[4]P8 Innovations in Treating Natural Gas

[4]P8 Innovations in Treating Natural Gas

This poster session focuses on processing options to condition natural gas for pipeline transport and use as a feedstock for petroleum refinery and petrochemical processing. New advances in technology make this route for converting low-value gas to high-value end products economically attractive. Technologies to remove carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, water, and mercury are highlighted. Innovative membrane systems, inhibited amines, promoted hot potassium carbonates, advanced formulated solvents, high-performing physical solvents, and specialized molecular sieve adsorbents are compared and contrasted. The influence of processing conditions and product specifications on technology selection are illustrated. The application of these technologies in a typical natural gas plant is shown. The availability of these natural gas treating innovations allows the end user to adequately and economically condition the gas for pipeline transport or further downstream processing.Natural gas must meet certain process specifications before it can be delivered to a pipeline for transport to its destination. The particular specifications are dependent on the end use. For example, the gas intended for petrochemical processing is different from that intended for household heating. In general, however, free liquid water and liquid hydrocarbons must be removed, as well as some additional heavy hydrocarbon removal, to control dew point and heating value. Furthermore, most natural gases contain acid gases such as carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide in varying amounts and ratios. These gases are highly corrosive to transport pipelines and processing equipment, especially in combination with water, and must be removed to meet end-user specifications. Hydrogen sulfide is also toxic and must be removed to levels well below that of other acid gases.The concentrated CO, removed from the natural gas may usually be released into the atmosphere, depending on local air quality regulations, or it may be used as low-grade fuel gas if it has a sufficient hydrocarbon content. In enhanced oil recovery operations, CO, is a desired product and is reintroduced into the well for increased oil recovery. If sufficient H, S is removed, it will usually have to be converted to solid or liquid sulfur or other sulfur compounds because of its toxicity. The poster lists typical end-use specifications for items such as CO, H2S, H20 and Hg contents, dew point, and heating value, as well as the basis for these specifications.A typical treatment sequence includes coarse filtration, dehydration, impurity removal, water and hydrocarbon dew-point control, nitrogen rejection, and acid gas removal. Side treatments include acid gas treatment, such as H2S conversion, and natural gas liquid (NGL) stabilization. The poster includes a diagram showing the

1997-10-12

Dortmundt, D.

conferencePaper

IJMCWURY