EKC 483 Part 1-Introduction and Overview of Natural Gas Processing

SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA
EKC 483/3 PETROLEUM & GAS PROCESSING ENGINEEERING
EKC 483/3 PETROLEUM & GAS PROCESSING ENGINEERING
Natural Gas Processing Engineering
Professor Dr Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah

OVERVIEW OF NATURAL GAS

Natural Gas Production and Consumption

Natural Gas Consumption

Info on Natural Gas

Naturally occurring hydrocarbon gas mixture
Consists primarily of methane, but commonly includes varying amounts
of other higher alkanes and even a lesser percentage of carbon dioxide,
nitrogen, and hydrogen sulfide
Natural gas is an energy source often used for heating, cooking, and
electricity generation
Also used as fuel for vehicles and as a chemical feedstock in the
manufacture of plastics and other commercially important organic
chemicals
Natural gas is found in deep underground rock formations or associated
with other hydrocarbon reservoirs in coal beds and as methane
clathrates.
Petroleum is also another resource found in proximity to and with
natural gas.
Most natural gas was created over time by two mechanisms: biogenic
and thermogenic. Biogenic gas is created by methanogenic organisms in
marshes, bogs, landfills, and shallow sediments. Deeper in the earth, at
greater temperature and pressure, thermogenic gas is created from
buried organic material.
Associated and Non-associated Natural Gas

Natural Gas Formation

Associated and Non-associated Natural Gas

Overview of Field Processing of Natural Gas
Pg viii Fig 1
Overview of Field Processing of Natural Gas
Natural gas associated with oil production (associated gas) or produced

from gas fields generally contains undesired components-H 2S, CO2, N2,
H2 O
H2S, CO2 and H2O need removal or reduced to acceptable
concentrations before the gas can be sold
N2 may be removed if it is justifiable
Gas compression is needed after these treatment processes
The gas should also undergo separation and fractionation to recover
some HC components that are utilized as a feedstock for petrochemical
industry
Several schemes can be recommended for field processing and
separation of natural gas
Non-associated gases including gas condensates are also potential
source of HC for many oil producing countries
Typical Natural Gas Composition
Pg x Fig 2


Field processing of natural gas is carried out for two main reasons
1)The necessity to remove impurities from the gas
2)The desirability of increasing liquid product recovery above that
obtained from conventional gas processing
Field gas processing units usually include the following
1)Removal of water vapor: Gas dehydration represents the most
common needed unit. Liquid and solid phase water are troublesome
especially when the gas is compressed and cooled. Water accelerates
corrosion of pipelines and other equipment. It reduces pipelines capacity
as it can accumulate in low point regions. Solid hydrates can plug valves,
fittings and the pipes itself
2)Acid gas separation: Acid gases basically imply H2S and CO2 and they
need to be removed. H2S is extremely toxic and when combusted, it
produced sulfur oxides. Both gases are corrosive especially in the
presence of water. Once removed, H2S could be commercially utilized to
produce sulfur
3)Heavy HC separation: HC heavier than methane can be removed for
fuel gases. C3+ tend to condense, forming two-phase flow and create
pipelines problems
Pg xi Table 1
Pg 256 The Table

Irrespective of the source of natural gas, the typical final specification

set for market sales requirements are usually as the following;
H2S 0.25-0.30 grain per 100 ft3 (one grain=64.799 mg)

Total sulfur 20 grains per 100 ft3
Oxygen (air) 0.2 % by volume
Carbon dioxide 2 % by volume
Liquefiable HC 0.2 gal per 1000 ft3
Water content 7 lbs/MMSCF (in a 1000 psia gas line)
Gas Field Processing
For convenience, field treatment of gas project could be divided into 2

main stages;
1)Stage 1: Gas treatment or gas conditioning
2)Stage 2: Gas processing
Pg 252 Figure 1
Pg 255 Figure 2
Stage I involves the removal of gas contaminants (acidic gases) followed

by the separation of water vapor (dehydration).
Stage II comprises 2 operations i.e. NGL recovery and separation from
the bulk of gas and its separation into desired products
The purpose of fractionators facilities is to produce individual finished
streams needed for market sales
Natural gas field processing and removal of various components
involves complex and expensive processes
Sour gas leaving a gas-oil separation plant (GOSP) might first require
the use of an amine unit to remove acidic gases, a glycol unit to
dehydrate it and a gas compressor to compress it
It is desirable to recover NGL in the gas that usually include C 3+
Ethane C2 could be separated and sold as petrochemical feedstock
To recover and separate NGL from the bulk of a gas stream require a
change in phase i.e. a new phase has to be developed for separation
NGL separation and recovery can be achieved through the use of;
1)An energy-separating agent: Examples are refrigeration for partial or
total liquefaction and fractionation
2)A mass-separating agent: Examples are adsorption and absorption
(using selective HC, 100-180 molecular weight)
The second operation in Stage II is concern with the fractionation of
NGL product into specific cuts such as LPG (C 3/C4) and natural gasoline
Most important factors to be considered in the design of a system for
gas field processing are such as;
1)Estimated gas reserve (both associated and free)
2)The flow gas rate and composition of the feed gas
3)Market demand, both local and export
4)Geographic location and methods of shipping of finished products
5)Environmental factors
6)Risks involved in implementing the project and its economics

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SCHOOL OF CHEMICAL ENGINEERING, UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA

EKC 483/3 PETROLEUM & GAS PROCESSING ENGINEEERING

EKC 483/3 PETROLEUM & GAS PROCESSING ENGINEERING

Natural Gas Processing Engineering

Professor Dr Ahmad Zuhairi Abdullah

OVERVIEW OF NATURAL GAS

Natural Gas Production and Consumption

Natural Gas Consumption

Info on Natural Gas

Associated and Non-associated Natural Gas

Natural Gas Formation

Associated and Non-associated Natural Gas

Overview of Field Processing of Natural Gas

Overview of Field Processing of Natural Gas

Natural gas associated with oil production (associated gas) or produced

Typical Natural Gas Composition

Typical Natural Gas Composition

Typical Natural Gas Composition

Pg 256 The Table

Irrespective of the source of natural gas, the typical final specification

H2S 0.25-0.30 grain per 100 ft3 (one grain=64.799 mg)

Gas Field Processing

For convenience, field treatment of gas project could be divided into 2

Stage I involves the removal of gas contaminants (acidic gases) followed

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