Erdgasflüssigkeiten

Erdgasflüssigkeiten, often translated as natural gas liquids (NGLs), are a group of hydrocarbon products recovered from natural gas. These are primarily ethane, propane, butane, and natural gasoline (also known as pentanes plus). NGLs are separated from raw natural gas through a process called natural gas processing or fractionation. Raw natural gas, as extracted from underground reservoirs, typically contains a significant percentage of these heavier hydrocarbon components mixed with methane, the primary component of dry natural gas.

The separation process is crucial because NGLs have different properties and higher economic value than methane. They are typically removed before the natural gas is transported through pipelines for distribution and use as fuel. NGLs are valuable commodities themselves. Ethane is primarily used as a feedstock for the petrochemical industry, particularly in the production of ethylene, a building block for plastics. Propane and butane are widely used as fuels, for heating, cooking, and in vehicles (liquefied petroleum gas or LPG). Natural gasoline, with a higher boiling point, can be blended into motor gasoline.

The recovery and processing of NGLs are integral to the natural gas industry, maximizing the value derived from hydrocarbon reserves and providing essential raw materials and fuels for various sectors. The composition of raw natural gas can vary significantly, influencing the quantity and type of NGLs that can be economically extracted. Advances in extraction and processing technologies have made it more feasible to recover NGLs from a wider range of natural gas sources.