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CHAPTER 1

PRINCIPLES OF GAS PROCESSING

1. OVERVIEW

The natural gas used in our homes and industries does not come out of the ground ready to be burned for heat and
fuel. The gas often contains too many contaminants at the wellhead to meet the quality specifications set by natural
gas buyers. In addition, the natural gas stream may contain natural gas liquids (NGLS, or hydrocarbon liquids) that
could have increased value when separated from the gas stream. So the gas is put through a series of processes in
order to make it usable. Those processes used to remove contaminants and separate. NGL's are referred to as
processing.

SYMBOL TYPICAL NATURAL GAS STREAM

Methane ( C1 ) For home and industrial use as a fuel ( stove, water heater, etc. )

Ethane ( C2 ) Makes glycol, anti-freeze ,plastics, etc.

Propane (C3 ) Used as a commercial fuel .

Isobutane ( C4 ) Used in making plastics, and as a gasoline “ Spiker ”

Normal Butane
Used as a fuel, also for making plastics and certain rubber products.
Products. ( NC4)
Pentane plus anything “ heavier ” ( or containing more than five carbon atoms ) is
Pentane ( C5+ ) basically gasoline.

SYMBOL CONTAMINANTS

Nitrogen ( N2 ) Has no BTU value, just takes up space in the gas stream.
Carbon Dioxide
Reduces the BTU rating of the gas, and is also corrosive.
( CO2 )
Hydrogen Sulfide (H2S
Is corrosive and toxic.
)
Water ( H2O ) IS corrosive to pipeline, and can lead to the formation of hydrates .

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SEPARATION

Gas processing starts at the wellhead. When gas comes out of the ground, it normally contains liquids such as oil
and water. These liquids must be separated from the gas before the producer can sell the gas. This separation is
usually accomplished at the wellhead using a device known as a three phase separator.

GAS OUTLET

FINAL
CENTRIFUGAL
GAS – LIQUID
SEPARATION
SECTION

INLET DIVERTER
BAFFLE
WELL
STREAM
INLET GAS EQUALIZER
PIPE

LIQUID QUIETING
LIQUID – LEVEL
BAFFLE
CONTROL

LIQUID DISCHARGE
VALVES

DRAIN
CONNECTION

LIQUID
OUTLET
THREE-PHASE VERTICAL SEPARATOR

Three – Phase Vertical Separator

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METERING

The separated gas is then routed through a meter station and sent to a process ing facility. Metering is a critical
function because in order to maximize profits it is important to know how much gas is leaving the well. and how
much is arriving at the processing facility. A major difference in those amounts could indicate a breakage in the

pipeline.

GAS GATHERING

After metering, the gas moves through a pipeline to a processing facility. To process gas efficiently, it is usually
piped from many producing locations to a central processing facility. This is much more efficient and economical
than setting up separate processing facilities for each production stream. Bringing various Quantities of gas together
at one location for processing is called gas
Gas gathering systems are composed of pipelines and "booster" stations that increase the gas pressure as needed to.
move the gas to its destination. These systems can range from one mile to thousands of miles in length.

PROCESSING

Once the gas reaches the central processing facility, it is put through several processes to meet sales Quality
specifications. These processes can be broken down into two major categories: Removal of contaminants and
removal of natural gas liquids (NGLS).

ORIFICE METER &

RECORDER

METER
MANIFOLD CHECK
VALVE
METER
PIPING VENT
VALVE

ORIFICE
ORIFICE
FITTING
FITTING ORIFICE PLATE THERMOWELLS
METER TUBE

Typical Meter Station

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2. CONTAMINANTS

Pipeline companies have stringent gas quality requirements that must be met before gas can be shipped through their
pipelines. Therefore, there are several contaminants that must be removed or reduced to certain levels before the gas
can be sold. The most common contaminants are water (H2O), hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and non-combustible inert
gases like carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2).

WATER

Water (H2O) in natural gas can cause hydrates to form. Hydrates are a combination of hydrocarbon molecules and
water that form a solid. They will deposit on pipeline interiors and restrict the flow of gas and also contributes to
corrosion in pipelines.

HYDRATE
CRYSTALS
PIPE

CORROSION

NATURAL GAS

HYDROGEN SULFIDE

Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a corrosive, toxic gas that is found in many natural gas streams. H2S is a highly toxic
substance that can be deadly if proper safety procedures are not followed.

NON-COMBUSTIBLE INERT GASES

Non combustible inert gases, such as nitrogen, must be removed from a gas stream for various reasons. The primary
reason is they do not burn, so they have no value as a fuel. These gases are therefore taking up valuable space in the
pipeline. In addition, individual non-combustible inert gases have certain properties that make them undesirable in

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the gas stream. Carbon dioxide, for example, becomes corrosive when mixed with water.

3. REMOVAL OF WATER

In order to prevent hydrate formation, and to reduce corrosion in pipelines, water must be removed from the gas
stream. The most common methods for water removal are: liquid desiccants, solid bed desiccants and methanol
injection.

LIQUID DESICCANTS

The process of removing water from a substance is called dehydration. Although there are several methods for
removing water from a natural gas stream, the most common method uses a liquid desiccant known as glycol. ( A
desiccant is defined as a . "drying agent:')

GLYCOL
GAS

O = WATER

Glycol absorbs water from the wet gas stream, thereby "drying" the gas. The two most widely used glycol
dehydration methods are AN ethylene glycol (T.E.G.) contactor column and an ethylene glycol (E.G.) injection
system.

GLYCOL
GAS

O = WATER

ABSORPTION

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For more detailed information, you may study the modules in this series entitled, Principles of Glycol Dehydration
and Glycol Dehydration Unit Operation.

DRY GAS

DRY GLYCOL
WATER
WATER
VAPOR

WET GLYCOL
WET GAS
HEAT

SOLID BED DESICCANTS

Solid bed desiccants can also be used to dehydrate a gas stream. This process employs a solid of some kind to
remove the water.
One common example of a solid bed desiccant is the "molecular sieve:' The molecular sieve. consists of ceramic
pellets that are electronically polar to water. They are placed in line with the gas stream, and their polarity attracts
the water droplets out of the gas stream into molecular sized pores on the surface of the pellet. The water is held
there until the bed is saturated.

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NATURAL GAS
CERAMIC
BALLS

FLOATING
SCREEN

ADSORBEN
PELLETS

CERAMIC
BALLS

DEHYDRATE
GAS

MOLECULAR SIEVE BED

Regeneration of the pellets is accomplished when a small volume of heated gas is fed through the unit. The heat
causes the water to evaporate, and the water vapor is carried out of the dehydration system by the gas stream. The
hot gas is cooled, allowing the water to condense. The dry gas is recycled back to the inlet phase, or used elsewhere
if it meets quality specifications. Silica beds are another form of solid desiccant. The process of dehydration with a
silica bed is identical in principle to the molecular sieve. Silica beds, however, do not rely on polarity to attract the
water out of the gas stream. Silica beds work because the concentration of water in the silica is so much less than the
water concentration in the gas that the water in the gas stream is adsorbed into the silica. Silica beds are not as
effective as molecular sieves for drying gas.

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SOLID DESICCANT DEHYDRATORS

When the highest possible dew point depression is required, the solid desiccant dehydration system is the most
effective type. It is not uncommon to process gas through these systems with a resultant residual water vapor in the
outlet gas of less than 1/2 lb. per MMscf. In the average system, this amount might correspond to a dew point of
-400F. Dehydrators of this type are manufactured as packaged units ranging in, capacity from 3 to 500 MMscf/d,
with design pressures of from 300 to 2,500 psig. Solid desiccant units find their greatest application in gas
transmission line systems.

The essential components of a solid desiccant dehydration are:

1. An inlet gas stream separator, usually a filter separator
2. Two or more adsorption towers (adsorbers or contactors) filled with a granular gas-drying material
3. A high-temperature heater to provide hot regeneration gas for drying the desiccant. in the towers
4. A regeneration gas cooler for condensing water from the hot regeneration gas;
5. A regeneration gas separator to remove water from the regeneration gas stream; and
6. Piping, manifolds, switching valves, and controls to direct and control the flow of gases according to
process requirements.

The following terms apply to the technology of solid desiccant dehydrators:

Wet gas: is gas containing water vapor prior to flowing through the adsorber towers.
Dry gas: is gas that has been dehydrated by flowing through the adsorbers.
Regeneration gas is wet gas that has been heated in the regeneration gas heater to temperatures of 400F to 460F.
This gas is passed through a saturated adsorber tower to dry the tower and remove the previously adsorbed water.
Desiccant is a solid granulated drying medium that has an extremely large effective surface area per unit weight
because of a multitude of microscopic pores and capillary openings. 'A typical desiccant may have as much as 4
million square feet of surface area per pound.
The term adsorption refers to the effect that natural forces have on the surface of a solid in tending to capture and
hold vapors and liquids on its surface. Adsorption processes, as opposed to absorption processes, do not involve
chemical reactions. Adsorption is purely a surface phenomenon. In most dehydration systems, activated alumina
(bauxite) or a silica gel desiccant is used. Adsorbents are specific in nature, and not all adsorbents are equally
effective.
Different molecules art attracted to adsorbents at different rates. Because of this, adsorbents are capable of
separating materials preferentially, in either gaseous or liquid phases. The separation is. accomplished by passing the
stream to be treated through the tower packed with a bent. The degree of adsorption is a function of operating
temperature and pressure; adsorption, up to a point, increases with pressure increase and decreases with temperature
increase. A bed may be regenerated, either by decreasing its pressure or by increasing its temperature.

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Adsorber towers are made ready for new adsorption cycles by increasing the bed temperature and passing a stream
of very hot gas through it. The hot natural gas not only supplies heat but also acts as a carrier to remove the water
vapor from the bed. After the bed is heated to a predetermined temperature, it is cooled by the flow of unheated gas
and thus made ready for another cycle. Figure 5 is a flow diagram of a two-tower solid desiccant dehydration unit.
The wet inlet gas stream first passes through an efficient inlet separator where free liquids, entrained mist, and solid
particles are removed. This part of the system is very important, since free liquids may damage or destroy the
desiccant bed and solids may plug it. If the plant happens to be downstream of an amine unit or a compressor
station, a filter inlet separator should be used.

