If you use propane in your North Carolina home, or have picked up a cylinder for your BBQ grill, you may have wondered where your propane actually comes from.
Here’s something to make you feel good: Ninety (90) percent of our country’s propane supply, what you get with LG Jordan propane delivery, is made right here in the United States!
Here too are some more interesting facts about how propane is made:
Propane, which is also known as liquefied petroleum gas or LPG, is a byproduct of natural gas processing or occasionally crude oil refinement. It was first discovered in 1910 by Walter O. Snelling, a Pennsylvania chemist, while looking into gasoline evaporation and storage. He found several evaporating gases that could be changed into liquids, the most plentiful being propane. Snelling created a method to bottle the liquid gas, and the propane industry was born.
Today, propane primarily comes from domestic natural gas processing, especially since shale gas extraction has increased in recent decades. Today, close to 70 percent of the U.S. propane supply comes from natural gas processing here and in Canada.
Liquid components are recovered as natural gas is processed. In addition to propane, methane, butane and ethane are also produced.
Once propane is produced, it is shipped to bulk propane distribution centers by pipeline, tanker ship, railroad, truck or barge. From there, propane distributors bring it to local propane providers like LG Jordan.
Propane is produced alongside other fuels through natural gas extraction and crude oil refining. No new wells need to be drilled to make it. 
The overwhelming majority of propane comes from natural gas production. When natural gas is brought to the surface, it contains several hydrocarbons — including ethane, butane, isobutane and pentane — with propane being the largest co-product. To keep natural gas pipelines clear, propane and other liquid compounds are separated during processing.
Propane also forms during oil refining, especially in the stabilization stage. As the crude oil is refined, heavier hydrocarbons settle at the bottom, while lighter gases like propane rise and are easily collected for use.
Propane is proudly American-made — about 90% of the propane used in the U.S. is produced domestically. In fact, America exports more propane than it consumes, making it both a homegrown energy source and an important global fuel.
One of the most promising innovations in clean energy today is renewable propane. Although still emerging, production increases each year. Renewable propane is chemically identical to traditional propane, meaning it can be used in existing appliances and systems without modification. What sets it apart is its origin: renewable propane is made from organic and recycled materials such as agricultural waste, used cooking oil, and other non-food feedstocks. Its carbon intensity is roughly one-quarter that of conventional propane — and only about 16% that of the average U.S. electric grid power!
Because propane becomes a liquid under moderate pressure, it can be stored and transported safely and efficiently in tanks of various sizes. This unique property makes it easy to handle, move, and store without losing energy value. Large distribution companies transport bulk propane by rail cars and tanker trucks to regional storage terminals. From there, local fuel providers like LG Jordan deliver propane directly to homes, businesses, and farms — whether through residential delivery trucks or prefilled portable cylinders for grills and equipment.
This is a considerable benefit to North Carolina households, especially those that don’t have ready access to a natural gas connection. Liquid propane can reach these homes, and the homeowners are able to keep their home fuel in a safe, dedicated on-site storage tank. Propane is really the epitome of versatile convenience, powering not only gas logs and other space heating products but also water heaters, outdoor living products, stoves, grills, and so much more!
The domestic propane supply is so plentiful that the United States is now a net exporter of propane. And because that plentiful supply is domestic, you can be assured that you’ll always have the propane you need, regardless of what happens elsewhere in the world.
Another reason propane is right for your home is that its clean-burning properties are more energy-efficient, saving you money. And because propane burns so cleanly, it creates much fewer greenhouse gas emissions than other fuels.
LG Jordan offers safe and reliable propane delivery, propane tank installation and propane appliances. Become a customer today – we’d love to have you onboard with us!
