General U.S. Industry Statistics*
and Characteristics of Propane
| Retail propane companies, U. S.: |
8,000 |
| Retail propane outlets, U. S.: |
13,500 |
| Propane industry employees, U.S. (2004): |
about 56,100 |
| Propane customers, U. S: |
14,300,000 Residential |
| |
1,040,000 Commercial |
| |
240,000 Industrial |
| |
456,000 Fork-lift |
| |
81,000 Fleet motor fuel |
| |
660,000 Agricultural |
| |
110,000 Standby |
| Propane-fueled on-road vehicles (cars, trucks, buses), U. S, in 2004: |
190,000 |
| Light commercial equipment (tractors, generators, etc.) in 2002 |
200,000 |
| U. S. households using propane as the main heating fuel, in 2000: |
6.88 million |
| Total U.S. storage capacity of propane, 1999: |
257.4 million barrels |
| U.S. underground propane storage inventory capacity: |
131.6 million barrels |
| U.S. combined secondary and tertiary storage capacity: |
120.4 million barrels
(9.1 million barrels in secondary)
(111.2 million barrels in tertiary) |
| Transportation infrastructure: |
70,000 miles of pipelines |
| |
17,000 railroad tank cars |
| |
7,000 highway bulk transport trucks |
| |
35,500 'bobtail' delivery trucks |
|
7,000 cylinder delivery vehicles
|
|
|
60 inland waterway barges
|
For world propane usage statistics, refer to the World LP Gas Association.
Primary markets for the U.S. propane industry
This pie chart shows the percentage of total gallons consumed by various market sectors. In 2002, odorized propane sales account for 59% of total U.S. propane consumption; the other 41% is consumed as a non-odorized feedstock fuel by the chemical industry and other industrial applications.
Source: Issues and Trends, June 2004.
In 2005, 18.895 billion gallons of propane were sold in the U.S. 7.942 billion gallons were sold to residential and commercial users, 8.467 billion gallons were sold to the chemical industry, 891 million gallons were sold to industrial operations, and 981 million gallons sold to agricultural users. 615 million gallons were sold for internal combustion engines.
Source: 2005 Sales of Natural Gas Liquids (Revised), American Petroleum Institute.)
Location of U.S. Households Heated by Propane, 2000
A national map of households heated by propane. Derived from the 2000 U.S. Census. (Adobe PDF)
(Source: PERC)
|
Characteristics of Propane
(Right: The propane atom)
|
|
| Chemical formula |
C3H8 |
| Specific gravity, liquid |
0.509 |
| Specific gravity, vapor |
1.52 |
| Weight per gallon |
4.24 pounds |
| Ignition temperature |
920 - 1,120 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Maximum flame temperature |
3,595 degrees Fahrenheit |
| Heat value per cubic foot of vapor |
2,516 Btu |
| Heat value per pound of liquid |
21,591 Btu |
| Heat value per gallon of liquid |
91,547 Btu |
*Based on industry estimates, U. S. Census Bureau data, and U.S. Departments of Energy and Transportation statistics.
