Introduction

• The Natural Gas found in underground reservoirs differs from the finished product
sold on the market. Gas has no use to consumers in its natural state, therefore it
must go through numerous stages of treatment and processing before being
purchased and consumed.

• The major technical components of gas processing and conditioning will be covered
in this course (Gas Processing and Conditioning Fundamentals). It will provides a
comprehensive grasp of the equipment and processes used in conventional
separation and gas treating systems, as well as a complete and up-to-date review of
gas conditioning and processing technologies.

• The course will also cover gas dehydration, sweetening, and processing activities, as
well as the integration of separate processing operations, natural gas gathering,
separation, and final treatment systems, and the notions of export grade natural
gas, field, and fiscal measurements inaccuracy.
 Learning Objectives

This Course is designed to provide a fundamental knowledge

outcome that is reflective of an Overview of Natural Gas
Processing, Gas Separation System, Natural Gas Sweetening,
Dehydration, Liquid Recovery and a Case study Simulation of
Natural Gas Processing.
 Module Three Learning Outcomes
At the End of this Module, you should be able:
•Identify typical Natural Gas Sweetening Processes.
•Identify and Explain the Design and Operation Parameters and Criteria of Natural
Gas Sweetening Process.

•Describe the Typical operation problems and troubleshoot a Natural Gas

Sweetening Process.
 INTRODUCTION
Natural Gas (from a natural reservoir or associated to a crude production) can contain acid gas
(H2S and/or CO2).
• For safety reason, to remove the H2S content of the natural gas stream.
• To satisfy a Sales Gas specification: H2S content of the Sales Gas must be below 4 ppmV (about 5.7 mg of
H2S/Sm3 of gas or 0.25 grains of H2S/100 SCF of gas).

CO2 content must be adjusted to allow the Sales Gas to fit with the required range of gross calorific value
(GCV).
• To allow a downstream process to work properly. This is the case for a cryogenic process (the CO2 can
freeze at temperatures around -70 deg.C).
• To decrease the H2S content of a gas used in a crude cold stripping.
• For Enhance Oil Recovery (EQR) by CO2 injection (CO2 is removed from the gas and injected the oil
reservoir)
 PROCESS CLASSIFICATION
The different Gas Sweetening Processes to be applied, depends on the quality and quantity of acid gas contaminants to be
removed:

•CO2 when this is the sole contaminant of the gas.

•H2S when this is the sole contaminant of the gas.

•CO2 and H2S simultaneously.

•Selective removal of H2S when both CO2 and H2S are present in the gas.

The existing processes includes:

 
•Chemical Absorption
•Physical Absorption
•Physico-chemical Absorption
•Physical Adsorption
•Cryogenic Fractionation
•Permeation (membrane)
•Direct conversion to sulfur
PROCESS CLASSIFICATION

The methods used for natural gas

sweetening can be classified under
three categories:

1.Reactive chemical solvents

2.Physical methods

3.Other methods
PROCESS CLASSIFICATION
 PROCESS CLASSIFICATION
Chemical absorption Sweetening Processes (Amines)
These processes use an aqueous solution of a weak
base in order to react chemically along with absorption
of the acid gases (H2S or CO2) to be removed from the
natural gas.
Absorption is attributed to the rate of mass transfer
driven by the difference in partial pressure between the
bulk of gas and the liquid.
Reactions are identified as chemical-absorption, or
chemi-sorption.
They are reversed by the effect of temperature or
pressure, which results in regeneration of the solvent
used.
Several chemical solvents are available for gas
sweetening processes, almost all of them being
based on alkanolamine products.
They are all used under form of aqueous
solutions.
The main alkanolamine products used in the gas
sweetening industry are as follows:
 
Mononethanolamine or MEA
Diglycolamine (®) or DGA
Diethanolamine or DEA
Diisopropanolamine or DIPA
Methyldiethanolamine or MDEA
 PROCESS CLASSIFICATION

The amine sweetening process is schematically outlined in the diagram in the Next Slide.

It consists basically, of contactor and a regenerator, where reaction occurs at 100-degree F, while
regeneration takes place at 240-degree F:

Reaction could be applied to CO2 as well.

The ethanol-amine processes are recommended when the partial pressure of the acid gas is low/and or low
levels of acid gas are desired in the residue gas.

If the quantity of acid gas is large, hot potassium carbonate followed by amine treatment may be justified.
PROCESS CLASSIFICATION
 PROCESS CLASSIFICATION
Description of Equipment and Unit Operations
The main equipment comprises the following:
 
The Contactor It involves a mass transfer operation (gas/liquid) in which the
sour gas flows into the bottom of the column (contactor) and moves upward
counter current to the solvent (which is amine-solution).

Generally, the number of bubble trays used in the contactor is from sixteen to
twenty trays. The diameter of column, on the other hand, depends on the gas
volume and operating pressure.
 
