Natural Gas is a blend of low-density hydrocarbons, composed mainly of Methane (CH4). Other components include, in much lower proportions: heavier hydrocarbons such as Propane (C3H8), Butane (C4H10) and Pentane (C5H12), together with inorganic molecules like Nitrogen (N2), Water (H2O), among others.

Propane and Butane are jointly know as Liquid Petroleum Gases (LPG) and play a very important role in providing energy to areas not serviced by natural gas. Its main advantage compared to natural gas is the fact that it can be easily stored and transported. Main uses for LPG are:

Heating and Cooking
Fuel and Transportation
Agricultural Crop Drying and Toasting
Heat Exchange and Refrigeration Fluids
Petrochemical Feedstock

Pentane, Hexane and further medium-weight hydrocarbons present in a gas stream are called Natural Gasoline. They are used mainly for fuel purposes.

The stripping process converts the small percentage of LPG and Natural Gasoline present is the Gas Stream, from gas to liquid form. This process adds considerable value for two main reasons:

(1) it conditions the gas stream to pipeline regulation requirements and,

(2) the separated liquids are priced much higher in the regional market than the original natural gas used as feedstock.