You call this a processing plant, but any definition for removing impurities from a substance is called refining. Why is this not called a refinery, or is that a dirty word in the fossil fuel industry?

Hi David,

Thanks for your question.

The Woodfibre LNG Project is a proposed liquefied natural gas (LNG) processing and export facility.

If our project goes ahead, Woodfibre LNG will receive natural gas from an expanded FortisBC pipeline that currently delivers natural gas to homes and businesses in Squamish, Metro Vancouver and Vancouver Island.

Elements that would freeze during the liquefaction process will be removed from the natural gas in the pre-treatment and liquefaction plant.

The remaining gas, which is mostly methane, will then be cooled until it changes from a gas state to a liquid state (- 162°C).
Three to four times a month, an LNG carrier will arrive at the Woodfibre site. LNG will be loaded onto the carrier. About 24 hours after arriving, the LNG carrier will head out of Howe Sound, on its way to overseas customers.

As for oil refineries, if you are interested in learning about oil refineries, the Natural Resources Canada’s web site is a wonderful resource.  You’ll find it here: https://www.nrcan.gc.ca/energy/energy-sources-distribution