Lockheed Martin to develop liquefied natural gas tanks in Louisiana, US

US-based Lockheed Martin said that it will use its know-how in manufacturing space shuttle external tanks to develop liquefied natural gas (LNG) tanks, for storage and transportation at its Louisiana facility.

The company said it has received initial orders to develop cryogenic tanks for fuelling LNG powered vessels.

Based on its longer-range LNG business plan, Lockheed will adapt production equipment it uses to develop the external tank for the space shuttle for a variety of LNG supply chain applications.

Lockheed will manufacture tanks in different sizes and capacities for multiple transportation applications, which include distribution by land, rail, waterway and land-based LNG storage.

All the tanks will be manufactured in line with ASME standards for pressurised storage and transportation of cryogenic materials.

Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal said Lockheed Martin’s investment shows its confidence towards Louisiana’s world-class infrastructure, strong business climate and unparalleled workforce.

Lockheed Martin Information Systems & Global Solutions-Defense president, Gerry Fasano, said the company’s entry into the LNG tank market is an example of its capabilities and technologies developed for government programmes, which will also meet the need of private sector customers.

"Initiatives such as this help exploit the economic advantages of natural gas, while simultaneously helping reduce greenhouse gas emissions," Fasano added.

In addition to manufacturing external tanks, Lockheed’s LNG tank manufacturing team will develop variety of capabilities for a wide range of other programmes, such as spanning propellant handling, assembly, test and integration, composites manufacturing and production facility and tool design.

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Image: Lockheed said that it has received initial orders to develop cryogenic tanks for fuelling LNG powered vessels. Photo: Courtesy of Coolcaesar.