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At any given time, one of the towers will be on stream in the adsorbing cycle, and the other tower will be in the
process of being regenerated and cooled. Several automatically operated switching valves and a controller route the
inlet gas and regeneration gas to the proper tower at the proper time. Typically, a tower will be on the adsorb cycle
for 4-12 hours, with 8 hours being the most common time cycle. The tower being regenerated will be heated for
about 6 hours and, cooled during the remaining 2 hours. Large-volume systems may have three towers as shown in
figure. At any given time, one tower will be in the adsorption cycle, one tower will be in the heating cycle, and the
remaining tower will[ be in the cooling cycle.
As the wet inlet gas flows downward through the tower on the adsorption cycle, all of the adsorbed gas components
are adsorbed at different rates. The water vapor is immediately adsorbed in the top layers of the bed. Dry
hydrocarbon gas components (ethane, propane, butane, etc.) passing on down through the bed are also adsorbed,
with the heavier components displacing the lighter components at the cycle proceeds. As the upper layers of
desiccant become saturated with water, the lower layers begin to see wet gas and begin adsorbing the water vapor,
displacing the previously adsorbed hydrocarbon components. For each component in the inlet gas stream, there will
be a section of bed depth, from top to bottom, where the desiccant is saturated with that component and where the
desiccant is just starting to see that component. The depth of bed from saturation to initial adsorption is known as
the mass transfer zone. This is simply that zone or section of the bed where a component is transferring its mass
from the gas stream to the surface of the desiccant.
As the flow of gas continues, the mass transfer zones move downward through the bed, and water displaces all of
the previously adsorbed gases until finally the entire bed is saturated with water vapor. When the bed is completely
saturated with water vapor, the outlet gas will be just as wet as the inlet gas. Obviously, the towers must be switched
from adsorb cycle to regeneration cycle before the bed has become completely saturated with water.
Regeneration gas is supplied by taking a portion of the entering wet-gas stream across a pressure-reducing valve that
forces a portion of the upstream gas through the regeneration system. In most plants, a flow controller regulates the
volume of regeneration gas taken. This gas is sent through a heater, usually a salt bath type, where it is heated to
400F-450F and then piped to the tower being regenerated.
The relationship between regeneration gas temperature and desiccant bed temperature for a typical 8-hour cycle is
shown in figure. At about 240F, water begins boiling, and the bed continues to heat up, but more slowly, since water
is being driven out of the desiccant. After all the water has been removed, heating is continued to drive off any
heavier hydrocarbons and contaminants, which will not vaporize at low temperatures. With cycle times of 4 hours or
more, the bed will be properly regenerated when the outlet gas temperature has reached 350F to 375F.

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Following the heating cycle, the bed is cooled by flowing unheated regeneration gas through it. The cooling cycle is
normally terminated when bed temperature has dropped to about 125F, because further cooling may cause water to
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condense from the wet-gas stream and to pre-saturate the bed before the next adsorption cycle begins. All of the
regeneration gas used in the heating and cooling cycle is passed through a heat exchanger, normally an aerial cooler,
where it is cooled in order to condense the water removed from the regenerated tower. This water is separated in the
regeneration gas separator, and the gas is then mixed with the incoming wet-gas stream. The entire procedure is
continuous and automatic and basically a simple and trouble-free operation. The usable life of a desiccant may range
from 1 to 4 years in normal service. All desiccants become less effective in normal use through loss of effective
surface area. This loss is rapid at first, but becomes more gradual as the desiccant ages. Abnormally fast degradation
occurs with blockage of the small pores and capillary openings, which contain most of the effective surface area.
Lubricating oils, amines, glycols, corrosion inhibitors, and other contaminants, which cannot be removed during the
regeneration cycle, will eventually ruin the bed. Hydrogen sulfide may poison the desiccant and reduce its capacity.

Corrosion is usually not a serious problem in dry desiccant dehydration; however, when considerable carbon dioxide
and hydrogen sulfide are present, corrosion may occur in the regeneration-gas heat exchanger. At this point, there is
free water condensing inside the heat exchanger in the presence of these acid gases. Extreme corrosion has been
noted where both carbon dioxide and oxygen are present in the gas to be dehydrated. Occasionally corrosion in the
regeneration equipment has been combated by the injection of ammonia ahead of the regeneration gas cooler.

METHANOL INJECTION

Methanol injection is sometimes used as yet another way to remove water from a natural gas stream. The injected
methanol absorbs water from the gas stream, then the methanol and water mixture is disposed off ,in an
environmentally safe manner. Methanol is expensive, toxic, and disposal is complicated. For these reasons, it is not
often used to dehydrate natural gas streams.

4. REMOVAL OF HYDROGEN SULFIDE (H2S)

Several different types of processes are also used to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) from a natural gas stream. The
most common methods are: chemical reactions, membrane separation, and batch processes.

CHEMICAL REACTION PROCESSES

A chemical reaction process mixes a chemical with. the gas stream in order to neutralize hydrogen sulfide, or
"sweeten" the gas.
The most common of these processes is called "amine sweetening:' Alkanolamines (or simply, amines), are
substances which are weak bases. They react chemically with acid gases like hydrogen sulfide to form salt com-
plexes. These salt complexes can be broken down so the amines are relieved of acid gases and can be recycled. An
acid gas is a gas that forms an acid when combined with water. Examples of acid gases include hydrogen sulfide and
carbon dioxide.

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NATURAL GAS

AMINE

NATURAL
GAS
AMINE

ABSORPTION

The process is actually quite simple. Sour gas (or natural gas with acid gas in it), is sub jected to a stream of amines,
which absorbs the acid gas, leaving sweet gas (or natural gas without acid gas in it). The amine solu tion containing
the acid gas then goes through a process of distillation to remove the acid gas. The lean amine sol is then reused.
H2S gas becomes concentrated during the distillation process. Typically, it is burned in a flare stack. If the volume
of (H2S) is very large, then the (H2S) must be converted to sulfur and recovered for environmental reasons. The
recovered sulfur can be sold to help offset operating costs.
For more detailed information you may study the module entitled, Principles of Amine Sweetening.

SWEET
LINE AMINE
GAS

ACID
GASES

SOUR
GAS
RICH AMINE
HEAT
ABSORPTION DISTILLATION

PHASE 1. BASIC PROCESS

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In another chemical process, the natural gas is contacted with a special chemical solution in several vessels,
oxidizing the hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur. The sweetened gas is then sent through a scrubber to remove any
residual chemicals. The chemical solution is then circulated to an oxidizer and regenerated for reuse.

MEMBRANE SEPARATION PROCESS

A second type of method for removing (H2S) involves the use of membranes, which are thin, polymeric films
wound in a spiral. The gas stream flows along the length of the membranes, exposing gas to the membrane's surface.
This allows polar compounds (CO2, H2S, H2O) to permeate the membrane surface by virtue of solubility. Some
hydrocarbon losses occur with the process, though not a significant amount.

RESIDUAL
GAS

HIGH PRESSURE
GAS
PERMEATE GAS

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Single stage membranes are good for CO2 gas that does not meet quality specifications at volumes less than 4
MMSCFD. Gas contaminated with only H2S will not be cleaned to 4 PPM pipeline specifications unless the inlet
concentration is low, typically less than 50 PPM. Membranes provide low maintenance and operating costs
compared to the alternative processes, and can be used in conjunction with other H2S and CO2 removal methods.

BATCH PROCESSES

A batch process is a third type or method for sweetening sour gas. The processes use a chemical reaction and/or
adsorption to remove H2S from the gas stream. Common batch processes include: iron sponge, zinc oxide, molecular
sieves and caustic wash.
All these processes have the common requirement of being operated as a “ batch system” . That is, at the end of the
sweetening cycle the operator must either change or regenerate solution in order to continue treating the gas stream.
The “ iron sponge “ is a process that employs wood chips soaked with iron oxide. When the gas stream comes in
contact with the wood chips, the iron oxide and hydrogen sulfide ( H2S ) mix to from ferrous sulfide ( Fe2S3 ) . This
creates a difficult disposal problem because ( Fe2S3 ) will spontaneously combust when exposed to air. Therefore
the ( Fe2S3 ) must be kept wet until it is buried in a safe and environmentally .

PRESSURE
GAUGE

GAS INLET WATER

LINE
RELIEF
VALVE

WOOD CHIPS
SOAKED WITH IRON
OXIDE

INTERNAL CONE

PHASE 1. IRON SPONGE

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Another batch process uses a combination of zinc oxide, zinc acetate, water and a dispersant. The natural gas is
bubbled through the solution, with the turbulence created by the flowing gas bubbles keeping the sulfur suspended
in the solution. Several reactions take place, and the final result is that zinc sulfide and water. The resulting “ slurry
“ must be disposed of in an environmentally safe manner when the chemical mixture is spent.

SILENCER

SWEET
GAS OUT TO ATMOS

SWEET
GAS IN
OXIDIZ
ER

SOLUTION
COOLER
LIQUID
FILLED
ABSORBER

SOLUTION
CIRCULATING TO
PUMP SULFER
DISPOSAL
LO – CAT PROCESS

Molecular sieves can also be used to remove H2S from a gas stream. The sieve bed can be designed to dehydrate and
sweeten at the same time. The molecular sieve process can also be used for CO2 removal.
Caustic wash systems are yet another batch process used to remove H,S from the gas stream. Caustic means the
opposite of acidic. This method of contaminant removal employs a substance like potassium hydroxide (KOH),
which is highly basic. The KOH is mixed with the H 2S to neutralize it. This can be done using either a liquid or a
solid caustic.

5. REMOVAL OF NON-COMBUSTIBLE INERT GASES

The most common non-combustible gases are carbon dioxide (CO 2) and nitrogen (N2). These and other non-
combustible gases must be removed from the natural gas stream because they do not burn and have no heating
value. Consequently, the pipeline companies greatly restrict the volume of allowable non-combustible inert gases.
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Caustic or amine processes are usually used to remove carbon dioxide. Nitrogen can be removed by a Nitrogen
Rejection Unit, or "NRU:' At around -300° F (-184°C), ail hydrocarbon gases liquefy, leaving only the nitrogen
gaseous. Water, CO2 and H2S have already been removed at this point by one of the previously covered methods.
The nitrogen is then vented, or in some cases used in tertiary oil recovery.
Nitrogen can also be removed by the membrane process that was discussed earlier.

