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Why is associated natural gas sometimes called wet gas?
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The Troll A natural gas production platform in the North Sea, 80 km (50 miles) northwest of Bergen, Norway. Troll A, the largest movable structure ever built, rests on the seafloor some 300 metres (990 feet) below the surface and rises more than 100 metres (330 feet) above the sea. The platform regulates the recovery of gas from 40 wells located on the seafloor.
Associated natural gas is often referred to as "wet gas" because it contains an appreciable proportion of hydrocarbon compounds that are heavier than methane, such as ethane, propane, and butane.12
Because this gas is often found dissolved in crude oil at high reservoir pressures, it typically carries these light liquid components with it. These heavier hydrocarbons are condensable when brought to the surface, meaning they can be separated from the gas stream as natural gas liquids (NGLs). In contrast, gas that does not contain these heavier liquids is known as "dry gas".21