Hydrocarbons:

Although composed of only two elements.

Hydrocarbons exist in a variety of compounds because of the strong affinity of the carbon atom for other atoms and for itself.

The smallest molecules of hydrocarbons are gaseous; the largest are solids.

Petroleum is a mixture of many different hydrocarbons.

Terms Related to Hydrocarbons

• Petroleum

  A substance occurring naturally in the earth and composed mainly of mixtures of chemical compounds of carbon and hydrogen, with or without other nonmetallic elements ...

• Absorber

  A vertical, cylindrical vessel that recovers heavier hydrocarbons from a mixture of predominantly lighter hydrocarbons. Also called absorption tower. See absorb.

• Polymer

  A substance that consists of large molecules formed from smaller molecules in repeating structural units (monomers). In oilfield operations, various types of polymers are used ...

• Natural gas

  A mixture of hydrocarbons and varying quantities of nonhydrocarbons that exist either in the gaseous phase or in solution with crude oil in natural underground ...

• Recovery efficiency

  The recoverable amount of original or residual hydrocarbons in place in a rese4rvoir, expressed as a percentage of total hydrocarbons in place. Also called recovery ...

• Clay extender

  Any of several substances--usually organic compounds of high molecular weight--that, when added in low concentrations to a bentonite or to certain other clay slurries, will ...

• Oil – petroleum – gas

  A fluid of vapor composed of hydrocarbons; dry gas is nearly free of oil and gasoline vapor.