The Story of Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs)

Imagine you’re digging deep underground and find a hidden treasure. But instead of gold or diamonds, you discover something that can heat homes, make plastics, fuel cars, and even help cook your dinner. These treasures are called Natural Gas Liquids, or NGLs for short.

NGLs are a family of unique hydrocarbons that come from the same place as natural gas and crude oil, trapped far below the surface. Even though they’re called “liquids,” they start as gases combined with natural gas deep underground. When natural gas is chilled or compressed, NGLs turn into liquids and separate from natural gas.

Meet the Family

There are five main “members” of the NGL family:

propane

Propane

The friendly hydrocarbon that heats grills, homes, and barns.

ethane-2

Ethane

The quiet helper, mostly used to make plastics.

normal-butane

Normal Butane

A shapeshifter, used in fuel and to make synthetic rubber.

iso-butane

Iso-Butane

The “cousin” of normal butane with a different shape; used in fuels, aerosols and as a refrigerant.

natural-gasoline

Natural Gasoline

The speedy one, used to make car fuel and fertilizers, hydrogen, and plastics.

Each one has its own job, and together they help produce a lot of the things we use every day.

How We Get Them

NGLs are found mixed in with raw natural gas deep underground. When natural gas is first pumped up, it may include NGLs blended together. Special processing facilities separate NGLs from natural gas by chilling and compressing the gas until NGLs fall out of the gas stream.

The combined mix of NGLs are then separated from each other by facilities like giant sorting machines called fractionators. Each liquid has its own boiling point, so the plant rewarms the combined mixture of NGLs until each one separates and can be collected.

Where They Go

Once separated, the midstream industry transports NGLs via pipelines, trucks, railcars, or ships to the places they’re needed. They can be stored in giant tanks, sometimes underground, until it’s time to use them. Because they’re flammable, they’re handled with careful attention to safety regulations and protocols.

Why They Matter

From heating your home, to making plastics, and propelling hairspray out of its bottle, NGLs are part of our daily lives. They help power factories, support farms, and keep industries running. Without them, the modern world we live in would not be possible.

Powering Today and Tomorrow

NGLs have been helping people for a long time, and scientists are finding new ways to use them. They work alongside renewable energy sources like wind and solar, making sure we have enough power and products for everyone.

Find out what makes them unique and essential.

This is just the beginning of the NGL story. Explore how each one impacts your life every day.

propane

Propane

ethane-2

Ethane

Butane Icon

Normal Butane & Iso-Butane

natural-gasoline

Natural Gasoline