QUESTIONS ( TO BE ANSWERED }

1. Why must natural gas be processed ?

2. What are hydrates and how can they affect gas flow ?

3. List three ways by which H2S can be removed from a natural gas stream .

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CHAPTER 2

PRINCIPLES OF GAS PROCESSING OPERATION

1. OVERVIEW

Natural gas liquids (or "NGL’s), are hydrocarbons in a Liquid state. There are many reasons for removing NGLS
from the gas stream, including:

1. The hydrocarbon components may be more valuable in their liquid state, either mixed or separated into
their different individual elements.
2. Pipeline gas quality specifications may restrict the amount of NGLS allowed.
3. Heavier NGL’s can separate from the gas stream in pipelines as temperatures drop, thus restricting flow in
the pipeline.
4. The NGL’s may be used for re-injection on enhanced oil recovery projects. That is, they will be injected
into a formation to help "sweep" crude Oil through the reservoir by mixing with the oil and pushing the
crude toward the well bore.
There are several different processes that can be used to separate NGL’s from the natural gas stream. The three most
common are: Cryogenics, refrigeration and lean oil absorption.

2. CRYOGENICS
In the cryogenic process, a natural gas stream is cooled to extremely low temperatures to liquefy the ethane and
heavier hydrocarbons. When a gas stream is chilled to below -50ْ F (-45 ْ C ), heavier gas components are easily
liquefied. The ethane and heavier hydrocarbons are then separated from the methane.

EXPANDER
COMPRESSOR DEMETHANIZER

COMPRESSO
R
METHANE SEPARATO
R

NATURAL
GAS
HEAT N. GAS
EXCHANGER LIQUID
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Cryogenic processing of a natural gas stream involves three basic steps: dehydration, chilling and fractionation.
Because of the very cold temperatures in cryogenic processing, the gas stream must be almost totally dehydrated to
prevent the formation of Hydrates .
Dehydration is usually accomplished with either a liquid or solid desiccant. The method depends on the water
content of the inlet gas at your facility. Some cryogenic processes will use only dry-desiccant dehydration. But if the
water content of the inlet gas is-high, first there would be liquid desiccant dehydration, followed by dry-desiccant
dehydration.

NATURAL GAS
STREAM

DEHYDRATION WATER

DRY GAS

CHILLING
- 150° F ( - 101° C )

GAS AND LIQUID

GAS
FRACTIONATION
( METHAN
E)

NATURAL GAS LIQUID

CRYOGENIC PROCESSING

Chilling of the gas is the cornerstone of the cryogenic process. The gas stream can be chilled by heat exchange with
cold gas, and by pressure reduction or pressure reduction with energy removal. The pressure reduction method ( "J.T
” or Joule- Thompson), provides cold temperatures in the range of -50ْ F (-45ْ C) to -100° F (-73 ْ C). To obtain the
lowest temperatures, -100 ْ F (-73 ْ C) to -200° F (-129 ْ C), pressure reduction with energy removal is

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accomplished using an expander -compressor.

TYPICAL PERCENT
METHOD TEMPERATURE RANGE
RECOVERY
Ethane 25
0 ْ to – 20 ْ F Propane 55
Refrigeration
( - 18 ْ to – 29 ْ C ) Butanes 93
Heavier 97
Ethane 70
Pressure Reduction - 50 ْ to – 70 ْ F Propane 80
( J.T Process ) ( - 46 ْ to – 57 ْ C ) Butanes 97
Heavier 99
Ethane 80
- 125 ْ to – 150 ْ F Propane 96
Expander Process
( - 87 ْ to – 101 ْ C ) Butanes 99
Heavier 100

HIGH PRESSURE HIGH PRESSURE

GAS GAS
COMMON
SHEET
LOW PRESSURE LOW PRESSURE
GAS GAS

COMPRESSOR EXPANDER

EXPANDER PROCESS

Cryogenics has relatively moderate energy requirements, and is considered the most efficient method for removing

NGLS from the gas stream. .

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3. REFRIGERATION
Refrigeration is a separation process that has been in use for many years. The principle is to chill the natural gas
stream by passing the gas through a chiller. Temperatures in this process range from 0°F (-18° C) to -20° F (-29° C).

Chilling causes the heavier hydrocarbons to liquefy, and then these NGLS can be separated from the gas.

COMPRESSOR
CONDENSER

REFIRGERANT
VAPOR

WARM NATURAL
GAS
SURGE
TANK

CHILLER
COLD GAS AND REFIRGERANT
LIQUIDS LIQUID

REFRIGERANT

The energy requirements of refrigeration are primarily for compressing the refrigerant and driving the condenser.
While the volume of heavier hydrocarbons recovered is less than with lean oil absorption , the amount of equipment
and energy used for recovery with refrigeration is much less, making it a more economical method than lean oil
absorption.

4. LEAN OIL ABSORPTION

In lean oil absorption, lean oil is flowed through a natural gas stream, absorbing the heavier hydrocarbons as it
contacts them. The hydrocarbons are then recovered by distilling them out of the now "rich" oil. Once the NGL’s
are distilled, the lean oil is recycled back through the system.

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GAS LEAN OIL

NATURA
L GAS
CHILLER LIQUIDS
LEAN
OIL METHA
NE

SEPARATOR

NATURA PUMP
L GAS
RICH OIL

ABSORBER STILL

LEAN OIL ABSORPTION

High percentages (90-95%)

of propane and heavier hydrocarbons (98-100%) can be recovered using lean oil absorption.
Lean oil absorption is relatively expensive to operate because it requires a lot of energy / equipment compared to
refrigeration or cryogenics.
This process was the mainstay of the industry for years. Although still in use, it is gradually fading from the scene
as cryogenics takes its place.

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FRACTIONATION FLOW

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5. FRACTIONATION
Fractionation is a. downstream treatment option for NGL’s after they have been separated from the gas stream. By
definition, fractionation consists of separating two components in a mixture of two or more components. For
example, a depropanizer separates propane from a stream that contains propane and one or more heavier
hydrocarbons. The propane is cooked out of the mixture and is the overhead product from the tower. The bottom
stream is practically free of propane.
Fractionation is essentially a distillation process. As you can see by the diagram on the left, different NGL’s are
cooked out in various towers. There are usually two means of control. ling the purity of the top and bottom streams
of a given tower. vary the temperature at the top of the tower, or vary the temperature at the bottom of the tower.
Generally speaking, pressure and feed rate cannot be changed, since this would change conditions in the rest of the
plant.
Whether to fractionate is a question of economics. Is there a profitable market for the fractionated product? Because
market conditions change rapidly and often, this question must constantly be answered to determine if fractionation
will be done. There are times when the mixed NGL’s will be more valuable than their separate components.

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Questions ( To Be Answered}

1. What are NGL’s ? Give two reasons why they would be removed from a natural gas stream.

2. Name and briefly describe the three most common processes for removing for NGL’s from a natural gas
stream.

3. What is fractionation ?

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CHAPTER 3

GLYCOL DEHYDRATION UNIT OPERATION

1. OVERVIEW

Most natural gas streams leaving the reservoir contain water vapor. In many cases, free water is also produced
along with the natural gas.

Natural gas cools as it travels up the well bore to the surface due to pressure reduction and conduction of heat
through the pipe to cooler formation walls. Since the ability of gas to hold water vapor decreases as gas
temperature decreases, produced natural gas is nearly always saturated with water vapor when it reaches the
surface.

Additional cooling of saturated gas will cause free water to form. If the gas is further cooled, hydrates will form
and serious equipment damage or flow restrictions will result. This is why it is so important to remove water
vapor from natural gas. .

There are several methods for dehydrating natural gas; however, this module will only cover glycol dehydration
using ethylene glycol as the liquid desiccant. .

2. LIQUID DESICCANTS

A liquid desiccant is any liquid which removes water from another substance when the two come in contact.
Common liquid desiccants used in the oil and gas industry to dehydrate natural gas are: methanol, ethylene glycol,
diethylene glycol, and tri-ethylene glycol. Methanol, ethylene glycol, and di-ethylene glycol are commonly used in
injection systems as hydrate inhibitors.

WET GAS

LIQUID
DESICCANT

DRY GAS

LIQUID
DESICCANT

NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION

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TRI-ETHYLENE GLYCOL (TEG) IS PREFERRED FOR USE IN DEHYDRATION

UNITS BECAUSE:

 It is more easily regenerated due to its high boiling point and other physical properties
 It has a high decomposition temperature of 404°F (207°C)
 It has lower vaporization losses than other glycols
 It has lower capital and operating costs than other glycol systems

3. GLYCOL DEHYDRATION PROCESS

You have previously learned that glycol. dehydration is an absorption process where lean glycol absorbs water from
wet natural gas in the contactor column. You also learned that glycol is expensive, and therefore. it is important to
remove absorbed water from the glycol so it can be used over and over again.
Before we proceed with this module, let’s briefly review the two fluid flow paths through a typical glycol
dehydration unit.

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WATER
VAPOR

STILL
COLUMN

REGENERATOR

GAS FLOW

GLYCOL FLOW
GAS FLOW

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Wet gas passes through an inlet separator to remove free liquids and solid particles. The gas flows from the
separator to the bottom of the contactor column where it then flows upward through the tray or packed column con-
tacting the Glycol solution. Before leaving the contactor column, the gas flows through a mist eliminator which
reduces glycol loss due to mist carryover. Dry gas leaves the contactor and flows through a glycol cooler (glycol/gas
heat exchanger) and into the sales or other process line.

