The Meaning of NGL: What It Is and How To Use It

Do you know the definition of NGL? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the abbreviation NGL, including its definition, usage, examples, and more!

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What does the acronym NGL stand for?

According to How to Geek and Investopedia, NGL can either stand for natural gas liquids or not gonna lie. Natural gas liquids are components of natural gas that are able to be separated from their gas state in the form of liquids. A  field facility or a gas processing plant will perform this separation through absorption, condensation, or other methods. There are many types and applications of these products. It is profitable to remove the NGL from natural gases. This is done through a process in which liquids are first extracted from the natural gas and are then separated into different components. NGLs are hydrocarbons, which are molecules that are composed solely of carbon and hydrogen. This is the same family of molecules as crude oil and natural gas. These are extracted when whatever NGL is removed from the natural gas stream after it reaches the necessary boiling point. This is called NGL extraction, and these real life exports are very useful. 

There are many different types of NGLS and NGL products – low, which is a condensate. Intermediate, which is a natural gas, and high which is a liquefied petroleum gas. These are classified based on their vapor pressure. These include ethane, propane, butanes, isobutanes, ethylene, and pentanes. Ethanes are used for plastics production and petrochemical feedstock, in which products could include plastics, plastic bags, antifreeze, and detergent. Propane is used for commercial heating, space heating, and residential heating for cooking fuel, small stoves, and petrochemical feedstock, and is also used in some vehicles as fuel. Butanes are blended with propane and gasoline and are used either as a refrigerant, synthetic rubber for tires or lighter fuel, and can be combined with propane to create liquified petroleum gas (LPG). Isobutanes are used for refinery feedstock, petrochemical feedstock, aerosols and refrigerants. Finally, pentanes are used as a blowing agent for polystyrene foam and in natural gasoline. It can also be blended with vehicle fuel and exported for bitumen production in oil sands. NGLs need high pressure or low temperature to be maintained in their liquid state and travel via a pipeline for shipment and handling. This can require special trucks. NGLs have gone up in popularity because oil, gas, and chemical companies expand their offerings to include NGLs as the market price of crude oil decreases. There is so much to be done with NGLs, from ethylene production to a blend of ethane to normal butane and isomerization for consumption. This is a powerful thing in chemistry and economics. 

NGL is also an internet slang for not gonna lie. Sites like Urban Dictionary say that this term, often used on sites like Twitter or memes on Reddit, is similar to phrases like TBH or IMO. It is used in the first half or beginning of a sentence as an empty colloquialism that is said before saying something that someone might disagree with or something that is controversial. This is used to show honesty, vulnerability, or to preface an honest opinion, but NGL’s tone can potentially come off as an insult or rudeness, so use the term with people you are comfortable with. This term can be used in many different ways, including, “NGL, I love hot dogs” or “NGL, I can’t get on board with metal straws.”

According to The Free Dictionary, NGL has many other potential definitions aside from not gonna lie or natural gas liquids. This abbreviation has a plethora of other potential definitions. While these are still valid meanings, they are less common, and should therefore be used sparingly. If you do decide to use one of these alternate meanings for the acronym NGL, make sure that you provide the reader with the appropriate context so that they can infer the correct intended meaning. 

  •  No Greater Love
  •  Nagercoil (India)
  •  Next Generation Logistics, Inc.
  •  Netzstatt Gaming League (Germany)
  •  Nose Gear Launch
  •  Nippon Gas Line (Japan)
  •  National Geospatial-Intelligence Library
  •  Nuclear Guardianship Library
  •  National Guardian Life Insurance Company (Madison, WI)
  •  Natural Grade Line
  •  Natural Ground Level
  •  Natural Gas Liquid(s)
  •  Newcastle Gamers League
  •  National Grid for Learning
  •  No Great Loss
  •  Next-Generation Lithography
  •  Northwest Gemological Laboratory (Bellevue, WA)
  •  National Golf League

How can the acronym NGL be used in a sentence?

The acronym NGL can be used in different sentences. However, NGL is considered a slang term and is therefore only appropriate to use in casual or informal settings. Never use this term in a professional or formal setting like a business email or formal letter. Reserve using this acronym for people you are casual and comfortable around. Using a new word in a sentence is a great way to memorize its meaning. Try using this word of the day in a sentence today so that you can remember its definition and continue to use it in your everyday speech. Below are a couple of examples of NGL. 

NGL, everyone said they hated writing that essay but I kind of enjoyed it. I actually thought it was interesting to compare the Shakespearean work to the modern day interpretation.

NGL, I really don’t like your new boyfriend. He was so rude to me all last night. I know this isn’t what you want to hear, but I had to tell you.

Overall, the abbreviation NGL means either natural gas liquids or not gonna lie. Not gonna lie is used to preface an honest statement that someone makes, while natural gas liquids include ethane, propane, butanes, isobutanes, ethylene, and pentanes. These are used for a variety of different chemical uses.

Sources:

  1. Natural Gas Liquids – NGL Definition | Investopedia 
  2. What Does “NGL” Mean, and How Do You Use It? | How to Geek 
  3. NGL – What does NGL stand for? | The Free Dictionary