Natural Gas Liquids and Algae as Fuel — R-Squared Energy TV Ep. 13

In this week’s episode of R-Squared Energy TV, I answer questions about natural gas liquids and algal fuel. Some of the topics discussed are:

  • The difference between natural gas liquids (NGLs) and crude oil
  • How NGLs and “all-liquids” contribute to oil supplies
  • How “double-counting” and net energy impact the reported oil supply numbers
  • The challenge of water in making algal fuel economical
  • Whether algal fuels have long-term process

 

One thing I want to clarify about natural gas liquids. According to the Energy Information Administration, the lease condensate is defined as “a mixture consisting primarily of pentanes and heavier hydrocarbons which is recovered as a liquid from natural gas in lease separation facilities. This category excludes natural gas plant liquids, such as butane and propane, which are recovered at downstream natural gas processing plants or facilities.” In this case, “Crude Oil Plus Lease Condensate” will include some liquids that were condensed from natural gas, but then the “All Liquids” category that is commonly reported as global crude oil production will include the stream specifically defined as NGLs. The difference is that the NGLs require a natural gas plant to separate (i.e., they require more processing than lease condensate).

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Author: Robert Rapier

Robert Rapier is a seasoned chemical engineer with three decades of international experience in the energy sector. He holds undergraduate degrees in chemistry and mathematics, and a master’s in chemical engineering. Robert has worked extensively in oil refining, production, synthetic fuels, biomass energy, and alcohol production, earning several patents along the way. As Editor-in-Chief of Shale Magazine and a prolific author for Investing Daily, he shares his expertise through various newsletters and his latest book, American Energy: A History of Power, Progress, and Change. Robert's insights have been featured on 60 Minutes, The History Channel, CNBC, and PBS, among others. His articles have appeared in top publications like the Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, and The Economist. For nearly a decade, he has covered the energy sector for Forbes.