GLYCOL FLOW

Lean glycol is continuously pumped through the glycol cooler to the top of the contactor column, where it flows
downward across each tray or over the packing. As it flows downward, it absorbs water from the rising natural gas.
Cool, rich glycol flows out the bottom of the contactor column to the reflux coil in the top of the still column. Here
the cool, rich glycol is warmed by water vapor leaving the top of the still column. The warm, rich glycol flows
through a glycol/ glycol heat exchanger on its way to the gas-condensate-glycol ( G- C-G ) separator. This
exchanger heats up the warm, rich glycol by the hot, lean glycol leaving another glycol/glycol heat exchanger
downstream of the surge tank.
From the G-C-G separator, the warm, rich glycol flows through particle and carbon filters to the second
glycol/glycol heat exchanger. This exchanger heats up the warm, rich glycol by the hot, lean glycol leaving the
surge tank. The hot, rich glycol leaving this exchanger flows to the still column for regeneration.
Vapor generated in the re-boiler, located under the still column, strips water vapor from the downward flowing rich
glycol. Glycol in the rising vapor is condensed and falls back in the re-boiler. Glycol stripped of the water vapor
spills over a weir in the re-boiler and flows down into the surge tank .
Hot, lean glycol from the surge tank flows through the two glycol/glycol heat exchangers and is cooled in the first
exchanger by the warm, rich glycol from the G-C-G separator and in the second exchanger by the warm, rich glycol
from the reflux coil. The warm, lean glycol flows from these two heat exchangers to the suction side of the glycol
circulation pump. The glycol is then pumped through the glycol cooler to the top of the contactor column to start the
cycle over again. .

4. DEW POINT

Two important terms used to describe a dehydration unit's performance are: dew point temperature and dew point
depression.

DEW POINT TEMPERATURE

This term is commonly referred to as just dew point. Dew point temperature is th8 temperature at which natural gas
is saturated with water vapor at any given pressure. Gas can absorb water if the gas is above its dew point
temperature. Water will condense out of gas if the gas is below its dew point temperature. Since natural gas is
considered ……………… when it leaves the wellhead, the gas is said to be at its dew point temperature or dew
point.

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DEW POINT DEPRESSION

This term is used as another way of describing how much water vapor has been removed from natural gas. Dew
point

The actual temperature of the inlet and outlet gas does not change.
Example: If the inlet gas temperatur8 is 100°F (38°C) and has a dew point temperature of 100°F (38°C) and the
outlet gas temperature is 100°F (38°C) and has a dew point temperature of 35°F (2°C), then the dew point
depression is 100°F - 35°F or 65°F ( 38°C - 2°C or 36°C).

OUTLET GAS :
TEMPERATURE 100 ْ F ( 38 ْ C )
DEW POINT 35 ْ F ( 2ْ C )

100ْ F- 35ْ F = 65 ْ F
( 38ْ C – 2 ْ C = 36 ْ C )

INLET GAS :
TEMPERATURE 100 ْ F ( 38 ْ
C )
DEW POINT 100 ْ F (38ْ C )
DEW POINT DEPRESSION

5. PROCESS VARIABLES

The degree of water removal is determined by several process variables which include: inlet gas temperature, inlet
gas pressure, gas flow rate, inlet glycol temperature, glycol concentration, and glycol circulation rate. All are major
factors which affect the efficiency of a glycol dehydration system.
Inlet gas temperature: Incoming gas temperature has a significant effect on the water content of the gas entering the
contactor. At constant pressure, the water content of inlet gas increases as the gas temperature is increased. "If in
contact with free water, gas will absorb additional water vapor as the temperature is increased. If the gas contains
more water vapor, the unit is required to remove more water in order to achieve the desired water content of outlet
gas.
Example : At 1000 psig (6900 kPa) inlet pressure, changing the gas temperature from 100°F to 120°F (38°C to

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49°C) will double the amount of water vapor that will be carried by saturated gas. Inlet gas temperatures above
130°F (54°C) make normal glycol dehydration almost impossible.

WATER CONTENT. LBS MMCF (A 14.7 PSOA &

60ْ F

TEMPERATURE. °F

WATER VAPOR CONTENT OF NATURAL GAS AT

SATURATION
In cold weather, line heaters are used to heat the gas stream ahead of the dehydration unit to maintain minimum inlet
gas temperature, which is 50°F (10°C). Minimum inlet gas temperature is set by the viscosity of the glycol being
used. Depending on the composition and pressure of the gas, Hydrates may form at temperatures well above 50°F
(10°C). thus requiring a higher inlet gas temperature to avoid plugging problems. Low temperatures increase the
tendency of glycol to foam which can create a significant operating problem.

INLET GAS PRESSURE

In the normal operating range of a glycol dehydration unit, pressure is not a critical factor. However, it is important
to note that at constant temperature, gas can hold more water as the pressure is reduced. Therefore, water content of
inlet gas will be high if the gas pressure is low.

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GAS FLOW RATE

For a unit to operate efficiently, a specified range for gas flow must be maintained. If flow rate deviates outside
these limits, problems can develop. Falling below the specified range will result in loss of efficiency and may result
in increased dew point for outlet gas, depending on the design of the trays or packing in the contactor column.

If the flow rate rises above the specified range, re-boiler overload occurs resulting in insufficient Glycol
regeneration and increased outlet gas dew point. The amount of glycol carried out with the dry gas will also
increase. In fact, all the glycol can be carried out of the contactor column at one time if the gas flow rate is high
enough.
A flow rate without rapid surges or changes is necessary to prevent a loss of seal in the contactor column down
comers. Seal loss allows gas to bypass the trays and results in high outlet gas dew points and high glycol loss with
the outlet gas.

INLET GLYCOL TEMPERATURE

Inlet glycol temperature of 10-15°F (5- 7ْ C above the inlet Gas temperature is required to prevent hydrocarbon
condensation in the glycol. Hydrocarbon condensation increases foaming, reduces carbon filter life, and increases
carbon build up on the re-boiler fire tube.

INLET GLYCOL 110-115ْ F

( 43 – 46ْ C )

INLET GAS
100 ْ F ( 38ْ C )

INLET GLYCOL TEMPERATURE

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GLYCOL CONCENTRATION

Changing the degree of glycol re-concentration (usually referred to as glycol purity) from the regenerator will
produce the largest effect on dew point depression. Example: Assuming a contactor has six trays and a glycol
circulation rate of three gallons per pound (24 liters per kilogram) of water vapor in the inlet gas, the highest dew
point depression obtainable with 98.5% pure tri-ethylene glycol is 67°F (19°G). Changing the concentration to 99.1
%, the dew point depression becomes 75°F (24°C). Higher dew point depressions" can be obtained with higher
glycol concentrations; however, stripping gas must be used to achieve these levels of glycol purity. Stripping gas is
natural gas percolated through glycol being regenerated to help remove water that cannot be removed by the
.distillation process. In some systems, the gas is percolated through the glycol inside the re-boiler. In other systems,
there is a stripping column located between the re-boiler and the surge tank.
DEW POINT DEPRESSION.
°F

GLYCOL CIRCULATION
GLYCOL RATE
CIRCULATION RATE GAL/LB WATER

If glycol circulation
DEW POINT DEPRESSION vs rate is increased without
GLYCOL CIRCULATION RATE
changing other variables, the outlet gas
dew point can be decreased. However, it is desirable to maintain the lowest glycol circulation rate possible to
produce the desired value of gas dew point.

AN EXCESSIVE GLYCOL CIRCULATION RATE CAN RESULT IN THE

FOLLOWING PROBLEMS:

 Increased fuel consumption

 Exceeded re-boiler capacity

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 Increased overhead glycol loss due to the higher temperature of lean glycol going to the

GLYCOL DEHYDRATION UNIT

contactor column
 Increased pump maintenance

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QUESTIONS ( TO BE ANSWERED )

1. Why is it important to remove water from natural gas ?

2. What is a liquid desiccant and give examples ?

3. 3.List six process variables which affect dehydration .

4. What are dew point temperature and dew point depression

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CHAPTER 4

GLYCOL DEHYDRATION CONTROL

1. GENERAL

The efficient operation of a glycol dehydration system requires a good understanding of the dehydration process and
process variables as well as frequent monitoring of dew points. Better dehydration results. as well as significant
savings. are experienced when systems are operated properly. The operation of individual components within the
system must be understood to properly operate and troubleshoot the system.

2. INLET SEPARATOR

The inlet gas stream first enters the unit through an inlet gas separator. Here free liquids in the gas stream are
removed. Wet gas leaves the separator through a mist eliminator, which allows almost zero carryover of free liquids
to the contactor column.
A liquid level controller operates a control valve to drain the separated liquids. It is important that the vessel be large
enough to remove all solids and free liquids. The inlet separator should be checked regularly to prevent any
malfunction. Overloading of the separator causes excessive liquid carryover into the contactor column which causes
foaming. Therefore, it is important to routinely monitor liquid levels and their controls for proper operation.

MIST
ELIMINAT
OR WET
SIGHT GAS
LIQUID LEVEL
GLASS CONTROLLER
DUMP VALVE
FREE LIQUID

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3. CONTACTOR COLUMN

The function of the contactor column, sometimes called an absorber, is to contact natural gas with the glycol, so that
the glycol can remove water vapor from the natural gas. These vessels are designed to accommodate a certain gas
volume and pressure. It should be noted that to exceed design specifications because this will increase glycol losses
and outlet gas dew point.

DRY GAS

MIST
ELIMINATOR
LEAN GLYCOL

WEIR TRAYS
DOWNCOMER

BUBBLE
CAPS

RICH GLYCOL
WET GAS

TRAY CONTACTOR COLUMN

For large volumes of gas, the contactor is usually a tray column containing 4 to 12 trays on which up flowing gas
bubbles through down flowing glycol. The number of trays in the contactor will affect the amount of moisture
removed from the gas by the glycol; more trays mean more moisture removal. Rarely does the number of tray
exceed ten. Each has a number of openings with bubble caps bolted over them to disperse gas through the glycol

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solution as the gas is forced to pass through these caps and bubble evenly through the glycol. The gas gives up water
and becomes drier as it passes up ward through each successive tray. The glycol 'becomes more saturated with water
as it flows downward over each tray. Also found on the trays are weirs and down comers. Weirs. which are dam-like
devices, are used to maintain the level of glycol above slots in the bubble caps. Down comers carry the glycol to the
trays below.

