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Why must nitrogen be removed from natural gas before it is sold commercially?
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natural gas
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.
Nitrogen is removed from natural gas before commercial sale primarily because it is a noncombustible, inert gas.1
When present in significant quantities, nitrogen reduces the overall heating value of the gas mixture. Commercial natural gas is typically sold based on its calorific value—often approximately 38 megajoules per cubic metre—and removing nitrogen ensures the product meets the necessary energy standards for heating and other commercial applications.12