NATURAL GAS ENGINEERING

CHAPTER 7 NATURAL GAS PROCESSING

CONTENTS

1 Introduction
2 Dehydration
3 Sweetening
4 LNG,CNG,LPG

INTRODUCTION
Gas contracts usually contain the following basic considerations:

Minimum, maximum delivery pressure

Minimum heating value
Composition
Water content
Maximum condensable hydrocarbon content or hydrocarbon
dew point
Contaminants such as H2S, CO2, mercury etc.

PROCESSING
Field processing of Natural Gas consists of 4 basic processes

1. Separation of gas from free liquids such as crude oil,

condensate, water and entrained solids
2. Processing the gas to remove condensable and
recoverable hydrocarbon vapour
3. Processing the gas to remove water vapour which
might cause hydrate formation
4.

Processing the gas to remove H2S and CO2

WATER CONTENT
Water and hydrocarbons are natural companions.
Hydrocarbons are formed in a water environment and are in
equilibrium with water at reservoir condition
If both liquid water and hydrocarbons are present in a
system there will be two liquid phases.
The water content of a gas is a function of
- pressure,
- temperature,
- composition, and the
- salt content of the free water.

SEPARATION
Separators are used for separation process at following
locations:

1. Well head production batteries

2. Gasoline plant

3. Upstream and downstream of compressors

4. Liquid traps in gas transmission lines
5. Gas sweetening units
6. Inlet scrubbers to dehydration units

SEPARATION

A properly designed separator perform the following

functions:
1. Primary separation of liquid from gas
2. Removing liquid mist from the gas
3. Removing entrained gas from liquid
4. Discharge separated gas and liquid from the vessel

TYPES OF SEPARATORS
Mainly 3 types of separator
1.
2.

Vertical separator
Horizontal separator
-horizontal single tube
-horizontal double tube
3. Spherical separator

Vertical SEPARATOR

Horizontal SEPARATOR

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Horizontal SEPARATOR

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Horizontal SEPARATOR

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Horizontal Dual Tube SEPARATOR

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Factors Affecting Separation

1. Separator operating Pressure

2. Separator Operating Temperature
3. Fluid Composition

Changes in any one of these factors will

change the amount of gas and liquid leaving the
separator.
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DEHYDRATION
Gas producing of a reservoir contains more water vapor than
oil producing reservoir.
Water vapor is undesirable impurity found in untreated
natural gas.
Reasons for removing of water vapor from natural gas for
long distance transmission include the following:

1. Liquid water and natural gas can form solids, ice-like

hydrates that can plug pipeline and equipment.
2. Natural gas containing liquid water is corrosive.
3. Water vapor decreases the heating value of natural gas
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Typical Oil and Gas Reservoir

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Water Vapor Content

All natural gases contain water vapor to some
degree.

Solubility of water increases as temperature increases.

Solubility of water decreases as pressure increases.

Water content is expressed as lbm of water per million

standard cubic feet (lbm/MMSCFD).

Typical values of water content for

Reservoir Gas(5000psia/250 F)=500 lbm/MMSCF
Trap Gas(500psia/125F)=400 lbm/MMSCF
Pipeline Gas=6-8 lbm/MMSCF
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DEHYDRATION
The term Dehydration means removal of water
vapor.
Water content of natural gas is indirectly indicated
by Dew Point.
Dew point is defined as the temperature at which
natural gas is saturated with water vapor at a given
pressure.

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QUIZZ 5
Water Vapor Content
of Natural Gas

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HYDRATE FORMATION

Natural Gas Hydrates are solid crystalline compounds

formed by the chemical combination of natural gas and water
under pressure and temperature considerably above the
freezing point of water.

In the presence of free water, hydrates will form when the

temperature is below a certain degree ( hydrate temperature).

The chemical formula for natural gas hydrates are:

Methane(C1)
=
CH4.7H2O
Ethane(C2)
=
C2H6.8H2O
Propane(C3)
=
C3H8.18H2O
Carbon Dioxide =
CO2.7H2O
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HYDRATE FORMATION
The conditions that tend to promote the formation of
natural gas hydrates are:
1. Natural is at below dew point temperature
2. High operating pressures
3. High velocity of gas flow through piping or equipment
4. Presence of H2S or CO2 is conducive to hydrate
formation since these acid gas are more soluble in water than
hydrocarbons

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Pressure Temperature Curves for predicting Hydrate Formation

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PREVENTING HYDRATE FORMATION

To prevent hydrates from forming, the following methods can
be used:
1. Keep the gas above the hydrate temperature.
2. Remove the water from the gas so that free water will not
condense out.

