Casper Daily Tribune

'STRIPPED' GAS
RETAINS HEAT
VALUE, REPORT

Volume Not Reduced by Recovery
of Gasoline by Absorption
Process, Pittsburgh Expert
Declares

"Stripping" of natural gas—that is,
the recovery of gasoline from the gas
by a method of absorption—does not
affect the heating value of the com-
modity, nor does it reduce its volume,
according to Dr. J. B. Garner, director
of gas research, Mellon institute,
Pittsburgh. Also, the statement that
air is pumped into the mains to give
the stripped gas the appearance of the
unadulterated produce is without foun-
dation, Dr. Garner declares.

"The conclusion to be derived with
reference to the stripping of gasoline'
from natural gas, if accepted by the
public, would most certainly give
a most incorrect conception of the pro-
cess of natural gas gasoline recovery
and its influence upon the volume and
heating quality of gas as delivered to
the domestic consumer," says Dr. Gar-
ner.

"The gasoline is recovered, or strip-
ped, by a process which, prior to the
installation of absorption gasoline
plants was deposited in the transpor-
tation lines and drips between the walls
and the distributing system for the con-
sumer. Most of this gasoline never
reached the consumer in the form of
gas, but was blown out thru the line
drips, thereby being lost to everybody.
Its presence in the lines constituted a
constant source of annoyance and ex-
pen se in that the gas, in its passage
from the wells to consumer, was
interfered with and at times the gaso-
line was deposited and exerted a sol-
vent action on the rubbers which were
used in the construction of the pipe
lines, so that large leaks, not only of
gasoline, but of natural gas, occurred.

"Frequently, accumulation of water
and gasoline in the transportation lines
resulted in blowouts and losses. At
each blowout, the service to the do-
mestic consuming public was interrupt-
ed and large volumes of natural gas
were lost. With the installation of ab-
sorption gasoline recovery plants, not
only has gasoline been saved at these
plants, but domestic and industrial serv-
ice at different points from the gas
field has been made more continuous
less interrupted and more efficient than
at any time prior to the installation
of these plants. No blowouts have oc-
curred, and, as a result, there have
been no losses of natural gas due to
these.

"Aside from the benefit derived by
the consumer by less interrupted and
more continuous service, a product has
been recovered which was formerly a
waste and of no value to the consumer
and which, of itself, has a very impor-
tant economic value.

"The presence of air in the natural
gas in quantities greater than a trace
would easily and readily be detected.
The results of these analyses do not
disclose the present of more than a
trace of air. The heat value of the
natural gas, as delivered to several large
industrial concerns, is determined fre-
quently as a means of carrying on cer-
tain and regular way. The variation
in the heat value of the natural gas,
due to the presence of any appreciable
quantity of air, would necessitate mark-
ed changes in the conditions of carry-
ing on these important and valuable
processes.

"Another fact which should be taken
into consideration in connection with the
gas is that air and natural gas from
statement that air is introduced into
explosive mixtures in the transport-
ing and distributing lines of any gas
company would be a hazard, not only
to property, but to life. It is unthink-
able that men of good sound business
sense and judgment would indulge in
a practice which is potentially prolific
of damage and disaster alike to property
and life. No gas company is going to
take a chance of blowing up its own
lines and other property by pumping
air into the lines and thus making an
explosive mixture in these lines."