Propane extractor could allow small dealers to obtain product as in 'old days'

Journal Article · Thu Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1977 · Butane-Propane News; (United States)

OSTI ID:5880533

Ainsworth, A G; McClanahan, D N

A growing trend for small natural gas plant operators to install cryogenic demethanizers lets them recover ethane and heavier hydrocarbons as a single raw-make product for pipelining to a central location for fractionation, instead of producing LPG for local sales. The local LPG dealers must then transport LPG a substantial distance from the central fractionator. A possible solution to the dealers' supply problem is proposed: construct small portable processing units (computer-controlled for unattended operation) which would receive a portion of the raw-make liquid from a pipeline, extract propane as LPG, and return the balance of the stream to the pipeline, storing LPG for loading local transports. Not only would transportation costs be reduced, but local key operated loading facilities would be open at all hours of the day or night, seven days a week; the alternative would be long lines of transports waiting to load at central facilties during limited loading times. In Texas, residential LPG usage of about 40,000 bbl/day (10% of estimated raw liquid volumes) would require greater than 80 units of the new Propane Extraction Process. Diagrams are included.

• Research Organization: Universal, Inc.
• OSTI ID: 5880533
• Journal Information: Butane-Propane News; (United States), Journal Name: Butane-Propane News; (United States) Vol. 9:12; ISSN BUPNA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030400 -- Natural Gas-- Products & By-Products
030600* -- Natural Gas-- Economic
Industrial
& Business Aspects
032000 -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ALKANES
COST
ECONOMICS
ETHANE
EXTRACTION
FLUIDS
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
LIQUEFIED GASES
LIQUEFIED PETROLEUM GASES
LIQUIDS
NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS
NATURAL GAS PROCESSING PLANTS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
PROPANE
RECOVERY
SEPARATION PROCESSES
TRANSPORT