BUBBLE DRIER
TRAY GAS GAS
DOWNCOM
WEIR ER

GLYCOL
TRAY

WET GAS

TRAY WITH BUBBLE CAPS

DRIER
GAS

WATER
VAPOR GLYCO
L
WET
GAS

BUBBLE CAP

In smaller capacity units, that is, contactors having a diameter of 18 inches or less, random packing may be used
instead of trays. The packing is metal, plastic, or ceramic structures that are designed to furnish a large surface area
for the glycol solution to spread out and make better Contact with the gas. Random packing is poured into the
contactor onto a support grid. Four feet is usually standard and sufficient for dew point depressions up to 55°F to
65°F (13°C to 18°C). If higher dew point depressions are required, additional packing may be required.

Packed columns utilize the same process as tray columns, that is, glycol flows down over the packing and gas flows
up through the packing contacting the glycol. Packed columns are less expensive; however, the glycol tends to
channel easier and have poorer flow distribution. Therefore, special attention must be given to the design of a glycol
distribution header above the packing so that gas/glycol contacting will be continuous throughout the packing and
the glycol will not channel.

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DRY GAS

DISTRIBUTION
LEAN HEADER
GLYCOL

PACKING
SUPPORT
T

LIQUID RANDOM
REDISTRIBUTO PACING
R

RICH GLYCOL
WET GAS

PACKED CONTACTOR COLUMN

Contactors being designed today may contain structured packing. Structured packing is. a group of corrugated metal
sheets welded into a specific pattern and placed in the contactor on edge. Glycol coats these sheets and the gas flows
between them. This type of packing is much more efficient than bubble caps or random packing. Structured packing
is used in columns from six inches (15 centimeters) in diameter up to ten feet (three meters).

STRUCTURED
PACKING

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Before lean glycol enters the contactor. two things happen:

 The glycol is pumped up to contactor pressure

 The glycol temperature is lowered to 1 0-15°F (5 -7 ْ C) above the inlet gas temperature. This is done by
passing the lean glycol through a heat exchanger where it is cooled by the dry gas leaving the contactor
It is best to have the glycol entering the contactor 10-15°F (5- 7 ْ C) warmer than the inlet gas. Cooler glycol causes
condensing of hydrocarbon vapors which cause foaming, resulting in greater glycol loss. Warmer glycol reduces ef -
fectiveness of absorbing water from the gas. The glycol/gas heat exchanger is sized to give the correct glycol
temperature and usually does not require attention. Incorrect glycol temperatures entering the contactor indicate an
imbalance in the glycol to gas flow rate, a problem in the heat exchanger, or the re-boiler temperature is out of
adjustment.
Above the top tray there is usually space for separation where most of the entrained glycol particles in the gas
stream will settle out. Glycol not settling out will be removed by a mist eliminator in the top of the contactor. This
prevents liquid glycol from being carried out of the contactor and into the gas discharge line, commonly refer red to
as carryover.

DRY GAS

MIST
ELIMINA

ENTRAINED
GLYCOL LEANG

TOP TRA

MIST ELIMINATOR

Carryover can result from foam buildup caused by glycol contamination; however, carryover can also be caused
from a high gas rate. It will happen continuously when the gas rate is high enough to agitate the liquid on the top
tray so that a foam layer forms that is too thick for the mist eliminator to handle. When this happens, the gas rate
must be reduced to eliminate carryover.
Level control on the contactor is important in stabilizing operation. The level controller should be adjusted to hold a
uniform flow rate of glycol out of the contactor. It is more important to hold a constant flow of liquid and let the
level in the contactor vary a few inches than to hold a constant level and let the flow fluctuate. Flow rate surges will

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cause the re-boiler to operate inefficiently and may overload it.

GLYCOL

MIST
ELIMINATOR

FOA CONTAMIN LEAN

M GLYCOL

TOP TRAY

GLYCOL CARRYOVER

4. GAS-CONDENSATE-GLYCOL SEPARATOR

This separator is also known as the flash tank or glycol-gas separator. It is used to recover gas which dissolved in
the glycol solution in the contactor as well as any liquid hydrocarbons (condensate) carried out of the contactor by
the glycol solution.
The G-C-G separator is simply a three phase separator in which gas, liquid hydrocarbons, and glycol are separated.
The gas leaves the top of the vessel and is vented or may be used to supplement the fuel gas required for the re-
boiler. A pressure control valve maintains a back pressure on the vessel, usually 50 to 85 psig (345 to 587 kPa). Any
excess gas is discharged through this back pressure valve.

GAS
RICH
GLYCOL

RICH
CONDENSATE GLYCO
( LIQUID HYDROCARBONS L
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Separating GAS – CONDENSATE – GLYCOL SEPARATOR liquid

hydrocarbons from glycol before they enter the re-boiler reduces the load on the carbon filter and helps prevent
carbon from building up on the re-boiler fire tube. Problems caused by hydrocarbons entering the still col umn are
flooding, glycol loss and possible damage to the still column.
Two level control systems are typically installed on gas-condensate-glycol separators. The upper system regulates
flow of liquid hydrocarbon discharged from the vessel. The lower system regulates the flow of glycol from the
vessel.

5. FILTERS

Filters are installed in the glycol stream to remove solids and other contaminants which may cause plugging and
foaming. There are two types of filters commonly used in gas dehydration systems: One type is used for solids re-
moval and the other for dissolved contaminants removal.

SOLIDS REMOVAL

Fine screen, sock type or cartridge filters are used for solids removal. Solid particles can cause erosion of pump
pistons, valve seals and discs, plugging of equipment, and foaming. Sock-filters are the most commonly used type
for Solid Particles removal. Sock filters contain cylindrical elements that are replaced as they become coated. A
pressure drop of 3-6 psig (21-41kPa) usually occurs as glycol flows through the elements; however, the pressure
drop increases as the elements remove solid material and become plugged. To measure the pressure drop across
elements, a differential pressure gauge is installed. When the pressure drop rises to 15-20 psig (104-138 kPa), the
elements should be replaced so that collapse of the elements or stoppage of glycol does not occur.

DISSOLVED CONTAMINANTS REMOVAL

Activated carbon filters are recommended for the removal of liquid contaminants. They work well until their
absorption capacity is reached. In cases where the glycol contains appreciable quantities of light hydrocarbons, they
must be changed or reactivated frequently. Most glycol systems cannot be operated successfully without carbon
absorption.
There are two types of activated carbon filters. Most systems use a carbon canister: however, larger systems use a
loose fill carbon vessel. When the loose fill vessel is used, care must be taken to trap carbon fines and keep them
from entering the glycol dehydration system. This is especially important when a fresh carbon bed is put into
service. Routing the glycol flow through the carbon bed prior to the particle filter is the usual method of trapping
carbon fines. However, care must be taken to reroute the glycol flow to its proper order or the life of the carbon bed
will be shortened.
Carbon filters should be replaced anytime the level of contaminants in the glycol solution goes up. Monthly tests

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should be run to determine the contamination level.

6. REGENERATOR

The regenerator is a combination of the glycol re-boiler and the still column. They operate together to regenerate the
rich glycol, making it lean again and ready for use in the contactor column

RE-BOILER
ARRESTER

REGENERATOR

The re-boiler is the vessel which supplies heat to separate glycol and water by simple distillation. Glycol is heated to
a temperature between 380°F and 400°F (193°C and 204°C) to remove enough water vapor to regenerate the glycol
to 98.5-99%. The temperature of tri-ethylene glycol should not exceed 400°F (204°C) because TEG will begin to
break down at higher temperatures. Re-boilers can be direct fired or heated by steam or hot oil. The direct fired type,
containing a removable fire box and fire tube, is normally used. The heating element should be conservatively sized
to insure long tube life and prevent glycol decomposition by overheating the glycol.
Glycol level in the re-boiler is maintained by an overflow weir. Excess glycol spills over the weir and flows
downward into the surge tank by gravity. When glycol level is low in the surge tank, fresh glycol is added to the re-
boiler, so that it can be dried before going to the surge tank. The still column, sometimes called a stripper, is the
vessel located on top of the re-boiler where distillation of glycol and water actually takes place. Still columns are

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normally packed columns and have finned condensers or reflux coils in the top to cool water vapor leaving the
column and to recover entrained glycol.
The amount of glycol lost with the water vapor leaving the still column is controlled by the tem perature of the water
vapor, normally referred to as still column overhead temperature. This temperature should be set at the boiling point
of pure water for the pressure in the top of the still column. Normally the pressure will be atmospheric, 14.7 psia at
sea level, and the temperature will be 212°F (100°G). Systems with back pressure will require higher temperatures.
Systems operating above sea level will require lower temperatures due to the lower pressures.

If the overhead temperature is above the boiling point of pure water, glycol carryover will occur and losses will be
higher than normal. If the still overhead temperature is below the boiling point of pure water, too much water will be
condensed and the re-boiler heat requirements and fuel usage will increase. Column flooding will result when glycol
being fed to the still column has a high concentration of light hydrocarbons, which will distill out of the glycol and
condense in the upper portion of the column. Flooding will also result if the glycol flow rate exceeds Maximum
design limits. Column flooding does not allow proper glycol/water separation and rich glycol can be lost through the
vent line.

RICH
GLYCOL

VENT LINE

REFLUX
COIL

CONTAMINATED RICH RANDOM

GLYCOL PACKING

STILL COLUMN FLOODING

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7. SURGE TANK

This is the vessel used to store regenerated glycol for pump suction. It is commonly positioned under the re-boiler in
the glycol dehydration system. The surge tank should be vented and the vent line kept unplugged. Vapors; which are
trapped in the surge tank, could cause the circulation pump to vapor lock. The vent line should be piped away from
process equipment.

LEAN
GLYCOL VENT
INLET

LEAN GLYCOL
OUTLET

SURGE TANK
8. PUMPS

Most of the dehydration units use a fluid driven pump while larger units generally use an electri cally driven
reciprocating pump. In either case, the pump is a critical part of the unit because it has the only moving parts in the
system. Before entering the pump, rich glycol passes through a strainer to remove large particles.
Leaks can be a problem around glycol pumps. Proper packing gland maintenance and the use of manufacturer's
recommended packing can. minimize this problem.

9. HEAT EXCHANGERS

There are two types of heat exchangers used in a glycol dehydration unit: glycol to gas heat exchanger and glycol to
glycol heat exchanger(s).

GLYCOL/GAS HEAT EXCHANGER :

Dry gas leaving the contactor passes through this heat exchanger, where the temperature of the gas is raised slightly

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as it cools
the incoming lean glycol. Thus, the final stage of lean glycol cooling is accomplished here. Incoming glycol is
cooled to a temperature about 10-15°F (5-7°C) above that of the natural gas entering the contactor.

