What is the definition of heavy hydrocarbons?
Thread Content
Are all hydrocarbons with more carbon atoms than methane heavy hydrocarbons?
The lightness or heaviness of hydrocarbons is relative, and this relative reference point is not fixed. Ethane can be referred to as a heavier hydrocarbon compared to methane, but if you use that term directly, people in the industry will consider you an outsider. Compared to gasoline, diesel is a heavier hydrocarbon, but it is still a relatively lighter hydrocarbon compared to heavy oil at normal pressure. Generally, the term \"heavy hydrocarbons\" is used in the petroleum processing industry, and it is also a relative term. Hydrocarbons such as methane and those up to C4 and C5, as you mentioned, are generally not classified as heavy hydrocarbons; instead, they are categorized as gaseous hydrocarbons and liquefied gases.
So, in the composition of natural gas, what are those substances known as heavy hydrocarbons?
The so-called heavy hydrocarbons in natural gas generally refer to condensate oil, components similar to light gasoline; the hydrocarbon composition consists mainly of hydrocarbons with four carbon atoms or more