Don't Pass Over the RBN Energy Article Today

To get information out to readers as quickly as possible, I sometimes post links from trusted sites and trusted readers before I get a chance to read the entire article. Later, when I find time, I will go back and read the article.

Today's link to RBN Energy's primer on crude-by-rail is a great example. For all but the most knowledgeable about crude-by-rail, this is an excellent introduction. RBN Energy says they will continue with the series. I hope so.

I'm not going to post any data points: I am only posting this to remind folks that this is one article they should not miss.

Okay, I'll post just a bit - the first paragraph:

Unlike pipelines that take a long time to build and only deliver to a handful of destinations, rail freight cars offer the flexibility to deliver anywhere across North America. The rail freight industry can load, store and transport different NGLs (including those NGL products that must be transported under high pressure) as well as crude and petroleum products. Rail infrastructure is mostly already in place so new routes can easily be brought on line. That’s why rail freight has been used successfully by the energy industry for over 100 years as - a “pipeline on wheels."

Callie Mitchell does an outstanding job nuancing the different wet gases that are transported by rail and the challenges.

I can't resist; one more data point:

It takes a high pressure rail car to move propane, normal butane and isobutane. These NGL products, generally referred to as LPGs (liquefied petroleum gasses) have high vapor pressures and must be transported in vessels that can withstand that pressure. Y-grade (mixed NGLs containing ethane) can be carried in high pressure cars provided that the ethane content is minimal. The ethane in the mix must be low enough not to trigger inadvertent hydrocarbon releases and/or damage the tank car). Ethane has a vapor pressure well above the threshold for even high pressure tank cars.

As always, the graphics are awesome.