The importance of moisture analysis in pipelines and gas transportation

Nearly every substance is affected by moisture, which can alter physical, chemical and electrical properties. When transporting hydrocarbons such as natural gas, the presence of moisture in the pressurized stream can create serious problems—the moisture will condense, forming gas hydrates, which are hydrocarbon molecules enclosed within a solid lattice of water molecules. These ice-like solid particles cause the pressure to drop by restricting gas flow and cause damage to the pipeline. This makes moisture detection and measurement essential considerations for operators involved in the processing and transportation of natural gas and similar products. The origins of process moisture measure