1 Scope
This part of this International Standard describes a gas chromatographic method for
the quantitative determination of the content of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and C1 to C5 hydrocarbons individually and a composite C6+ measurement, which represents all hydrocarbons of carbon number 6 and above in natural
gas samples. It is applicable to the analysis of gases containing constituents within
the working ranges given in Table 1.
Table 1
—
Component working ranges
| Component | Mole fraction
%
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Min. | Max. | ||
| Nitrogen | N2 | 0,1 | 22 |
| Carbon dioxide | CO2 | 0,05 | 15 |
| Methane | CH4 | 34 | 100 |
| Ethane | C2H6 | 0,1 | 23 |
| Propane | C3H8 | 0,05 | 10 |
| iso-Butane | i-C4H10 | 0,01 | 2,0 |
| n-Butane | n-C4H10 | 0,01 | 2,0 |
| neo-Pentane | neo-C5H12 | 0,005 | 0,35 |
| iso-Pentane | i-C5H12 | 0,005 | 0,35 |
| n-Pentane | n-C5H12 | 0,005 | 0,35 |
| Hexanes + | C6+ | 0,005 | 0,35 |
NOTE 1 The working ranges in Table 1 are those for which the method has been shown to be satisfactory, and are offered
for guidance. However, there is no reason why wider ranges should not be used, provided
that the successful measurement of such wider ranges has been demonstrated.
NOTE 2 Hydrocarbons above n-pentane are expressed as the “pseudo-component” C6+ which is measured as one composite peak and calibrated as such. The properties of
C6+ are calculated from an extended analysis of the individual C6 and higher hydrocarbons.
NOTE 3 Oxygen is not a normal constituent of natural gas and would not be expected
to be present in gas sampled to an online instrument. If any oxygen is present as
a result of air contamination, it will be measured with the nitrogen. The resulting
measured (nitrogen + oxygen) value will be in error to a small extent because of the
slight difference between the detector responses of oxygen and nitrogen.