Ethane is a colorless, odorless gas which isolated from natural gas, and as a byproduct of petroleum refining. The main use of ethane is as petrochemical feedstock for ethylene production. US ethane supply has massively increased in the wake of the shale gas revolution. With prices dropping, and domestic transportation infrastructure coming online, this critical feedstock has become more domestically abundant than ever before. This has triggered billion dollar investment projects by petrochemical companies in expanded ethylene production and lighter feedstock, switching from naphtha to ethane, to capture the superior economics and improved pricing margins.
Propane is colorless and odorless gas. It produced as a by-product of two other processes, natural gas processing and petroleum refining. About 90% of U.S. propane is domestically produced. The United States imports about 10% of the propane consumed each year, with about 70% of that coming from Canada via pipeline and rail. The remaining 30% of imported propane comes to the United States from other sources via ocean transport. The U.S. shale gas revolution is having a profound impact on propane supply and transportation infrastructure. The growth in natural gas liquids production from shale gas and tight sands resources is rapidly increasing propane production. The propane industry recently reached two major milestones due to the growth in propane supply: The U.S. became a net exporter of propane, and domestic propane production from natural gas liquids (NGLs) exceeded consumer propane demand for the first time.
Butane is a flammable hydrocarbon gas that is a constituent of petroleum and is used in bottled form as a fuel. It is often added to regular gasoline to boost its performance without creating a highly volatile product. The gas is also used in refrigeration and heating systems, and as fuel for cigarette lighters.
