Demand--pipelines team for Permian ethane economics

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1969 · Petro/Chem Eng.; (United States)

OSTI ID:5199863

Wetzel, Jr, O K

Petrochemcial operations in the U.S. used an all-time high of 7.0 billion gal of natural gas liquids in 1968, according to figures just released by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. This was 36% of the total 19.7-billion gal shipped. Petrochemical usage exceeded residential and commercial usage of 6.7 billion gal. In 1968, total ethane production gained 25.1 to 2.3 billion gal and propane moved up 13.4% to 10.8 billion gal. With this high natural gas liquids demand, Gulf Coast and W. Texas gas-processing plants are being operated to maximize production. Most coastal area plants are already recovering a high percentage of ethane and almost all the propane from the relatively dry Gulf Coast natural gas. This leaves the Permian Basin area of W. Texas-New Mexico as the only untapped source of new ethane and increased propane for petrochemicals. Major pipeline capacity increases for transporting natural gas liquids from this area to the Gulf Coast are already in the works. It appears that operators and engineering contractors have a unique opportunity in the W. Texas-New Mexico area, at the present time, to review their ethane recovery possibilities and take advantage of the improving market; technological advances; and the transportation mechanisms for moving ethane to market. (16 refs.)

• Research Organization: Purvin and Gertz Inc
• OSTI ID: 5199863
• Journal Information: Petro/Chem Eng.; (United States), Journal Name: Petro/Chem Eng.; (United States) Vol. 41:12; ISSN PCHEA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ALKANES
CHEMICAL PLANTS
ECONOMICS
ETHANE
FLUIDS
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LIQUIDS
NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROCHEMICAL PLANTS
PETROCHEMICALS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PIPELINES
PROPANE
TRANSPORT