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[fresh_eng]

Hello,

In our NGL producing facilities, we know from operational experience that NG (C5) production gets lower in the winter because of lower ambient temperatures.

Do you happen to have any references or resources about this behavior?

I can't make any solid conclusions from trends only.

The source of our NGL feeds is a mix of associated and non-associated gases, and the light components that are recovered during crude stabilization (these light components are further sent to NGL strippers where C3+NGL is recovered in the bottoms)

If it really shrinks, where does it go? And is this considered as a loss?

Please let me know if you require more details, as I'm assuming that the above is enough for my question. This issue is really puzzling me, so I might be messing things up.

[Art Montemayor]

Nasser:

How is it that you have come across the term "shrinkage"? - or is it really "NGL shrinkage"? This is important to know in order to better address your question and your concern.

Associated gas production "shrinks" (it is less in flow rate) in the winter time because there is simply less of it going downstream to the NGL treating and separation facilities. The reason for this is pretty obvious: the "lights" (C2, C3, C4, C5) are dropped out as liquid (condensed) in greater quantity in the field (such as in field Vapor Recovery Units) and the resulting associated gas is "Leaner" (has less natural gas liquids and more methane).

That has been my experience, and I presume that is what you are alluding to in your concern. If that is the case, then there is nothing you can do about it but accept it. Don't forget, when you are downstream receiving the gas that is left over from oil production, you are receiving what is "left on the table" and you don't have too much to say about it. In the oil patch, it is called eating all of the pig at the well site and only leaving the "oink". The NGL plant downstream is getting the "oink" - or what is left from crude production that the field production can't send down the crude oil pipeline for sale to refineries.

I hope this is what you were looking for as an explanation.