water in a pool rather than under pressure like propane in a BBQ tank. As a result, there is no risk of explosion.

For more information:
BC LNG Alliance
Center for Liquefied Natural Gas (CLNG)
LNG 101 (Government of BC)
LNG in BC
Ministry of Natural Gas Development