Heat exchangers It provides heat transfer to the bottom of the absorber,
where the temperature of the solution is raised to about 180 to 220-degree F.
 
Regenerator It involves a mass transfer operation (stripping), where the rich
amine flows into the regenerator stripping column, near the top, flows
downward by gravity contacting the hot gases from the re-boiler. Acid gases
are removed from solution, while lean amine is cooled first, then re-circulated
back to the absorber.
 
Other equipment and Control involve pumps and drivers, filters, and controls
which include level controllers, temperature recorders and controllers, and
pressure recorders.
TYPICAL OPERATION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
The general operating
problems in the amine system
are focus around the following
major areas: -

•Amine loss from the system.

•Amine foaming problem.

•Corrosion problem.

•Concentration of residual gas

in lean amine solution.
 TYPICAL OPERATION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
Amine loss from the system
A certain amount of MDEA will be continuously lost
from the amine sweetening system due to the vapour
pressure of the amine.
The largest amine losses are usually through the amine
absorber as carry over with the treated gas. Some amine
is also lost through the amine stripper, amine flash tank,
pumps packing etc.
The losses vary for different plants, but usually are
between 0.05 to 0.5 gallons per Mmscf of treated gas.
These losses can be much higher depending upon
several factors such as sour gas flow rate, reboiler
temperature, high differential temperature between
amine solution and the sour gas in the amine absorber,
bad mist eliminator bad mist eliminator on the absorber
on the absorber top, bad filtration system and foaming.
Here are some guidance to help in minimising the
amine solution losses from the system
 
•Maintain the top temperature of the amine
absorber as low as possible.
•Maintain proper amine solution concentration.
•Ensure good clean amine solution - good
filtration, proper reboiler control to avoid
chemical breakdown of amine and avoid all
amine contamination.
•Regularly check all operating parameters &
process variables to maintain steady running of
the amine unit
 TYPICAL OPERATION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
Amine foaming
Foaming is a common problem that results in a
decrease of treating capacity of the plant and amine
losses. It is usually detected by a sharp rise in the
pressure drop across the amine absorber.
Amine foaming can occur from the reaction of the
amine solution with organic acids or because of the
presence of hydrocarbon contaminants, ferric sulphide,
or other sludge.
Several anti-foaming agents have been developed to
combat this and some products which are primarily
corrosion inhibitors have shown good anti-foaming
properties. Where foaming is caused by hydrocarbon
contamination, it may be eliminated by maintaining the
temperature of the absorber above the hydrocarbon
condensation temperature
Foaming can be prevented in the following ways:
•Do not overload the inlet separator in your plant.
•Avoid condensation of liquid hydrocarbons in the amine
absorber by keeping the temperature in the absorber
above the hydrocarbon dew point.
•Keep field corrosion inhibitors, soap-based lubricants
and lube oil out of the amine system.
•Degradation of amine can cause foaming, so avoid it by
preventing oxidation and by proper reboiler control.
•Maintain the charcoal filter in good working condition,
because this is the filter which absorbs the liquid
contaminants.
•If these remedies fail, try a de-foaming agent and
evaluate the results.
•Always keep in mind that the de-foamers are only a
temporarily answer for the foaming problem, and the
best cure for the problem is to avoid the main causes.
 TYPICAL OPERATION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
Corrosion problem
 
Corrosion problem is commonly encountered in the
amine system and generally occurs in the amine
regenerator, heat exchanger, amine stripper and
amine pumps etc.
Most corrosion occurs in areas where the acid gases
are actually released from the solution i.e. in the
reboiler, stripper tower and its overhead systems
The cause of corrosion is traced to gaseous H2S &
CO which comes out of the amine solution while the
rich amine solution is receiving heat in the heat
exchanger prior to the regenerator.
 
These acid gases combine with water to form acids,
which will attack the metal surfaces in contact with
the amine solution.
Corrosion problems can be minimised by the following
practices:
•Keep the amine solution clean. Do not over load the inlet
separator, which prevents solids entering in the system. Other
solids that contribute to corrosion are removed by amine
filters. so, it’s very important to maintain a good amine
filtration system.
•Corrosion problems become severe at high temperatures
with the rich amine solutions, so keep the amine solution
concentration up to the recommended value.
•Amine reboiler temperature should be kept at the
recommended range to avoid any amine decomposition or
any extra water losses which will affect the amine solution
concentration.
•Maintain a regular corrosion testing programmed for an early
detection of any corrosion problems in the system.
 TYPICAL OPERATION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
Concentration of residual gas in lean amine
solution
The Concentration of residual gas in the lean
amine solution should be controlled at a
specified level for the plant.
This is the gas which remains in the MDEA
solution at all times.
• The amount of residual acid gas in the solution depends
upon the heat used in the stripper reboiler. Increasing
the heat reduces the residual acid gas and vice versa.
• If the concentration of residual gas is low then more
acid gas can be absorbed by the lean amine solution in
the absorber. This will also, allow a reduction in the
circulation rate of the amine solution.
• If the inlet sour gas rate changes, the amine solution
flow rate and the reboiler heat should be changed in
same proportion to match the sour gas changes.

