Definitions of words and terms used in the gas processing industry.
For questions regarding incorrect/outdated entries or suggestion for adding additional terms, please contact Martin Erne
An inverse measure that is used to determine the density of petroleum products in comparison to water.
API gravity is calculated by the following formula: For reference, as the value increases the density decreases and API gravity of water is 10 degrees API.
Equipment used to transfer thermal energy between two or more fluids during cooling or heating processes.
Types of heat exchangers could be shell & tube, plate & frame, air coolers (fin fan), brazed aluminum (BAHX), waste heat, helical-coil, spiral, direct fired, indirect heaters, and others.
A fluid used for conveying heat from a heat source to heat dissipating devices.
Steam is the most commonly used heat medium globally.
A term used to describe the thermal energy content of a fuel.
Heating value is commonly expressed in terms of British Thermal Units or BTU.
The formation of a solid material through the combination of hydrocarbons and water under certain pressure and temperature conditions.
The hot carbonate process or "hot potassium carbonate" process is a method used to remove carbon dioxide from gas mixtures, which is commonly referred to as carbon scrubbing.
An ice-like structure, or "clathrate", consisting of twenty or more water molecules that capture in a caged structure hydrocarbon molecules which are formed at high pressure and low temperature.
Hydrates are often a problem to the hydrocarbon industry because they inhibit flow in wells and pipelines. The most common hydrate we encounter in the hydrocarbon industry is a methane hydrate but there are hydrates that contain other hydrocarbons.
The shutting down or shutting in of a well or pipeline due to ice-like structures being formed.
A high pressure well may require supplemental heating to reduce the potential to hydrate off.
An extremely poisonous, flammable gas with a readily noticeable odor in small concentrations. When combined with water it can be highly corrosive.
A common reference is "sour gas". Refer to sour gas definition for additional context. Can smell like rotten eggs. However, it quickly kills the sense of smell in high concentrations.
A gas where properties are calculated based on the assumption the molecules do not interact with each other.
A gas that obeys the ideal gas law expressed as PV=nRT.
A liquid or solid that is incapable of mixing or attaining homogeneity with another substance.
Two compounds that are incapable of mixing. I.e. oil and water.
Flame fired equipment which combusts substances and converts them to ash, gas, and heat.
A thermal oxidizer would be an example of an incinerator.
Equipment in which heat from a primary source, usually the combustion of fuel, is transferred to a fluid or solid which then acts as the heating medium.
An indirect heater is often used at the well head to prevent a well from hydrating off.
An element or compound that is not reactive or combustible with the surrounding environment.
Nitrogen and helium are examples of inert constituents of natural gases. Inert gasses dilute the gas, do not burn and add no heating value. Inert gases of natural gas are often referred to as "inerts".
This means the same thing as "flammable". It means something is "capable of being inflamed", not that something is "not flammable".
This term is not preferred because it is easily confused with "not flammable."
The vapor phase fluid forced by pressure into a producing formation to increase the rate of production or reduce the rate of decline of the reservoir pressure.
Injection gas is used to prolong the economic productivity of a well.
A well through which the injection gas or other fluid flows into the underground formation.
Injection wells can be production wells where bi-directional flow exists. Not all production wells are injection wells.
Gas entering a processing plant, facility, or individual piece of equipment.
The inlet gas to a processing plant passes through various pieces of equipment to provide merchantable products.
A method for removing hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from natural gas by passing the gas over a bed of wood shavings which have been injected with a form of iron oxide.
An iron sponge unit was used on the inlet gas to make the products merchantable.
A hydrocarbon of the paraffin series with the formula C4H10 having its carbon atoms branched (2-methylpropane).
Isobutane is often referred to as "I-butane" or "I-C4". See also "butane, normal" and refer to GPA 2140 for product specification. Isobutane is commonly used for feedstock when producing polyethylene. Isobutane is also used as part of blended fuels, especially common in fuel canisters, used for camping.
Molecules with an identical chemical formula but different chemical structures.
Isobutane and normal butane are isomers of butane, with each having the chemical formula C4H10.
Water which fills, or is circulated through, a casing which partially or wholly surrounds a vessel or machine element in order to remove, add, or distribute heat and, thereby, to control the temperature within the vessel or element.
Jacket water is often used to protect in freezing conditions or where the heated product is temperature sensitive.
Rail tank cars having capacities of 30,000 gallons (114m3) or more.
Another group of rail cars known as "small jumbo" have capacities ranging from 18,000 to 22,000 gallons (68-83m3). "Standard" rail tank cars have a capacity of 10,000 to 11,000 gallons (38-42m3).
A vessel used to separate free liquids from flowing streams.
Knockout drums are commonly found on flare lines prior to the flare stack.
A method for detecting the presence of hydrogen sulfide in a fluid by discoloration of paper which has been moistened with lead acetate solution.
Lead acetate tests are commonly performed using ASTM D4084.
Amine solution that has been stripped of absorbed acid gases giving a solution suitable for recirculation to the contactor.
The stripping of the lean amine is controlled by adjusting the reboiler heat input.
