Glen Labah  wrote:   
   > In article <9e7cv.1731191$Tw2.1227651@fx15.iad>,   
   >  Sancho Panza  wrote:   
   >   
   >> Is North Slope crude "pre-refined"?   
   >   
   >   
   > No. Typically they separate out and burn off the volatile stuff in huge   
   > gas flares.  These are the stereotypical huge flames you see coming out   
   > of oil wells from time to time. With the value of the flammables as   
   > fuels they may have now come up with a way to transport that to market   
   > as well.   
   >   
   > The vapor pressures of these volatiles are so different than the rest of   
   > the crude it isn't really that difficult to separate them, and run the   
   > volatiles to a flare.   
   >   
   > In places like North Dakota it shouldn't really be that difficult to   
   > bottle the stuff rather than burning it.  Or, burn it in a gas turbine   
   > and generate electricity with it and send it through the local power   
   > line.   
      
   The natural gas gets flared off or sent to a gas plant in North Dakota just   
   like everywhere else. (Still mostly flared, because the expansion of the   
   gathering and processing network can't keep up with the rate at which wells   
   are being drilled. Google "Bakken flares from space" for an interesting   
   image.)   
      
   That's not the issue. It's the remaining liquids that are - apparently -   
   more volatile than previously assumed. The liquid gets broken into its   
   component chemicals in a refinery, not at the wellhead.   
      
   Dan   
      
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