Natural gas

The presence of moisture in natural gas may cause pipelines and associated valves to freeze. When in contact with the impurities in natural gas, such as H2S and CO2, moisture forms a corrosive mixture, reducing the lifetime of equipment. Particularly at openings and bends in the pipeline, where pressure drops may occur, the expansion of gas followed by a temperature drop may result in the formation of hydrates, which restrict gas flow. Moisture also lowers the energy content (BTU) of the gas, thus lowering its quality and value.