CONTACTOR
HEAT COLUMN
EXCHANGER

DRY GAS

LEAN
GLYCOL
GLYCOL / GAS HEAT EXCHANGER

On small dehydration units, this exchanger is often a double pipe heat exchanger, which is literally a pipe within a
pipe. Lean glycol in the outer pipe flows around the outlet gas in the inner pipe. Larger units will utilize a shell and
tube type of heat exchanger. Heat exchangers are subject to fouling by salt, coke, or gum deposits which can
reduce .the heat transfer rate and increase the lean glycol temperature.

GLYCOL / GLYCOL HEAT EXCHANGER(S)

Hot, lean glycol leaves the surge tank and passes through a glycol/glycol heat exchanger, where the lean glycol is
cooled by the rich glycol stream leaving the filters downstream of the G-C-G separator. A second glycol/glycol heat
exchanger heats the rich glycol which leaves the reflux coil by the lean glycol stream leaving the first glycol/glycol
heat exchanger. Lean glycol, which leaves the surge tank at approximately 400°F (204°C), must be Cooled prior to
entering the contactor in order for it to absorb the maximum quantity of water from the gas., These heat exchangers
cool the lean glycol to about 212°F (100°C). They are very important in the overall operating efficiency of the dehy-

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dration unit. These heat exchangers substantially reduce the amount of heat required by the re-boiler.

HEAT EXCHANGERS

LEAN GLYCOL

RICH
GLYCOL

LEAN GLYCOL

GLYCOL / GLYCOL
HEAT EXCHANGER

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QUESTIONS ( TO BE ANSWERED )

1. Why is still overhead temperature important ?

2. What two types of filters are used in glycol dehydration systems ?

3. Why is it important to separate light hydrocarbons from glycol ?

4. glycol regenerated ?

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CHAPTER 5

GLYCOL CONDITIONING REDUCING GLYCOL LOSSES

1. GENERAL

Efficient operation of a glycol dehydration unit is dependent on various factors. One of the most important is
analysis of the glycol which helps to pinpoint costly operating problems. Based on analysis results, adjustments can
be made to maximize drying efficiency.

2. TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE CONDITIONS

INLET GAS TEMPERATURE

The temperature of the incoming gas is important. As previously stated, at constant pressure, natural gas will hold
more water as the temperature of the gas increases, and therefore, the amount of water that the glycol must remove
also increases. In some installations it is necessary to cool the gas prior to entering the contactor. In other instances it
is important to heat the gas to prevent hydrate formation.

INLET GLYCOL TEMPERATURE

The temperature of lean glycol should be kept to a minimum when entering the contactor while still maintaining a
10-15°F (5- 7°C) higher temperature than the incoming gas. As previously stated, this is to prevent hydrocarbons
condensation.

RE-BOILER TEMPERATURE

This temperature controls the concentration of water in lean glycol; higher temperatures at constant pressure re sults
in greater glycol purity. The range should be 380°F to 400°F (193°C to 204°C) for TEG, The temperature should
NOT exceed 404°F (207°C) or glycol degradation will result.

STILL OVERHEAD TEMPERATURE

The still overhead temperature in the top of the still is very important. However, it is fairly easy to maintain an
acceptable range for separation of water and glycol due to the wide difference in the boiling points of water, 212°F
(100°C), and triethylene glycol, 546°F (286°C). The recommended range for the still overhead temperature is about
212°F to 215°F (100oG to '102°C) at sea level. A temperature too low can cause re-boiler overload and excessive

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fuel consumption. A temperature too high causes glycol loss due to vaporization.

HEAT EXCHANGER TEMPERATURE

Glycol temperatures taken both before and after passage through a heat exchanger indicates the condition of the
exchanger surfaces. As the exchanger surfaces become more severely fouled, the temperature change or differential
across the heat. exchanger decreases and energy consumption for glycol regeneration goes up due to increased fuel
consumption of the re-boiler.

CONTACTOR PRESSURE

Operating the contactor below design pressure of the system creates the following problems:
At constant temperature, water content of inlet gas increases as pressure decreases, causing the unit to work harder
to dry the gas. At constant gas rates, the gas velocity through the contactor increases as the pressure is lowered,
causing carryover problems

REGENERATOR PRESSURE

A buildup in regenerator pressure, which is normally atmospheric, usually indicates a plugging or flooding problem,
most commonly in the still packing. An increase in regenerator pressure also prevents some water from boiling out
of the glycol, requiring higher temperatures in the re-boiler, which wastes fuel gas and can lead to degradation of the
glycol.

FILTER PRESSURE

A pressure drop of 3-6 psig (21-41 kPa) is normal as glycol flows through the elements; however, the pressure
differential increases as the elements become plugged. When this differential increases to 15-20 psig (104-138 kPa),
the element should be replaced.

G-C-G SEPARATOR PRESSURE:

Operating pressure in the G-C-G separator is 50-85 psig (345 587 kPa ). Back Pressure is maintained by a pressure
controlled regulator.

3. REDUCING GLYCOL LOSSES

The loss of glycol is a costly operating problem. Losses occur due to vaporization, entrainment, and mechanical
leaks.
TYPICAL LOCATIONS FOR GLYCOL LOSSES ARE:

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 Carryover with outlet gas leaving the contactor

 Vaporization with water vapor leaving the still column
 Leaks at the pump or pipe fittings
 Removal of liquid hydrocarbons and/or gas from the G-C-G separator

CONDITIONS AFFECTING GLYCOL LOSSES INCLUDE

 High still overhead temperature

 Contactor column operating at excessive gas rates
 Foaming
 Rapid changes in gas rate

4. GLYCOL TESTS

In order to prevent costly operating problems such as high glycol losses, foaming, and corrosion, it is essential that
meaningful analytical information be collected to pinpoint areas of inefficiency. Maximum dehydration efficiency is
achieved when sufficient data from glycol test results is known so that proper evaluation of system performance and
correct adjustments can be made.

GLYCOL WEIGHT PERCENTAGE

This refers to the amount of glycol in the glycol solution. Lean glycol should contain about 98.5 to 99.9% glycol.
Rich glycol content varies from about 93 – 96 % glycol .

WATER CONTENT

This refers to the amount of water in the glycol solution. Low water content in lean glycol is vital to good
dehydration. The water content in glycol should not exceed 1.5 percent. A higher water content than 1.5 percent is
usually an indication of a re-boiler temperature that is too low and/or of a heater not operating properly. The water
content in richglycol should not be more than 5 or 6 percent. Water content spread refers to the dif ference in water
content between lean and rich glycol. A spread which is too narrow (0.5 to 2 percent) usually means the glycol
circulation rate is too high. The rate should be lowered to save , minimize glycol losses and improve dehydration. A
spread over 4 to 6 percent is too wide and usually means the glycol circula tion rate is too low and should be

increased. A guideline for circulation rate is three gallons (11 liters) of glycol for every pound (0.45 kilogram) of
water to be removed.

98.5%
GLYCOL

5-6 %
1.5 % WATER
LEAN WATER
RICH
GLYCOL GLYCOL
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HYDROCARBON CONTENT

This refers to the amount of oil, paraffin, or condensate in the glycol. It should be kept below 0.1 percent, otherwise
it will cause problems such as foaming, plugging, or fouling which result in glycol' losses and poor dehydration of
the gas. Hydrocarbons get into glycol in two ways;
 Condensation which is caused when glycol enters the-contactor colder than the incoming gas. This problem
can be eliminated by maintaining a temperature for the entering lean glycol of 10 -15°F (5l°C) warmer than
the incoming gas
 Carryover of hydrocarbon contaminants from the inlet separator or gas stream if the unit has no separator

SALT CONTENT

This refers to the amount of salt or chloride in the glycol. It should be kept below 0.01 percent by weight or 100
ppm.
Salt has a solubility in glycols of about 650 to 700 ppm. A higher salt level usually results in an ac cumulation of salt
on the fire tube in the re-boiler which leads to a decrease in heat transfer efficiency. Thus, it becomes more difficult
to remove water from the glycol and poor dehydration usually results. Salt contamination is a result of improper gas
scrubbing; however, since salt usually travels in the gas stream in a fine mist, not even an inlet separator can
effectively remove all salt. A coalescing or filter type separator is usually needed to remove Salt mist from the gas
stream.
Problems which occur when the salt content reaches almost 0.1 percent by weight or 1,000 ppm include:

 Buildup of salt on the recoiled firetube, resulting in decreased heat transfer efficiency
 Corrosion which will eventually decay the firetube
 Hot spots on the firetube, resulting in thermal decomposition of glycol and holes in the firetube

SOLIDS CONTENT:

This refers to the amount of suspended solids in the glycol. Suspended solids should be kept below 0.01 percent by
weight. This can be done by filtration. Problems resulting from a high solids content include:

 increased pump wear from abrasion

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 accelerated corrosion and erosion

 increased fouling of firetube

 increased glycol loss due to foaming

 increased plugging problems

PH:

This refers to the corrosiveness of the glycol. pH is a term used to express acidity or alkalinity. pH is based on a 0-
14 scale.
Acidic = 0 to 6.9
Neutral = 7.0
Alkaline=7.1 to 14 NEUTRAL

ACID ALKALINE

pH SCALE

As glycol pH decreases, equipment corrosion rate Increases rapidly and troublesome corrosive compounds result
Examples include:
 Organic acids from oxidation of glycol
 Thermal decomposition products
 Acid gases picked up from the gas stream, such as CO2 and H2S

Glycol pH should be checked periodically and kept en the alkaline side by neutralizing the acidic compounds with
alkaline" chemicals, such as monoethanolamine (MEA). A pH of about 7.3 is considered a safe level. Raising the
pH above 8 to 8.5 is not desirable because of the tendency for an alkaline glycol solution to foam and emul sify more
easily.

IRON CONTENT

This refers to the amount of corrosion products in the system, of which rust is the most common. Corrosion products
either come in with the incoming gas or they are the result of a corroding glycol system. An iron content exceeding
10 to 15 ppm calls for corrosion prevention methods- to be considered.

