Carbon footprint assessment of Western Australian LNG production and export to the Chinese market

Abstract

In reviewing the carbon footprint of the production and transportation of 1m3 of LNG to China, this life cycle assessment (LCA) has confirmed that the production and liquefaction stage generates the most GHG emissions (45.4%) followed by the natural gas exploration and separation stage(39%) and the exportation and transportation stage (15.7%). The utilisation of wind power energy as a replacement of gas fired electricity generation could possibly reduce the ‘energy consumption’ related GHG emissions of LNG production by some 36–51%. Similarly, the utilisation of carbon capture and storage to sequester the GHG emitted during electricity production could potentially reduce ‘energy consumption’ related GHG emissions by 33–45%.This LCA will assist exporters, manufacturers, and suppliers in the LNG supply chain with enhanced environmental supply chain management and the management of any future carbon trading pressures on LNG markets.