Natural gas liquids (NGL), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), condensate and pure components such as methane, ethane, propane and butane often have higher sales values than pipeline gas. Therefore, they are often extracted and fractionated in tailor-made processing plants in accordance with the specific requirements of the regional markets and customers. Cryogenic processes are often the most economical way to extract these fractions.
Condensate, the so-called C5+ fraction, is the heaviest fraction of a natural gas mixture. It can be used, for instance, as gasoline or steam cracker feedstock. Often, it is necessary to remove the condensate fraction from the natural gas mixture to meet the dew point specifications of the pipeline gas.
Linde Engineering has world-class experience in the entire natural gas processing chain. Linde offers engineering as well as technical and commercial services, including feasibility studies, pre-FEED, FEED, detail engineering and turnkey plant construction. Plant design and scope of supply typically includes specialized and tailor made cryogenic equipment manufactured in Linde Engineering workshops such as plate-fin or coil-wound heat exchangers.
Linde Engineering's competence in project development, planning, execution and construction of turn-key plants is clearly demonstrated by the fact that it has built more than 3,800 plants world-wide.