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For questions regarding incorrect/outdated entries or suggestion for adding additional terms, please contact Martin Erne
A contract for taking raw gas fluids and converting them into merchantable products.
Processing agreements are typically entered into between gas owners, plant operators, and/or other associated parties to define the split ratios and associated charges for the merchantable products.
A paraffinic compound having the chemical formula C3H8.
Propane is most commonly used for heating.
A specific grade of propane meeting the GPA Publications 2140 HD-5 propane specifications.
HD-5 propane is the most common and highest grade propane available to consumers.
A liquefied hydrocarbon product consisting predominately of propane and/or propylene and is ready for commercial use.
Commercial propane typically complies with GPA Publication 2140 specifications.
An olefinic compound having the chemical formula C3H6.
Propylene is a colorless and flammable gas and is often referred to as “propene”.
A mechanical device that is used to move a fluid.
Typically, pump refers to devices used to move liquids and compressors are pumps used to move gas. Typical pump types used in the midstream industry to move liquids are reciprocating, screw, and centrifugal.
A multiple-stage refrigeration cycle used for LNG production to liquify natural gas utilizing 3 types of refrigerants: propane, ethylene and methane.
A PCC unit is often the main refrigeration unit immediately upstream of a methane tower in an LNG facility.
Unprocessed natural gas.
Raw gas is often the inlet feed to a gas plant for processing.
Unfractionated product from a gas processing facility.
Raw mix liquids are fractionated to produce merchantable NGL products.
A vapor phase mixture that deviates from the ideal gas law due to intermolecular forces
Real gas volumes are used to calculate the value of natural gas.
A device used to heat distillation column bottoms to its boiling point.
The liquid product contained too much ethane due to reboiler temperature being set too low.
A vessel in which a process stream or product, especially a condensed overhead, is temporarily stored.
The reflux to the column is obtained from the overhead receiver.
A device which captures undesirable high boiling point contaminants of a stream and separates them from the desired lighter materials.
A reclaimer is often used to purified contaminated glycol.
That percent or fraction of a given component in the plant feed which is recovered as plant product.
The demethanizer is often designed for ninety percent ethane recovery.
The return of a stream or a part of a stream to a previous processing location for additional recovery of the desired components and/or for operational control.
Surge control is a specific type of recycle stream.
In fractionation or distillation, the portion of condensed overhead product returned to the column to enhance achievable purity of the overhead product.
By increasing the reflux, the purity of the overhead product is increased.
The term applied to the distillation process to give a relative measurement to the volume of reflux to the overhead product volume.
The reflux ratio is a key parameter to determining the number of theoretical stages required in the column.
A process that uses compression, liquefication, and evaporation for cooling needs.
The refrigeration process aids in the extraction of NGLs from natural gas.
The mass of a specific volume of fluid divided by the mass of a specific volume of reference fluid, per the specified conditions.
Relative density of liquids is most commonly calculated using pure water as the reference fluid. Relative density is sometimes incorrectly referred to as specific gravity.
The equipment used for temporarily releasing fluid to avoid a pressure in excess of the design pressure for a vessel or piping arrangement.
Relief systems can also be referred to as over-pressure protection systems and can be installed as an extra safety measure in case regulation systems fail. The most common relief systems are pressure relief valves (PRV) or pressure safety valves (PSV).
Estimated quantities of gas and liquid hydrocarbon reservoir fluids which geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be recoverable.
The oil and gas reserves in the area are not currently recoverable due to environmental regulations.
The material which remains after a separation process.
Residue gas is that gas remaining after the extraction of liquid products. Residue may also be the heaviest liquid or solid remaining after a distillation or other reclaiming process.
A phase behavior phenomenon where liquids condense from a gas as pressure is reduced.
The opposite of retrograde consendation is normal condensation, where liquids condense from a gas with an increase of pressure.
A base solution containing the acid gases it is designed to absorb.
Rich amine is sent to the reboiler to remove the acid gases it absorbed in the contactor, creating lean amine which is returned to the contactor to repeat the cycle.
A hydrocarbon vapor stream containing a sufficient quantity of liquifiable hydrocarbons deemed economically suitable as feed to a gas processing plant and from which liquid hydrocarbon products can be extracted.
Rich gas has higher theoretical liquid hydrocarbon content than lean gas.
