GAS DEHYDRATION / Glycol Dehydration

Water Content in Gas

Hydrate Formation
Hydrate Inhibition
Gas Dehydration
Molecular Sieves

Glycol Dehydration (Physical Absorption)

Membranes
(Refrigeration)

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GLYCOL DEHYDRATION

Natural gas dehydration

Glycol processes
Aromatics emissions
CO2 emissions
Dew point achieved
Conclusion

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NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION

- Natural gas dehydration
Purpose
Mol
Prevent from hydrate formation and Sieve
corrosion
Dedicated processes
Liquid inhibitor injection
Solid desiccant adsorption
Liquid desiccant absorption

Oil & Gas Processing Course

Me OH
Inj.

Stripping
Gas
Drizo

GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

- Glycol process
Tens of thousands glycol units dehydrate gas
over the world
Simple operating principle
Direct contact at pressure between gas and glycol
Glycol circulating in a closed loop

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GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

FLARE
HEADER

DRY GAS
STILL
COLUMN

FLARE
HEADER
HEAT
MEDIUM
GLYCOL
CONTACTOR

FLASH
DRUM

STRIPPING
COLUMN

CLOSED
DRAIN

REBOILER

WET GAS

SURGE TANK
GLYCOL/GLYCOL
HEAT EXCHANGER

FREE
LIQUID

PURIFYER

FILTER

GLYCOL
COOLER

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GLYCOL
PUMP

STRIPPING
GAS

GLYCOL DEHYDRATION UNIT

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GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

Glycol process

Design key factors : Low dew point application

1- Contactor equilibrium stages
2- Glycol flow rate
3- Glycol concentration

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GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

Contact Temperature C

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GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

How to approach 100 % lean TEG concentration ?

3 main techniques are used
1-

Secondary water extraction

2-

Gas stripping

3-

Solvent stripping

Oil & Gas Processing Course

GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

Secondary Water Extraction

TO FLARE

DRY GAS
STILL COLUMN

HEAT
MEDIUM
GLYCOL
CONTACTOR

TRIMDRYER
TO FLARE

SURGE
DRUM
REBOILER

WET GAS

FLASH DRUM
CLOSED
DRAIN

GLYCOL/GLYCOL
HEAT EXCHANGER

FILTER
TRIM
COOLER

Oil & Gas Processing Course

PUMP

10

GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

FLARE
HEADER

Gas Stripping Process

DRY GAS

STILL
COLUMN

FLARE
HEADER
HEAT
MEDIUM
GLYCOL
CONTACTOR

FLASH
DRUM

STRIPPING
COLUMN

CLOSED
DRAIN

REBOILER

WET GAS

SURGE TANK
GLYCOL/GLYCOL
HEAT EXCHANGER

FREE
LIQUID

PURIFYER

FILTER

GLYCOL
COOLER

Oil & Gas Processing Course

GLYCOL
PUMP

11

STRIPPING
GAS

GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

Dry Gas Stripping

Well proven process

Up to 6 SCF/GALL of stripping gas
rate to reach 99.95 % wt glycol.
Preventing condensation
of still column overhead
product

Major Btex emissions concern

End of chain solution
Incineration
Re-compression

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GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

Dry gas stripping - Application

Gas capacity
: 410 MSCFD / train
@ 60C & 72.5 bar
TEG Load
: 3 USG/Lb. of water
99.93 %
Dew point spec. : 1.5 #/MMSCF i.e. 20C

Still overhead gas compression

Liquid ring compressor (Atm to 3.5b.) 20 tons skid 400 kW Abs. Power
Reciprocating compression (3.5b to 12b) 25 tons skid - 250 kW Abs.Power
18 % of dehydration unit investment cost.

