1. Oxygen, nitrogen, argon

There are two main distribution options:

• transport and storage in the gas phase for use in the gas phase ;

• transport and storage in the liquid phase for use either in the gas phase after vaporization, or in the liquid phase (or both).

Table 1 gives the main characteristics of the three gases.

Oxygen and nitrogen can also be distributed via pipelines to supply large industrial sites in very large quantities.