FOAMING

This refers to the glycol foaming tendency in the system. Foaming in the contactor is caused by contaminants in the
glycol which usually enter the system as entrainment. Water and glycol alone will not foam significantly; however,

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the combination of water, glycol, and oil does create foaming.

THE MAIN PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH FOAMING ARE:

 Improper gas dehydration

 Excessive glycol losses when the glycol foams out of the contactor
 Additional equipment problems downstream of the contractor from glycol carryover
Corrective action includes both immediate and preventive measures. Foaming problems can temporarily be
corrected by antifoam additives which cause the foam to break. The cause of the problem should then be identified
and corrected. Improper use of antifoam additives can Increases foaming problems. The best preventive measure
against foaming is the installation of a properly designed inlet gas separator and glycol filtration system. Good
glycol filter maintenance and pH control are also very important.

QUESTIONS (TO BE ANSWERED)

1. Why is it important to maintain a proper pH for glycol ?

2. Why is lean glycol temperature to the contactor important ?

3. What are some typical locations for glycol losses ?

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4. What analyses are included in the glycol test ?

CHAPTER 6

PRINCIPLES OF AMINE SWEETENING

1. ACID GASES IN NATURAL GAS

A gas which forms an acid when combined with water is called an acid gas. Hydrogen sulfide (H 2S) and carbon
dioxide (CO2) are acidic gases commonly found in natural gas. They occur in varying concentrations depending on
the nature of the reservoir from which the natural gas is produced. The acids formed can be very corrosive to
equipment and piping. Removal of both H2S and CO2 from natural gas is one of the most common treating problems
for gas plants. Hydrogen sulfide must be removed due to its corrosiveness and toxicity. When burned, it forms sulfur
dioxide (SO2) which is another toxic gas. Carbon dioxide must also be removed from natural gas due to its
corrosiveness and lack of heating value. Removing CO 2 raises the heating value of natural gas and reduces the cost
of pipeline transmission.

2. GAS SWEETENING

Natural gas which contains acid gases is commonly referred to as sour gas. Gas which contains no -acid gases or has
had them reduced to an acceptable level by a treating process is called sweet gas. The process of removing acid
gases from natural gas is called gas sweetening. Although there are several processes used in the petroleum industry
for removing Sour ( Acid ) gases from natural gas, the most common process utilizes substances known as
alkanolamines or simply amines.

3. ALKANOL AMINES

Alkanolamines, which are weak -bases, react chemically with acid gases to form salt complexes. These salt
complexes can be regenerated so that the Amines are again free of acid gases and can be recycled. Amines are
nitrogen-hydrocarbon (N-HC) compounds which are categorized as primary, secondary, or tertiary depending on the

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number of hydrocarbon (HC) groups attached to the nitrogen (N) atom. HC groups will vary depend ing on the type
of amine, e.g., ethanol, glycol, isopropanol, methyldiethanol, etc. The most commonly used amines are:

MONO ETHANOL AMINE (MEA)

A primary amine which has two hydrogen atoms and one HC group attached to the N atom.

MONO ETHANOL AMINE

DI ETHANOL AMINE (DEA)

A secondary amine which has one hydrogen atom and two HC groups attached to the N atom.

DI ETHANOL AMINE

TRI ETHANOL AMINE ( TEA ) AND METHYL DI ETHANOL AMINE (MDEA)

Tertiary amines which have three HC groups and no hydrogen atoms attached to the N atom.

PHASE 1. TRI ETHANOL AMINE METHYL DI

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4. ABSORPTION

Much like a sponge, amine is used to absorb acid gases from natural gas. By mixing together the sour gas and amine
solution in a contactor column, the acid gases are by the amine solution, thereby removing them from the natural
gas.

NATURAL
GAS
AMINE

NATURAL
GAS
AMINE

ABSORPTION

5. DISTILLATION

In distillation, acid gases are removed from the amine solution by the use of heat. Sufficient heat must be added to
the amine – gas solution to break the bonds between the acid gases and the amine. This is generally done by using
steam in a stripper column.

6. HEAT TRANSFER

Heat transfer is the process by which heat travels from one substance to another. If two containers of water - one
containing cold water, the other hot water - are brought into contact with each other, the temperature of the hot
water will decrease and the temperature of the cold water will increase. The temperature changes result because of
heat transfer from hot to cold.

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COLD WATER HOT WATER

HEAT TRANSFER

In amine sweetening, it is important to maintain fluid temperatures within relatively narrow ranges to optimize the
efficiency of the process. Improper temperature control can cause problems such as inadequate stripping and corro-
sion. By bringing together "cool" and "hot" amine solutions in a heat exchanger, the pro cess of heat transfer through
is Successfully accomplished.

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7. BASIC PROCESS

There are two purposes of an amine sweetening unit. The primary purpose is to remove acid gases from natural gas
before putting the natural gas into a pipeline. The other purpose is to remove acid gases from the amine solution so
that the amine can be used over and over again in the sweetening process.

The process, while it may seem somewhat complicated, is actually quite simple. Sour gas has acid gases removed
from it by an absorption process. The amine solution absorbs acid gases from the natural gas, leaving sweet gas.
The rich (containing acid gases) amine solution then goes through a process of distillation where the acid gases are
removed. The lean ( not containing-acid gases) amine solution is then sent back to function again in the sweetening
of natural gas. In this manner, amine is recycled.

SWEET
GAS LEAN AMINE

SOUR GAS

RICH AMINE HEAT

ABSORPTION DISTILLATION

QUESTIONS ( TO BE ANSWERED)
BASIC PROCESS

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1. Explain the difference between sweet and sour gas .

2. Why must H2S and CO2 be removed from natural gas?

3. Explain what meant by gas sweetening.

4. What are the two main purposes of the amine sweetening ?

CHAPTER 7

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AMINE SWEETNING

PROCESS FLOW AND COMPONENTS

1. OVERVIEW

A typical amine sweetening unit is shown. It consists of the following components: inlet and outlet separators;
contactor column; flash tank; filters; stripper column; reflux condenser, accumulator, and pump; re-boiler;
reclaimer; lean/ rich heat exchanger; surge tank; circulation pump; and trim cooler.

Depending on the type of alkanolamine used, the amine sweetening unit at your location may vary from this typical
unit. However, the process will be very similar to the one shown.

2. INLET SEPARATOR

Unprocessed sour gas flows from its source to a device called a separator or scrubber, where solids and free liquids
are removed from the gas. This separator can be an integral part of the treating unit or it can be a separate vessel.
Within the separator, baffles allow most of the liquids to be removed. A mist extractor, located near the gas outlet,
traps liquids entrained in the gas before it leaves the vessel.
Efficient removal of solids, such as iron sulfide, from the gas prior to the absorption process can minimize many
operational and maintenance problems such as foaming, erosion and high corrosion rates. These problems usually
result in metal loss, equipment failure, and difficulty in meeting sweet gas specifications.
Some amine sweetening units have an inlet separator in conjunction with the inlet separator. It is used to remove
any entrained liquids in the gas stream prior to sales or inlet into further gas processing, e.g., glycol dehydration.

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GAS CONTACTOR
COLUMN

MIST
EXTRACT
BAFFLE OR

SOUR GAS
INLET

FREE LIQUIDS

INLET SEPARATOR

3. CONTACTOR COLUMN
In this vertical pressure vessel, .sometimes called an absorber, sour gas comes in contact with amine solution.
Contactor columns operate at different pressures in the range of 200 - 1000 psig (1380 to 6900 kPa).
There are two types of contactor columns commonly used: the tray column and the packed column.
In a tray column, which is more commonly used than a packed column, the liquid level is main tained on each tray
by a weir on the down comer.
The number of trays or height of packing helps determine the degree of sweetening. Twenty trays are common.
Bubble caps, located on each tray, are used for good liquid and gas contact.

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RICH TRAY CONTACTOR COLUMN
SOUR
AMINE GAS
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SWEET
GAS

LEAN
WEIR AMINE

DOWNCOMER BUBBLE CAPS

TRAYS

RICH AMINE
SOUR GAS

TRAY CONTACTOR COLUMN

In a packed column the amine solution contacts the gas stream by forming a film over the packing. Thus, a large
surface is available for CO2 and H2S to transfer from the gas to the amine solution. A column can have either
random or structured packing. Random .packing involves pouring loose packing material into the column. Struc-
tured packing involves placing bundles of packing material, referred to as elements, in a fixed orientation within the
column. Structured packing allows for better fluid flow and contact between fluids.

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SWEET GAS

LEAN
AMIN
PACKING
E
SUPPORT

RANDOM
LIQUID
PACING
DISTRIBUTOR

RICH
AMIN
E SOUR
GAS

PACKED CONTACTOR COLUMN

Since tray columns are more common, we will discuss flow through this type of column from here on. Sour gas,
which is preferably kept at a temperature between 90° and 100° F. (306 to 311 K), enters the bottom of the
contactor. It begins to rise through the bubble caps on each tray. At the same time, lean amine, which has entered
from the top, flows downward counter-current to the gas flow. The temperature of the lean amine should be kapt
10° F. (6 K) above the natural gas temperature to prevent hydrocarbon condensation. The gas disperses through the
amine in the form of bubbles. A. froth is formed. The gas disengages from the froth, travels through a vapor space.
and up through the liquid on the next tray. Entrained amine solution falls back onto the tray and then flows down
through the down comer to the next tray. Nearly all absorption of H 2S and CO2 takes place on the trays and not in
the vapor space between the trays.

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FROTH
SWEETENED DOWNCOMER
GAS
AMINE

BUBBLE SOUR GAS

CAP

TRAY

At BUBBLE CAPS the top

of the

contactor, a mist extractor traps entrained liquids from the gas before it enters the gas outlet. This liquid then drops
back onto the top tray and rejoins the amine stream. While sweet gas is leaving the top of the contactor, Rich amine
solution, which contains H2S and CO is discharged from the base of the contactor.
2

SWEET GAS

MIST
EXTRACTOR

ENTRAINED
LIQUID
TOP
TRAY
AMINE
STREAM
MIST EXTRACTOR

4. FLASH TANK

Rich amine solution leaves the bottom of the contactor and flows through a low pressure flash tank where a large
portion of the physically absorbed gases are flashed off. The flash tank should be operated at the lowest possible
pressure to maintain amine flow to the stripper. Tank vapors, which are usually sour recycled to the contactor or
flared. The heavier hydrocarbons separate from the amine and form a separate liquid layer on top of the amine solu-
tion. They are skimmed off and the amine is drained from the bottom of the tank. From the flash tank, the rich amine

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stream flows through filters to a heat exchanger.