3. Add chemicals to the gas to combine with the water. The

chemicals mostly used are methanol, glycols and sometimes
ammonia. Glycols are generally used for continuous processes
while methanol is used for emergencies.

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Gas sweetening

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Gas Sweetening
Hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide, mercaptans and
other contaminants are often found in natural gas
streams.
H2S is a highly toxic gas that is corrosive to carbon
steels.
CO2 is also corrosive to equipment and reduces the
Btu value of gas.
Gas
sweetening
processes
remove
these
contaminants so the gas is marketable and suitable
for transportation
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Gas Sweetening

Heating Value increased

Avoid corrosion in transportation and distribution
Avoid air pollution caused by SO2 as a result of H2S
combustion

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Gas Sweetening

Processes:
Amine Process
Carbonate Process
Cryogenic Distillation
Membrane Process

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Gas Sweetening

Amine treating is a proven technology that

removes H2S and CO2 from natural gas and
hydrocarbon liquid streams through absorption and
chemical reaction.

Amine treating is one of the most widely used and

cost-effective methods of removing hydrogen sulfide
and carbon dioxide from hydrocarbon streams.

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Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG)

What is LNG?
Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG) is natural gas that has been
cooled down to --260F and atmospheric pressure where
natural gas condenses to liquid.
Liquefaction reduces to approximately 600 times thus making
more economical to transport between continents in specially
designed ocean vessels.
Traditional pipeline transportation systems would be less
economically attractive and could be technically or politically
infeasible.
Thus, LNG technology makes natural gas available
throughout the world.
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Typical properties of LNG

LNG is simply natural gas that has been cooled to its liquid

state at atmospheric pressure: - 162.2C and 14.7 psia

LNG is transported at ambient pressures.
Liquefying natural gas, which reduces the gas into a practical
size for transportation and storage, reduces the volume that
the gas occupies more than 600 times

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Typical properties of LNG

LNG is considered a flammable liquid

LNG vapor is colorless, odorless, and non-toxic
LNG vapor typically appears as a visible white cloud, because
its cold temperature condenses water vapor present in the
atmosphere.
The lower and upper flammability limits of methane are 5.5%
and 14% by volume at a temperature of 25C

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Heating Value of LNG

Heating Values depends on the content of heavy
hydrocarbons (C3, C4) and varies between sources
Heating Values requirement also varies between markets:
Japan: 1,1201,150 BTU/SCF
Europe: 9901,070 BTU/Cft
USA: 1,020-1,075 BTU/Cft

Heating Values has thus to be adjusted to each market

It can be reduced by extraction of C3/C4 at liquefaction plant,
mixed with lower BTU gas, or inject nitrogen
It can be increased by adding propane (to meet requirement
of Japan)

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Heating Values

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LNG Process Scheme

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CNG

COMPRESSED
NATURAL GAS
CNG

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CNG
CNG is made by compressing natural gas (which is mainly
composed of methane [CH4]), to less than 1% of the volume it
occupies at standard atmospheric pressure.
It is stored and distributed in hard containers at a pressure
of (29003600 psi), usually in cylindrical or spherical shapes.

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Technical Aspect comparison

1.

Compressed Natural Gas(CNG):

1.
Pressurized gas
2.
900-3600 psig
3.
Temperature -30C to 45C

2. Liquefied Natural Gas(LNG):

1.
Cryogenic liquid
2.
18.325 psig
3.
-160C

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Liquefied Petroleum Gas(LPG)

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LPG
LPG is composed primarily of propane (C3H8) and butane

(C4H10), while natural gas is composed of methane (CH4)

and ethane (C2H6).

LPG is a flammable mixture of hydrocarbon gas used as a

fuel in heating appliances and vehicles.

LPG is used for cooking in many countries for economic

reasons as well as for convenience.

Volume ratio of LPG to gas is typically 250:1.

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LPG
.

The pressure at which LPG becomes liquid, called

its vapor pressure, likewise varies depending on
composition and temperature;

For example, it is approximately 32 psi for pure

butane at 68 F, and approximately 320 psi for pure
propane at 131 F.

LPG is heavier than air unlike natural gas.

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THANK YOU

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