FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQ’s)

Q: Is PPGPL foreign owned?

A: PPGPL is a joint venture company, 51% is owned by the National Gas Company of T&T, 39% is owned by ConocoPhillip of Houston Texas and 10% by Pan West Engineers and Constructors Ltd of Houston, Texas.

Q: Is the President a national of Trinidad and Tobago?

A: Yes.

Q: What is PPGPL’s role in relation to NGC?

A: NGC delivers raw unprocessed natural gas to PPGPL. PPGPL’s role is to extract the natural gas liquids from the gas stream and redeliver the residue gas to the NGC.

Q: Does any other company supply PPGPL with natural gas?

A: Yes, Petrotrin

Q: What products does PPGPL produce?

A: PPGPL produces propane, butane and natural gasoline

Q: Are PPGPL’s products marketed locally?

A: Most of PPGPL’s products are exported. A small amount is sold locally for aerosol propellants and refrigerants.

Q: What products comprise LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas)?

A: MainlyPropane and Butane, either separately or in mixtures, which is maintained in a liquid state under pressure within the confining vessel

Q: What are the chemical symbols for Propane and Butane?

A: Propane = C3H8, Butane= C4H10

Q: What is LNG (Liquefied Natural Gas?)

A: The light hydrocarbon portion of natural gas, mainly methane, which has been liquefied.

Q: What are NGL’s (Natural Gas Liquids)?

A: NGL’s are those hydrocarbons liquefied at the surface in field facilities or in gas processing plants. Natural gas liquids include ethane, propane, butanes and natural gasoline.

Q: What are referred to as the heavy ends in the natural gas stream?

A: The portion of a hydrocarbon mixture which has the highest boiling point. Usually hexanes and heptanes and all heavier hydrocarbons are the heavy ends in the natural gas stream.

Q: What are the light ends?

A: The low boiling easily evaporated components of a hydrocarbon liquid mixture such as Methane and Ethane.

Q: What is residue gas?

A: The material which remains after a separation process. Residue gas is that gas remaining after the recovery of liquid products.

Q: Who are the down stream consumers?

A: All the consumers or users of PPGPL residue gas- ammonia, methanol, steel, power generation, cement and some light manufacturers.

Q: What is condensate?

A: The hydrocarbon liquid separated from natural gas because of changes in temperature and pressure when the gas from the reservoir was delivered to the surface separators.

Q: What is the meaning of cryogenic process?

A: A process whereby extremely low temperatures are achieved (-131F) by removing energy from the natural gas stream to produce natural gas liquid products including ethane. The major equipment in the cryogenic process is the expander-compressor.

Q: What is the meaning of fractionation?

A: The separation of a mixture of hydrocarbons into individual products based on difference in boiling point and/or relative volatility. The lightest product, being more volatile, boils first, is separated from the mixture and through cooling methods forms the pure product liquid.