TANK
VAPORS
RICH
AMINE

RICH AMINE
HYDROCARBONS

FLASH TANK

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5. FILTERS

Filtering the amine solution to remove solid matter and entrained hydrocarbons is essential for proper operation.
Filtering can be done several ways, The rich amine can be filtered downstream of the flash tank and upstream of the
lean/rich heat exchanger. If filtering is done at this point, normally a full-flow mechanical (sock).filter is used in
combination with a side-stream activated carbon filter and mechanical filter. The activated carbon filter is used to
remove entrained hydrocarbons while the mechanical filters are used to remove solid matter.
Filtering can also be done on the lean amine stream just prior to entering the contactor. Solid matter down to the 10-
15 micron size range should be removed for good solution control. Some amine sweetening units will have Filters
on both the rich and lean amine streams.

6. LEAN/RICH HEAT EXCHANGER

From the flash tank, the rich amine stream goes through the lean/rich heat exchanger, where the Lich amine stream
is preheated by the Lean amine exiting the re-boiler. The lean/rich heat exchanger reduces the heat load on the re-
boiler by raising the temperature of the rich amine to approximately 190 ْ F. (361 K) prior to entering the stripper
column. The lean/rich heat exchanger is usually a shell and tube type of heat exchanger with stainless steel tubes.
Stainless steel is used because of the corrosiveness of H2S and CO2

COOLED LEAN WARMED RICH

AMINE AMINE
TUBES

SHELL
COOL RICH HOT LEAN
AMINE AMINE

LEAN / RICH HEAT EXCHANGER

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7. STRIPPER COLUMN

The stripper column or still is commonly referred to as the regenerator because it is in this vessel that acid gases are
removed from the rich amine, making the amine solution once again lean. Like the contactor, a stripper column is
either a tray or packed column. However, strippers operate near atmospheric pressure. The rich amine solution,
which has been preheated in the heat exchanger, enters the stripper near the Top and flows downward. The rich
amine solution is further heated by steam entering the bottom of the stripper and flowing upward through the
descending amine solution. Steam, generated in the re-boiler, adds sufficient heat to the amine solution to strip acid
gases from the amine solution. In addition, steam helps to sweep the liberated acid gases out of the stripper. The
hot,. regenerated (lean) amine solution leaves the bottom of the stripper and flows to the re-boiler.

WATER VAPOR
AND ACID GASES

REFLUX

RICH AMINE

STEAM

LEAN AMINE

TRAY STRIPPER COLUMN

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8. REFLUX CONDENSER/ACCUMULATOR

Overhead vapors from the stripper, consisting essentially of water vapor and acid gases, pass through the reflux
condenser to recover water and the small amount of amine which may have vaporized in the stripper. Some of the
water vapor is condensed so it can be separated and pumped back to the stripper for reflux. The condenser effluent
then flows to the reflux accumulator for separation of the water and acid gases. The water is returned to the stripper
by the reflux pump. Acid gases may be sent either to a flare stack or to a sulfur recovery plant, depending on the
amount of H2S present.

9. RE-BOILER

The stripper bottoms are heated by the re-boiler. The heat converts some of the water in the amine solution to a
stripping vapor of steam which rises through the stripper to release acid gases from the incoming rich amine
solution. In gas treating facilities, re-boil heat is usually supplied by a direct-fired heater. This method of heating
simply consists of controlled combustion on the inside of an expandable tube that is surrounded by the boiling amine
solution. Steam or hot oil can serve as a heat medium if available in sufficient quantity. From the re-boiler, the lean
amine solution flows through the lean/rich heat exchanger to the surge tank. In the heat exchanger, the hot lean
amine is cooled to a desirable storage temperature by the cool rich amine solution flowing to the stripper.

STEAM HEAT
INLET

U. TUBE
LEAN LEAN HEAT
AMINE AMINE QUTLET
EE

RE-BOILER

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10. RECLAIMER

A reclaimer is not often included in. an amine sweetening unit; however, when used it can greatly reduce operating
problems.
A small portion (1-3 percent) of the lean amine circulation at the bottom of the stripper is semi continuously fed to
the reclaimer where it is boiled. It is distilled and pure lean amine is recovered and returned to the main solution.
This process removes contaminants, e.g. hydrocarbons, heat-stable salts and solids, from the lean amine solution.
These irreversible degradation products should never exceed 1 percent by weight in the circulating amine
solution.The liquid temperature in the redafmer rises as contaminants accumulate.

LEAN AND STEAM

HEAT
INLE
T

CONTAMINANTS
U. TUBE
DRAIN LEAN HEAT
AMINE OUTLET
RECLAIMER

11. SURGE TANK

The surge tank is a holding vessel for the cooled lean amine solution until it is pumped to the con tactor column.
Periodically, water and amine are added to the surge tank to make up for losses of these two liquids during the
process. Circulation pumps take their suction from the surge tank and transfer the lean amine solution to the top of
the contactor column to begin the cycle again.
LEAN
AMINE
INLET

LEAN
AMINE
OUTLET

SURGE TANK

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12. TRIM COOLER

The lean amine solution in the contactor column should be hotter than the sour gas being treated; however, high
amine temperatures affect the amount of acid gas removal. A trim cooler is used to lower the temperature of the
lean amine solution coming from the surge tank and to control the temperature of the lean amine solution going to
the contactor column.

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QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED

1. Explain the difference between rich and lean amine.

2. What the purpose of the contactor column ?

3. What is the purpose of the stripper column ?

4. Trace the flow of natural gas and amine solution through the system.

5. Trace the flow of natural gas and amine solution through the system.

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GLOSSARY

The attraction and retention of water vapor by glycol from natural gas.
ABSORPTION
Slotted metal caps bolted over elevated nozzles in the contactor trays. The slots
cause the gas to break up into small bubbles for intimate contact with the glycol
BUBBLE .

Whenever gas carries glycol out of a vessel.

CARRYOVER
Light liquid hydrocarbons. Hydrocarbons that are absorbed by glycol along
with the water and removed from the glycol in the Gas-Conden sate – Glycol
CONDENSATE Separator.

Removal of water from a substance

DEHYDRATION
A material that absorbs water vapor
DESICCANT
The temperature at which vapor condenses into a liquid. Used as a measure of
DEW POINT water vapor content in natural gas .

DEW The amount which the dew point is lowered

POINT
DEPRESSI
ON
The regeneration process of removing water from glycol by heating.
DISTILLATION
Liquid water
FREE WATER
A liquid desiccant used to absorb water vapor from natural gas
GLYCOL ( triethylene glycol is the most common glycol used )

Glycol that is free of water

GLYCOL (LEAN )
Glycol that has absorbed water
GLYCOL ( RICH )
A level of glycol between tray and down comer to force the gas to pass through
GLYCOL SEAL the bubble caps.

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Solids ( ice ) formed by a mixture of water and vapor and hydrocarbons at the
HYDRATES proper temperature and pressure.

Any substance made up of hydrogen and carbon but generally used to identify
HYDROCARBON oil and natural gas products.
One million standard cubic feet of gas ( one cubic foot of gas at 60 ْ F ( 15 ْ
MMSCF C ) and atmospheric pressure )

Measure of acidity or alkalinity of a substance on a scale of 0 to 14 with 7

being neutral . 0 to 6.9 is acid and 7.1 to 14 is alkaline .

“ Rings ” , “ Saddles ” or other shaped ceramic or metallic pieces in the re-

PACKING boiler still column for intermingling liquid and vapor during distillation.

Process of purifying and reusing the glycol after it has absorbed water and
REGENERATION hydrocarbons.

Term given to the process of condensing glycol vapor to liquid so it will fall
down ward in the still column but allowing the water vapor to continue to rise
REFLUX out the top .

A gas stream which contains the maximum water vapor at its operating
SATURATED GAS conditions.

Warm gas that is percolated through glycol being regenerated to help remove
water that cannot be removed by the distillation process. Those systems using
STRIPPING GAS stripping gas can purify the glycol to almost 100 %

THERMAL Breaking down the chemical composition of glycol due to high temperature
DECOMPOSITION
Plate holding bubble caps and downcomers in the contactor. There are usually 5
TRAY to 7 trays in each contactor column.
Water in a gaseous from. Water can exist in three phases , gas , liquid and solid.
WATER VAPOR
A dam used to hold a fixed glycol level. The top os a downcomer in a contactor
column acts as a weir to hold the glycol level over the bubble cap slots. Most
WEIR reboilers have a weir to hold glycol level above the fire tube.

ABSORPTION PROCESS The attraction and retention of acid gasses by amine from natural gas
ACID GAS A gas that will form an acid when combined with water, e.g., H2S1 CO2, etc.

AMINE A chemical mixed with water which absorbs acid gases from natural gas.
Common name for alkanolamines.

CONTACTOR A vertical pressure vessel where gas and amine are brought together to remove
(ABSORBER ) acid gases from natural gas

DISTILLATION PROCESS The process of removing acid gases from amine by generating dteam which will
strip the acid gases from the amine.

HEAT EXCHANGER A device used to transfer heat from a hotter fluid to a cooler fluid.
HYDROCARBON Any substance made up of hydrogen and carbon, e.g., methane, propane, etc.,

LEAN AMINE An amine solution not containing acid gases.

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RE-BOILER The vessel which generates steam at the bottom of a stripper. The steam is used
to strip acid gases from the rich amine solution in the stripper.

REFLUX A process where a fluid is removed from a contactor column, cooled and returned
to the column to enhance the process.

REGENERATE To separate the acid gases from the amine solution

RICH AMINE An amine solution containing acid gases

SOUR GAS Natural gas containing acid gases.

A vertical pressure vessel where rich amine and steam are brought together to
remove acid gases from the amine solution

STRIPPER ( STILL )
SWEET GAS Natural gas not containing acid gases.

SWEETENING The process of removing sour contaminants from natural gas.

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