Shellane for Businesses

LPG or "Liquefied Petroleum Gas" is a term widely used to describe a family of hydrocarbons called "gas liquids". Two types of these are propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10).

LPG consist of a mixture of these gases for standard heating and cooking purposes. They have similar properties but differ in operating pressures. Propane has a lower boiling point than butane so it will continue to convert from a liquid to a gas even in very cold conditions. When stored as a liquid in a tank, it exerts a greater pressure than Butane at the same temperature. Vaporisation starts above -45 degrees Celsius for Propane, while vaporisation starts above -2 degrees Celsius for Butane, thus requiring a propane/butane mixture in cold environments as it will not vaporise readily. It's ability to operate in low temperatures makes it a suitable gas fuel for many applications.

LPG is a derivative of two large energy industries: natural gas processing and crude oil refining.

When natural gas is drawn from the earth, it is a mixture of several gases and liquids. Methane, which is sold by gas utilities as "natural gas" constitutes about 90 percent of this mixture. Of the remaining 10 percent, 5 percent is propane and 5 percent is other gases such as butane and ethane. Before natural gas can be transported or used, LPG are separated out.

Some LP Gases are also trapped in crude oil. In order to stabilise the crude oil for pipeline or tanker distribution, these "natural gases" are further processed into LPG. Worldwide, gas processing is a source of approximately 60% of LP Gas produced.

In crude oil refining the LPG is the first product produced on the way to making the heavier fuels such as diesel, jet fuel, fuel oil, and gasoline. Roughly 3% of a typical barrel of crude oil is refined into LPG although as much as 40% of a barrel could be converted into LPG. Worldwide, crude oil refining is the source for the other roughly 40% of LPG supplies.

Benefits of using LPG