How do you calculate LNG transfer loss cost?

Multiply the hourly loss rate by the transfer duration to get the liquid lost, then multiply by the LNG cost basis. At 12 gal/hr for 8 hours times $3.50/gal, that is 96 gal lost x $3.50 = $336.

How much LNG is lost in the example transfer?

96 gallons of liquid-equivalent LNG — 12 gal/hr over the 8-hour transfer — which at $3.50/gal costs $336.

What causes LNG transfer loss?

Heat leak into hoses and lines, flashing of warm or under-cooled liquid, line cooldown, and vapor displaced from the receiving tank. Longer, warmer, lower-flow transfers lose more.

How can I reduce LNG transfer loss?

Pre-cool lines, use vacuum-jacketed hoses, transfer faster to cut exposure time, keep liquid subcooled, and route boil-off to a vapor-recovery or re-liquefaction system instead of venting.

Is the loss rate the same as boil-off rate?

They overlap. The transfer loss rate here is the liquid-equivalent lost per hour during the transfer specifically, which includes boil-off plus venting and cooldown losses tied to the operation.

What LNG cost basis should I use?

Use your delivered or produced cost per gallon of liquid, not the gas-equivalent price. The example uses $3.50/gal; substitute your own landed cost so the loss dollars reflect what the lost product is actually worth to you.

Cryogenic Storage & LNG Equipment calculator

LNG Transfer Loss Calculator

LNG transfer loss is the boil-off and venting that occurs while moving liquefied natural gas between tanks, trailers, and dispensers, converted into a dollar cost. Terminal operators, fleet fueling managers, and cryogenic engineers track it because every hour of transfer drives heat into the cold liquid, flashing some of it to vapor that is vented or recovered at a cost. Quantifying loss per transfer turns an invisible operational leak into a line item you can target with better hose insulation, faster transfers, and vapor recovery. It is a core input to LNG cost-of-product and transfer-efficiency tracking.

What this calculator does

Estimate LNG transfer loss and cost from loss rate, transfer duration, and LNG cost per gallon or kilogram.
Use it when lng transfer loss in cryogenic storage and lng equipment is being quoted and consumables are a real chunk of the cost stack.
It computes the liquid-equivalent LNG lost during a transfer (loss rate times duration) and the cost of that loss at your LNG cost basis.

Formula used

Liquid-equivalent LNG lost = LNG transfer loss rate × transfer duration
LNG transfer loss cost = liquid-equivalent LNG lost × LNG cost basis

Inputs explained

LNG transfer loss rate:
LNG transfer duration:
LNG cost basis:

How to use the result

Use it to cost boil-off and venting losses for a given transfer operation and to compare loss across hoses, durations, or procedures.
It assumes a constant hourly loss rate; real boil-off varies with starting temperature, ambient conditions, flow rate, and whether vapor is recovered or vented, so it is an estimate, not a metered measurement.

Current U.S. benchmarks

Global copper trades at $13,484 per tonne (IMF via FRED, May 2026), up 41.5% in a year, and U.S. industrial electricity averages 8.66 cents per kWh. Both feed electrified-hardware unit economics.
Steel mill PPI stands at 348.53 (BLS, May 2026), up 6.7% from a year earlier. New factory orders are up 2.3% year over year (Census).

Common questions

How do you calculate LNG transfer loss cost? Multiply the hourly loss rate by the transfer duration to get the liquid lost, then multiply by the LNG cost basis. At 12 gal/hr for 8 hours times $3.50/gal, that is 96 gal lost x $3.50 = $336.
How much LNG is lost in the example transfer? 96 gallons of liquid-equivalent LNG — 12 gal/hr over the 8-hour transfer — which at $3.50/gal costs $336.
What causes LNG transfer loss? Heat leak into hoses and lines, flashing of warm or under-cooled liquid, line cooldown, and vapor displaced from the receiving tank. Longer, warmer, lower-flow transfers lose more.
How can I reduce LNG transfer loss? Pre-cool lines, use vacuum-jacketed hoses, transfer faster to cut exposure time, keep liquid subcooled, and route boil-off to a vapor-recovery or re-liquefaction system instead of venting.
Is the loss rate the same as boil-off rate? They overlap. The transfer loss rate here is the liquid-equivalent lost per hour during the transfer specifically, which includes boil-off plus venting and cooldown losses tied to the operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.