HOW WE TALK ABOUT OUR WORK

Understanding the language of energy

The energy world has its own language. We’ve built this glossary to make it easier to follow what we mean when we talk about our work. It’s a quick reference for anyone who wants to understand how natural gas is processed, measured, and moved, written in clear language without the technical jargon.

CSV EXPLAINERS

What is natural gas?

Dan Cote, Director of Projects and Engineering at CSV Midstream Solutions, outlines the various components present in natural gas.

Acid gas

The unwanted gases that come out of the ground with natural gas. It’s mostly carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. We remove it so the gas is safe to handle and transport.

Assets

The things we build and operate, like gas plants, pipelines, and equipment. They’re the physical parts of our business that make everything work.

BBL/D

Barrels per day of natural gas liquids. It’s the unit we use to measure how many barrels of liquid products, like propane or butane, move through our system each day.

BTU

British thermal unit. This is a way the industry measures energy. One BTU tells us how much heat is needed to warm a small amount of water. We use it to describe how much energy is in natural gas.

Condensate

A light oil that comes from natural gas when it cools down during processing. It’s often blended with heavier oil to help it flow through pipelines.

Dehydration

Taking the water out of natural gas before it travels through pipelines. It helps prevent freezing and corrosion.

Downstream

The part of the energy industry that turns natural gas and liquids into things people use every day, like fuel for cars or heating for homes.

Feed gas

The raw natural gas that comes into our plant for processing. It usually contains methane, water, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide.

Flare / flaring

The act of safely burning off small amounts of gas that can’t be processed or stored. It’s mostly done for safety during startup, shutdown, or maintenance.

Fractionation

The process of separating natural gas liquids into products like propane, butane, and condensate. Each one has its own use and value.

Gas gathering

The collection of raw natural gas from several wells and moving it through small pipelines to our processing facilities.

Gas sweetening

The step where we clean natural gas by removing impurities like hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide so it’s safe to move and use.

Gathering system

The network of small pipelines and compressors that carry natural gas from wells to a plant for processing.

Hydrogen sulfide (H₂S)

A toxic gas with a strong rotten egg smell that’s found in some natural gas. We remove it during processing to protect people and the environment.

Liquids handling

How we store, stabilize, and move the liquid products that come from natural gas, like propane or condensate.

Liquids stabilization

The step where we remove lighter gases from heavier liquids so they can be safely stored or shipped.

Midstream

The part of the energy industry we work in. It connects producers to markets by gathering, processing, and transporting natural gas and liquids.

MMCF/D

Million cubic feet per day. This is a way of measuring how much natural gas a facility handles in one day. It’s a standard unit of volume in the industry.

Natural gas

A clean-burning fuel made mostly of methane. It’s used for heating, electricity, and as a raw material for many everyday products.

NGL

Natural gas liquids. These are the liquids that come out of natural gas during processing. They include propane, butane, and condensate, which are used for fuel, heating, and manufacturing.

Sour gas

Natural gas that contains impurities like hydrogen sulfide. It’s cleaned and processed before it’s ready for use.

Sour gas processing

The treatment step where we remove impurities from sour gas to make it safe for transport and sale.

Sour gas treatment

Another name for gas sweetening. It’s the process of removing hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide from natural gas.

Sour water sweetening

Cleaning water that’s picked up hydrogen sulfide during gas processing so it can be handled safely.

Sulfur recovery

How we take hydrogen sulfide and turn it into solid sulfur. It’s a safer and more useful form that can be stored or sold.

Sweet gas

Natural gas after it’s been treated. It’s clean, safe, and ready to move through pipelines.

Transmission pipeline

A large pipeline that carries processed gas or liquids long distances from our facilities to storage or market hubs.

Upstream

The part of the energy industry that finds and produces natural gas before it comes to us for processing.