System for vehicular, land-based distribution of liquefied natural gas

A tanker truck for transporting a pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and at a temperature of about -123.degree. C. (-190.degree. F.) to about -62.degree. C. (-80.degree. F.), wherein said tanker truck has at least one storage container that is constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about -73.degree. C. (-100.degree. F.), wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas.

A system for transporting a pressurized liquefied natural gas to a destination site, wherein said pressurized liquefied natural gas has a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and a temperature of about -123.degree. C. (-190.degree. F.) to about -62.degree. C. (-80.degree. F.), said system comprising at least one tanker truck, wherein said at least one tanker truck has at least one storage container that is constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about -73.degree. C. (-100.degree. F.), and wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas.

A container suitable for use in a tanker truck for transporting pressurized liquefied natural gas at a pressure of about 1725 kPa (250 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and at a temperature of about -112.degree. C. (-170.degree. F.) to about -62.degree. C. (-80.degree. F.), said container being constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of a low-alloy, high-strength steel containing less than about 2 wt % nickel and having adequate strength and fracture toughness to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas, wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas.

A method of transporting a pressurized liquefied natural gas from a storage site to a destination site, wherein said pressurized liquefied natural gas has a pressure of about 1035 kPa (150 psia) to about 7590 kPa (1100 psia) and a temperature of about -123.degree. C. (-190.degree. F.) to about -62.degree. C. (-80.degree. F.), said method comprising the step of (a) transporting said pressurized liquefied natural gas in a tanker truck, wherein said tanker truck has at least one storage container that is constructed by joining together a plurality of discrete plates of materials comprising an ultra-high strength, low alloy steel containing less than 9 wt % nickel and having a tensile strength greater than 830 MPa (120 ksi) and a DBTT lower than about -73.degree. C. (-100.degree. F.), and wherein joints between said discrete plates have adequate strength and toughness at said pressure and temperature conditions to contain said pressurized liquefied natural gas.