What Are Natural Gas Liquids?
Natural gas liquids (NGL) are components of natural gas that are separated from the gas state in the form of liquids. This separation occurs in a field facility or a gas processing plant through absorption, condensation, or other methods. There are several types of natural gas liquids and many different applications for NGL products.
Understanding Natural Gas Liquids
Natural gas liquids are valuable as separate products, and it is profitable to remove NGL from the natural gas. The liquids are first extracted from the natural gas and later separated into different components. Natural gas liquids are hydrocarbons. A hydrocarbon is a molecule composed exclusively of carbon and hydrogen. As hydrocarbons, NGLs belong in the same family of molecules as do natural gas and crude oil.
Key Takeaways
- Natural gas liquids are components of natural gas that are separated from the gas state in the form of liquids.
- Applications for NGLs can vary widely and include cooking, heating, plastics, and fuels.
- A disadvantage of NGLs is that they can be expensive to handle, store, and transport.
- The U.S. has a growing export production of natural gas liquids.
Types of NGLs and Their Applications
Natural gas liquids are classified based on their vapor pressure:
- Low = condensate
- Intermediate = natural gas
- High = liquefied petroleum gas
Additionally, chemical compositions of NGLs are similar, but their applications vary widely. Specifically, the many uses of natural gas liquids include cooking, space heating, and blending NGLs into fuels for vehicles.
Ethane
Applications of ethane include plastics production and petrochemical feedstock—raw materials fed into an industrial production process to yield a different end product. End-use products include plastics, plastic bags, antifreeze, and detergent.
Propane
Applications and uses of propane include residential and commercial heating, cooking fuel, small stoves, and petrochemical feedstock. Some vehicles also use propane as fuel.
Butanes
Butanes can be blended with gasoline and propane. Products include synthetic rubber for tires and lighter fuel. In its purest form, butane is useful as a refrigerant. Combined with propane, butane becomes liquified petroleum gas (LPG).
Isobutanes
Industrial use of isobutanes can include refinery feedstock and petrochemical feedstock. End-use products include aerosols and refrigerants.
Pentanes
Pentanes are used in natural gasoline and as a blowing agent for polystyrene foam. Pentanes plus, a special category (also known as natural gasoline), is blended with vehicle fuel and exported for bitumen production in oil sands.
Challenges and Opportunities
The U.S. shale boom increased extraction rates of natural gas liquids and NGL extraction is positively related to the price of crude oil. That’s because, as the market price of crude decreases, oil, gas, and chemical companies expand their offerings to include NGLs and offset lost revenue.
There have been significant advancements in technologies such as horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing techniques, which involve using high-pressured water or liquids to extract gas. As a result, natural gas liquid production has increased steadily. In fact, NGLs provide many natural gas producers with an additional income stream, which can help diversify their revenue.
A challenge with natural gas liquids is that they’re expensive to handle, store, and transport compared to refined products because NGLs require high pressure or low temperature to be maintained in their liquid state for shipment and handling. NGLs are also highly flammable and necessitate the use of special trucks, ships, and storage tanks.
The volatility of the natural gas liquids somewhat limits the number of markets available for their use. Also, as production increases, so too does the need for processing plants that separate NGLs from natural gas.
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NGLs are used in petrochemical feedstock that is turned into various chemical-based products.
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NGLs have many applications including use as home heating, plastic production, and as a fuel.
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NGLs are more widely available with advancements in drilling techniques.
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NGLs offer oil and gas companies additional revenue streams.
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The U.S. has a growing export business in natural gas liquids.
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NGLs are expensive to handle, store, and transport requiring special trucks, storage, and equipment.
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NGLs require high pressure or low temperature to maintain their liquid state for shipment.
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Increased NGL use has led to increased demand for processing plants that separate NGLs from natural gas.
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Their volatility limits the number of natural markets available for their use.
Examples of NGLs
Let’s say that a new production facility opened in Texas, whereby drilling for natural gas has resulted in a significant amount of the fuel. The gas is extracted from the well and sent to a production facility to be heated at various temperatures to generate the NGLs ethane and propane.
The ethane is removed from the natural gas stream after it reaches the necessary boiling point, followed by propane, which is a heavier gas resulting in a lengthier boiling process. Once the propane and ethane have been removed from the natural gas stream, in a process called fractionation, the NGLs travel via a pipeline.
Eventually, natural gas liquids are shipped by specialized trucks to commercial businesses, industrial plants, and the local gas company. The propane can be used for residential and commercial heating as well as cooking. Lastly, ethane is used to create plastics such as water bottles and plastic bags.