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GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

DRIZO LOOP

Drizo Process
DRY GAS

SOLVENT / WATER
CONDENSER
FILTER

TO
INCINERATOR

SOLVENT RECOVERY
CONDENSER

RICH
STRIPPER

TO FUEL
GAS SYSTEM

HEAT
MEDIUM

SOLVENT
RECOVERY
DRUM
GLYCOL
CONTACTOR

FLASH
DRUM

GLYCOL/GLYCOL
EXCHANGER

TRIM
COOLER

REBOILER
HEAT
MEDIUM
SOLVENT
HEATER

SOLVENT
PUMP

PUMP
SOLVENT
COALESCER

Oil & Gas Processing Course

WATER TO
DISPOSAL

LEAN
STRIPPER

SURGE TANK

WET GAS

SOLVENT
WATER
SEPARATOR

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EXCESS
SOLVENT

DRIZO PROCESS

- Solvent stripping : DRIZO

Principle : Btex and hydrocarbons absorbed at contactor are
recovered to constitute the solvent loop.
Solvent loop :
Overhead condenser
Three phase separator
Solvent dryer
Solvent vaporizer
Glycol concentration achieved : up to 99.99+%wt

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DRIZO PROCESS

- Aromatics emissions - Case 1

Plotted results of Btex emissions

350
300

250

Btex (kg/h)

200

@ Still column
@ Flash tank

150
100
50
0

99,500

99,700

99,900

99,920

Stripping Gas process

Oil & Gas Processing Course

16

99,950

99,995

Glycol purity

DRIZO process

DRIZO PROCESS
Plotted results of Btex emissions

- Aromatics emissions - Case 2

140
120
100

80

@ Still column

60

@ Flash tank

Btex (kg/h)

40

20
0

99,500

99,700

99,900

99,920

Stripping Gas process

Oil & Gas Processing Course

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99,950

99,995

Glycol purity

DRIZO process

DRIZO PROCESS
-

BTEX emissions
BTEX @flash drum :
Representing a small part of emissions
Available at low pressure
BTEX @still column
Gas stripping
Significant increase, proportional to gas injected
3 times more between 99.5 % TEG and 99.95 %
Solvent stripping
Almost all Btex condensed with DRIZO
Lean glycol concentration at 99.995 %
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DRIZO PROCESS
Plotted results of CO2 emissions

- CO2 emissions - Case 1

CO2(kg/h)

500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

@ Still column
@ Flash tank

99,500

99,700

99,900

99,920

Stripping Gas process

Oil & Gas Processing Course

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99,950

99,995

Glycol purity

DRIZO process

DRIZO PROCESS

- CO2 emissions - Case 2

Plotted results of CO2 emissions

120
100

80
CO2 (kg/h)

@ Still column

60

@ Flash tank

40

20
0

99,500

99,700

99,900

99,920

Stripping Gas process

Oil & Gas Processing Course

20

99,950

99,995

DRIZO

Glycol purity

DRIZO PROCESS
Plotted results of CO2 emissions

- CO2 emissions - Case 1

CO2 (kg/h)

500
450
400
350
300
250
200
150
100
50
0

@ Still column
@ Flash tank

99,500

99,700

99,900

99,920

Stripping Gas process

Oil & Gas Processing Course

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99,950

99,995

Glycol purity

DRIZO process

DRIZO PROCESS

- CO2 emissions
CO2 emissions @ flash drum
Similar for both processes
CO2 absorbed by TEG at contactor

CO2 emissions @ Still column

Limited with DRIZO process (Residual CO2)
Constantly increased with stripping gas injected.
Also additionally generated by combustion/flaring.

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DRIZO PROCESS

- Dew point acheived

DRIZO process produces low emissions and high glycol

concentration

Feed back on Operating units.

Delivery date

Plant location

Capacity MMSCFD

1991/1994
1993
1995
1995 and 1996
1997
1997
1997

U.K.
Africa
USA
Latin America
USA
North Sea
Europe

400 (x2)
440
52
375 (x2)
56
615 (x2)
140

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Dew point achieved

-62C @ 37 bar
-55C @ 26 bar
-66C @
6 bar
-54C @ 34.5 bar
-70C @ 62 bar
-44C @ 62 bar
-108C @ 16 bar

Lean TEG
wt %
99.99
99.98
99.99
99.99
99.99
99.98
99.99+

DRIZO PROCESS

Conclusion
DRIZO process solves BTEX and CO2 emissions
of a glycol based dehydration system

Oil & Gas Processing Course

Still colum overhead emissions approach

zero.
Low dew point requirements becomes
compatible with low emissions
Limit of dew point specification is push
down.
Advantages of a proven process are kept.

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Glycol Degradation & Contamination

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25

Glycol Degradation & Contamination

Sludge
Problems
on K6P
(Offshore
HOLLAND)

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