Note: The rich amine solution fed to the amine stripper contains acid gas from two sources:
a)Acid gas absorbed in the absorber.
b)Residual acid gas from the amine stripper.
 
Therefore, the sum of the two is the total acid gas content of the rich amine solution.
 TYPICAL OPERATION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
The following trouble shooting guide is presented to assist with the diagnosis of the problems encountered
during plant operation.
PROBLEM
1 . H ig h p r e s s u re in
absorber
2 . L o w p re s s u re in
absorber
CAUSE
M a lfu n c tio n o f P C V
D o w n s tr e a m b lo c k v a lv e
H C V - 2 4 1 o b s tru c te d /c lo s e d
P re s s u re g a u g e fa ilu re
M a lfu n c tio n o f P C V
P re s s u re g a u g e fa ilu re
O p e n in g o f B D V -2 4 0 to fla re
system
V e n t v a lv e le ft o p e n
P S V -2 4 0 /2 4 1 o p e n
REM EDY
C h e c k th e d o w n stre a m P C V
C h e c k fo r o p e n in g o f b lo c k
valve
C a lib r a te d e fe c tiv e P I- 2 4 0 o r
PI-241 pressure gauge, if
re q u ire d in s ta ll n e w g a u g e
C h e c k th e P C V d o w n s tre a m
C a lib ra te d e fe c tiv e
P I-2 4 4 /2 4 1 . p re s s u re g a u g e , if
required install new
C h e c k a ir s u p p ly (v a lv e o p e n
with air failure).
C h e c k p o w e r fe e d in g to its
solenoid valves.
C h e c k v e n t v a lv e
C h e c k s e ttin g o f P S V c o rre c t if
required
TYPICAL OPERATION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEM CAUSE REM EDY

3 . H ig h D P in a b s o rb e r Foaming Determine cause of

fo a m in g . In je c t d e -fo a m e r
until foaming stops

D iffe re n tia l p re s s u re g a u g e C h e c k th e is o la tin g v a lv e s

faulty (DPI-240) - c lo s e if o p e n .
H ave D P gauge checked out

4 . L o w D P in th e a b s o rb e r V e ry lo w g a s flo w ra te C h e c k c o rre c t o p e n in g o f
is o la tin g v a lv e s o f th e g a s
piping system

G a s le a k s th ro u g h tra y s a n d C h e c k a m in e s o lu tio n flo w .

down-comers In c re a s e flo w r a te if it is
t o o low
D iffe re n tia l p re s s u re g a u g e C h e c k v e n t v a lv e s c lo se d .
failure DPI-240 Calibrate DP gauge.
TYPICAL OPERATION PROBLEMS AND TROUBLESHOOTING
PROBLEM CAUSE
5 . H ig h liq u id le v e l in F a u lty L C V o p e ra tio n ,
absorber
P o s s ib le h ig h p re s s u re in F la s h
Tank.
L iq u id o u tle t lin e b lo c k e d
6 . L o w liq u id le v e l in th e L C V -2 4 0 s tic k in g in o p e n
absorber position
H ig h g a s ra te c a u s in g h o ld -u p
L o w p re s s u re a t a m in e c h a rg e
pump discharge
REM EDY
C h e c k L C V - If fa u lty c o n ta c t
In s t. D e p t.
M e a n w h ile u s e b y p a s s to
control level.
C h e c k F la s h T a n k p re s s u re - If
high investigate why and
correct the fault.
If L C V a n d F la s h T a n k a re O K ,
and High Level remains,
p ro b a b le b lo c k a g e in th e lin e -
F u rth e r c h e c k s a re re q u ire d .
U s e th e b y p a s s a n d h a v e th e
In s t. D e p t. c h e c k th e L C V
C h e c k fo r a b n o rm a l g a s ra te
a n d g ly c o l filte rs a n d p u m p
operation.
C h e c k p u m p fo r c o rre c t
o p e ra tio n (n o c a v ita tio n )
If n e c e ssa ry , c h a n g e o v e r
pumps & re-check.
Hope Everything is
Clear so far?
 Module Four Learning Outcomes
At the End of this Module, you should be able:

•Identify the typical Processes of Natural Gas Dehydration.

•Explain the Theory and principles of Natural Gas Dehydration.

•Identify the difference between Glycols vs. Solid desiccants.

