I read that ultra gigantic mega LNG (methane) ocean transporters could be a Billion US$ (as compared to 200 million US$ now) This is a way to make them for vastly less, perhaps just a tenth that.

Just build the giant pressure vessel then place it at deep water such that the external pressures match those from the LNG. along with equipressure the mass load is minimized.

completely isolated from humans as well as surface structures the precision of the engineering is milder.

If things get really crazy you could just sink it along the deepwater route where even if the container imploded it might become a giant pile of methane hydrates Talk about Deep Horizons.

Its possible that those people that repeatedly move a giant bag of water or ice towing companies could benefit from being the upper surface of a connected LNG transporter. The big bag of moving water keeps things away from the very deep LNG while also possibly running off LNG. Middle East area Cities or countries with LNG facilities would also have waterports as well, bringing benefit to many of those countries.

Cheap transport of LNG reduces incentives to war.
-- beanangel, Jun 10 2011

LNG is not stored at elevated pressure, but at reduced temperature; it's impossible to liquify methane above its critical temperature, which is 190.7K.
-- spidermother, Jun 11 2011


I've just read someone else on this site suggesting using methane as a lift gas for balloons, might be a way to go.
-- j paul, Jun 11 2011


You still have to have a way to get the LNG to the end- user, which is much more complicated if the product is sunk deep underwater. By making one part of the process 'simpler,' another part has become more complex.
-- Alterother, Jun 11 2011


could it not be stored at aqueous water temperature if the surrounding pressure on the pressure container were equal.

I think they only do the fridge thing as the engineering requirements would be greater with a liquid at STP

I do not have a plausible reply to the LNG port, I just figure its possible. truly I figured if they can do apollo soyuz or refuel jets mid air they can link a LNG transporter to a pipe.
-- beanangel, Jun 13 2011


Oh, I'm not denying that it's possible, even plausible. Even if I were in the practice of throwing bones, which I am not, I wouldn't bone this idea. I'm merely pointing out a possible complicating factor that does not exist with the current method.
-- Alterother, Jun 13 2011


Well, I'm denying that it's possible, even plausible, as per my first annotation in which I used the word 'impossible'. If it ain't liquid, it ain't LNG.
-- spidermother, Jun 14 2011


Aye, that be true, matey.
-- Alterother, Jun 14 2011



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