Natural gas condensate

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Natural gas condensate (usually just condensate) is a low-density, high-API gravity liquid hydrocarbon phase that generally occurs in association with natural gas. Its presence as a liquid phase depends on temperature and pressure conditions in the reservoir allowing condensation of liquid from vapor.

The production of (recovery of) condensate reservoirs can be difficult due to pressure sensitivity. During production, there is a risk of the condensate changing from gas to liquid if the reservoir pressure drops below the dew point during production. Reservoir pressure can be maintained by fluid injection if gas production is preferable to liquid production.

Gas produced in association with condensate is called wet gas. The API gravity of condensate is typically 50 degrees to 120 degrees (density at 60 °F of 780 kg/m³ to 560 kg/m³). The liquid condensate can be refined as if it were very light crude oil.

Natural gas condensate is typically composed of:

C5 as pentane - 5-70% by weight
C6 as hexane, cyclohexane and benzene- 25-95% by weight
C7 as heptane and toluene - 25-95% by weight
C8 as octane, ethylbenzene and xylene - 25-95% by weight
other hydrocarbons, up to C14

Raw natural gas often contains significant amounts of ethane, propane, butane and isobutane which are also removed and recovered as liquified gases during the processing of the raw gas. The recovered liquified gases are commonly known as NGLs (natural gas liquids).