For 40 years the LNG industry has been safely producing, transporting, receiving and regasifying LNG around the world. There have been more than 33,000 LNG carrier voyages worldwide covering more than 60 million miles without a major accident. This record is based on an emphasis on safety and attention to detail in engineering, construction and operations. This emphasis has been codified in stringent safety standards that have been adopted by many countries, including the United States, Japan, Australia and European nations.

The LNG industry is often described by the expression the "LNG chain." This is a reference to the fact that LNG projects include many elements requiring large scale and alignment throughout the phases of supply production, liquefaction, transportation, regasification and distribution to consumers.

LNG is already a significant supply source for many countries in the world. The LNG industry has been steadily growing since the first deliveries flowed to Europe in 1964. Propelled by growing natural gas demand in countries where domestic production was inadequate to cover local needs, the global LNG trade has grown at an annual rate of about 8% since the late seventies. Initially most LNG was produced in Africa and Asia, and more recently (throughout the nineties) additional production has come from the Middle East and Trinidad. The largest consuming regions for LNG include Asia and Europe, but the United States and Europe are expected to support substantial new LNG demand growth.