Difference between associated and natural gas.

Natural gas comes in many varieties. So, it can be presented in a standard form, or it can be classified as incidental. What are its characteristics in both cases?

What are the features of associated gas?

Associated natural gas means a substance that is a mixture of a wide range of hydrocarbons that are initially dissolved in oil. They are obtained by distilling the corresponding raw materials. Associated gas is represented mainly by propane and butane isomers. Sometimes methane and ethylene can become the product of oil distillation. Associated gas is actively used in the chemical industry. It is a demanded raw material in the production of plastic and rubber products. Propane is one of the most common gases used as automotive fuel.

What is the specificity of conventional natural gas?

Under natural gas in its usual form means a mineral that is extracted from gas-bearing strata in a finished form, which, as a rule, does not require deep processing. In some cases, the considered type of gas can be in a crystalline state - in the form of gas hydrates. Sometimes it is dissolved in oil or water.

Common natural gas is represented, most often methane, sometimes ethane, propane, butane. In some cases it contains hydrogen, nitrogen, helium.

Comparison

The main difference between associated gas and natural gas is that the first is a product of oil refining, the second is extracted from the bowels of the earth in finished form. They also differ in terms of use, to a large extent - in chemical composition.

Natural gas in its usual form is most often used as a fuel for heating residential, industrial premises, for the operation of power plants, production facilities in factories. But it is worth noting that associated gas (if the company producing it manages to develop a sufficiently cheap technology for its production) can be used as fuel for heating large premises and ensuring the operation of industrial equipment. In turn, conventional natural gas is also used as a feedstock in the chemical industry - for example, in the production of acetylene.

A small table will help us to show in more detail what is the difference between associated and natural gas.

Table

Associated gas Natural gas
What do they have in common?
Both are of natural origin, may partially coincide in chemical composition
What is the difference between them?
Obtained by distillation of oilObtained directly from gas fields
Represented mainly by propane, butane isomersIt is mainly represented by methane
It is used as a raw material in the chemical industry, as an automobile fuelIt is mainly used as a fuel for space heating, power plants operation, industrial equipment as a raw material in a number of segments of the chemical industry
.