INTRODUCTION
 INTRODUCTION
Gas dehydration is a process of extracting moisture out
of natural gas and gaseous mixtures.
Definition
Removal of water from natural gas by lowering
the dew point temperature of the natural gas.
Dew point
..is the temperature to which a gas must be cooled in
order to become saturated with water.
Note that
the water content is directly proportional to the dew
point … it is recommended to keep dew point as
minimum as possible.
There are at least three commercial methods of natural
gas dehydration, which are Absorption, Adsorption,
and Condensation.
Natural gas dehydration unit is an important facility in
onshore and offshore gas processing plant. Its functions
are:
•To mitigate risk of water condensation, which leads to
flow capacity issues (pipeline clogging and blocking).
•To prevent hydrate formation or to minimize corrosion.
•To ensure smooth operation in downstream facilities.
For example, gas pipeline is usually required 4-7
lb/MMSCF water content (87.2-152.6 ppm).
For cryogenic unit (to produce LNG), water content in gas
shall be less than 1 ppm. For CNG plant, before entering
compressor unit, water content shall be reduced to
maximum 3 lb/MMSCF to meet product specification.
NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION PROCESS CLASSIFICATION
 NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION PROCESS CLASSIFICATION
Absorption
Processes
Absorption is the most widely used industrial natural gas
dehydration.

Absorption is usually performed by using TEG (triethylene glycol).

The process consists of absorption (of water in gas stream) and

regeneration (of TEG).

Absorption occurs at low temperature, while regeneration occurs

at high temperature.
Absorption dehydration unit consists of glycol contactor, in form of
tray column or packed column.
In the contactor, wet natural gas and TEG flow counter-currently.
TEG enriched in water flows out the bottom part of contactor,
while dry natural gas flows out to the upper part of contactor.
At the top part of contactor, a filter is sometimes installed. The
function is to capture remaining TEG in dry gas stream.
TEG enriched in water flows into flash drum, where the
flash gases are released.
Then, the TEG enters to cold side of glycol/glycol heat
exchanger.
Then, TEG enters reboiler, where it is heated by heat
transfer fluid to regenerate the TEG. Regenerated TEG is
pumped back to hot side of glycol/glycol exchanger and
gas/glycol heat exchanger to the top of contactor. The
cycle begins again.
 NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION PROCESS CLASSIFICATION
Absorption Process TEG is the most common liquid desiccant used in natural
gas dehydration.

In process design of the TEG dehydration unit, the

upstream unit operation must be considered, as the TEG
inlet temperature and water saturation will significantly
impact the unit performance.

For hot climate regions, the feed gas should be cooled to

the lowest possible temperature with cooling water (or
chilled water).

This is necessary to ensure that the feed gas temperature

meets the inlet maximum temperature of the TEG unit.
 NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION PROCESS CLASSIFICATION

Adsorption (Or Solid Bed) Process

Several solids desiccants possess physical characteristics to
adsorb water from natural gas. Those are mole sieve, silica
gel, and alumina.
 
Natural gas adsorption is usually consisting of two towers,
where adsorption occurs in one tower, and regeneration
occurs in the other one. Hot gas is used to drive off the
absorbed water from the desiccant.

Then, the towers is cooled with unheated gas stream. The

towers are switched before the on-stream tower become
water saturated.
 NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION PROCESS CLASSIFICATION

Condensation Process
The third conventional dehydration method rely on condensation which
turn water molecules into the liquid phase by means of cooling, and then
removes them from gas stream.

By using this method, natural gas liquids (NGL) and condensed higher
hydrocarbons can also be recovered.

Therefore, this method is usually applied for simultaneous dehydration

and recovery of NGL.

Natural gas can be cooled using the Joule-Thompson effect (JT effect).
The JT effect characterized how gas temperature changes with pressure
alternation. During gas expansion, kinetic energy decrease, thus resulting
in temperature decrease of natural gas.

When wet natural gas is cooled, methane hydration formation can also
occur. This phenomenon will cause plug flow. To prevent this, methanol
or monoethylene glycol (MEG) hydrate inhibitor is usually injected.
NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION PROCESS CLASSIFICATION

COMPARISON OF NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION METHODS

 NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION PROCESS CLASSIFICATION

GAS DEHYDRATION PROCESS SELECTION

The natural gas dehydration process is selected based on the water dew point requirements.

The process selection can be quite straight forward.

If dehydration is required only to meet the pipeline specification of 4-7 lb/MMscf, any of the
previously mentioned processes can be applicable.

Typical glycol dehydration process is suitable for meeting pipeline gas specification as low as -40
Degrees F and is more economical than molecular sieves technology.

Solid desiccant dehydrators are chosen for deep dehydration to meet a low water dew point for
NGL recovery or LNG production.
GLYCOLS VS. SOLID DESICCANTS
KEY OPERATING PARAMETERS
Hope Everything is
Clear so far?
Thank you for
Your TIME