Ethane
From Wikimarcellus
(Difference between revisions)
Revision as of 02:27, 25 October 2010
Ethane is a natural gas liquid (NGL) found richly in a 25 to 40-mile wide portion of Marcellus shale formation stretching from Butler County, PA south to Parkersburg, West Virginia.
Ethane burns very hot and must be removed from natural gas before it can be used to heat homes and for industry. It is removed with a cracker and produces ethylene oxide, a basic feedstock for plastic manufacturing.
There are no crackers in the Appalachian Basin, but with full development of the Marcellus shale it is anticipated that one or more crackers will eventually set up in the area.
