Natural gas and its main characteristics

It is a mixture of simple hydrocarbons composed primarily of methane (CH4) and other heavier hydrocarbons; it may also contain traces of nitrogen, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide and water.

Depending on its origin, it is classified as:

Associated gas: it is the gas that is extracted together with crude oil and contains large quantities of hydrocarbons such as ethane, propane, butane and naphthas.

Unassociated gas: gas found in reservoirs that do not contain crude oil.

Natural gas processing is the industrial processes that transform the hydrocarbon extracted from the subsoil into:

1) Dry gas or commercial natural gas.

2) Liquefied petroleum gas.

There are three main ways to transport dry gas to the consumer market:

1) Through gas pipelines.

2) In the form of liquefied natural gas.

3) In the form of compressed natural gas.

Liquefied natural gas is processed to be transported in liquid form, this process called liquefaction consists of subjecting the gas to low temperatures and high pressures, thus producing a liquid.

After liquefaction, the gas is transported in specially designed ships. At the destination point, the liquid is heated to return it to a gaseous state in a regasification terminal.

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