What is the difference between gas and condensate

Moreover, these reactions are a versatile class of reactions that take place in acidic or basic conditions or in the presence of a catalyst. These reactions are very important for life because it is essential in the formation of the peptide bonds during amino acid synthesis and the biosynthesis of fatty acids. Natural gas liquid is a low-density mixture of hydrocarbon liquids that occurs as gaseous compounds in raw natural gas that forms from many natural gas fields.

It is also known as natural gas condensates. In this formation, some gas components in the raw natural gas tend to condense, forming a liquid state upon the reduction of temperature to below the dew point of hydrocarbons at a constant pressure. Natural gas liquid contains hydrocarbons within the gasoline boiling range. There are three types of gas wells from where the natural gas liquids are obtained; crude oil wells, dry gas wells and condensate wells.

When considering the composition of natural gas liquids, it contains heavier straight-chain alkanes, hydrogen sulfide, thiols, carbon dioxide, cyclohexane, BTX aromatic compounds such as benzene , etc.

We can separate natural gas liquid from raw natural gas using different equipment, as shown in the above image. However, we can name natural gas liquid as natural gas condensate. Butane is used as a gasoline additive as an oxygenate to reduce pollution. This blend has to remain pressurized to be liquid. Some heavier hydrocarbons with more hydrogen atoms, such as hexane and heptane, can also be recovered from the fractionisation of the gas stream. Skip to content. What is available in a natural gas field; difference between natural gas liquids and gas condensates.

This made sense at one time, when natural gas liquids and condensates were relatively minor byproducts of natural gas production and the refining industry. But as they become increasingly important, the inconsistent and confusing definition of natural gas liquids reduces transparency and makes sensible policymaking impossible. New and more consistent definitions are needed that harmonize the classification of natural gas liquids and other condensates, whether they come from an oil field, a gas field, a gas processing plant or a refinery.

The obvious approach is to define condensate by its physical characteristics or chemical composition. Condensates and natural gas liquids are typically lighter than most crudes, so one option would be to base a new definition on the API measure of specific gravity, where lighter hydrocarbons have higher numbers.

Much of the oil industry already employs this approach. Some experts have suggested that the federal government define condensates as any hydrocarbons that are liquid at standard pressure and temperature and have an API gravity of more than 50 degrees. Hexane has an API gravity over 80, pentane over 90 and butane over , which are all well above the suggested degree threshold. But some other light crudes would also be caught by this definition. The challenge will be setting the cut-off point to minimize the incentive for oil producers to claim that their light crude is actually condensate or natural gasoline to secure more favorable regulatory treatment.

Once a definition of condensate based on API gravity is agreed, the data collection system, export controls and other parts of the U. Code of Federal Regulations will all then need to be revamped to use the new definition.

Then and only then will policymakers, regulators and the industry be able to get a clear sense of how much is being produced and what controls, if any, should be maintained on exports. Commodities Updated. By John Kemp 8 Min Read. Pump jacks are seen in the Midway Sunset oilfield, California, April 29,