Introduction

Gas Process Engineering

Solar Energy
Earth, Water, Air oxygen-nitrogen
Volcanos, Oceans, Rain, Rivers, winds
Carbon Dioxide, water and Photosynthesis;
releases oxygen
life trees, fish, animals, humans, waste
accumulation, fermentation, bio gas
Wood, Biomass,Carbohydrates
Peat, lignite, Coal, anthracite
Crude Oil and Natural Gas hydrocarbons
Oxygen, Combustion Carbon dioxide, water

Crude Oil and Natural Gas

Petroleum and Gas Fractions

Oil & Natural Gas

Oil and Natural Gas fields can be on-shore or off-shore and are
generally in remote areas.
Fluids produced from oil and gas wells generally constitute
mixtures of crude oil, natural gas, salt water and solid particles.
These mixtures are unsafe and very difficult to handle, meter, or
transport to refineries and gas plants for processing.
Hydrocarbon shipping tankers, oil refineries,and gas plants
require certain specifications for the fluids that each receive.
Also, environmental constraints exist for the safe and acceptable
handling of hydrocarbon fluids and disposal of produced salt
water.
It is therefore necessary to process the produced fluids in the
field to yield products that meet the specifications set by the
customer and are safe to handle.

Oil & Gas Resources

Proven Reserves
1000 m3 of NG = 0.85 toe
(tons of oil equivalent)

year

Oil

Gas

X109 toe

X109 toe

1970

70

35

1980

85

70

1990

135

120

Oil vs Gas
Marketed Production
1000 m3 of NG = 0.85 toe
(tons of oil equivalent)

year
1970
1980
1990
2000
2010

Oil

Gas

X109 toe

X109 toe

2.5
2.9
3.2

0.8
1.2
1.7
2.1
2.6

US Natural Gas Production,

Trillion Cubic Feet per Year

Natural Gas
Natural gas produced along with oil is known as
associated gas
Natural gas produced from gas fields is known as
non associated gas.
Natural gas may contain liquid hydrocarbons (NGL) as well as
undesirable components such as H2S,CO2, N2, water and
water vapor.
Field processing of natural gas implies the removal of
undesirable components and recovery of higher hydro carbons
before the gas can be sold in the market.
The gas may undergo separation / condensation for the
recovery of some hydrocarbon components.

Gas Composition
Some Non-associated Gases
Component

Frigg
(NOR)

Lacq
(FRA)

Kapuni
(NZL)

Uch
(PAK)

Methane

95.7

69

45.6

27.3

Ethane

3.6

5.8

0.7

Propane

0.9

5.3

0.3

Butanes

0.5

2.1

0.3

C5+

0.5

0.2

1.5

0.9

25.2

N2

0.4

H2S
CO2

15.3
0.3

9.3

0
43.8

46.2

Gas Composition
Some Associated Gases
Component

Ekofisk
(NOR)

Parentis
(FRA)

Kirkuk
(IRQ)

Uthmaniyah
(SAU)

Methane

83.3

73.6

56.9

55.5

Ethane

8.5

10.2

21.2

18.0

Propane

3.4

7.6

9.8

Butanes

1.5

3.7

4.5

C5+

3.6

1.6

1.6

N2

0.3

H2S
CO2

0.2
3.5

1.5

7.1

8.9

Classification of Gases
Category 1

Standard

Sweet dry
gas

Sour Dry
gas

Sweet wet
gas

Sour wet
gas

C2+

<10

<10

>10

>10

H2S

<1

>1

<1

>1

CO2

<2

>2

<2

>2

% of
fields

47

15.5

23

14.5

% of Types of Natural Gas

Available
Region
N.America
L.America
EU
CIS
Africa
Middle East
Aseana
Total

Non Asso.

Solution Gas

Gas-Cap Gas

75.5
32.5
73.5
94
61.5
46
82.5
72

14.5
55
15
2.5
19.5
36
11.5
8.5

10
12.5
11.5
3.5
9
18
6
9

Regions and Acidity factors

Region

Sour Gas
% of total

Frequency Of contam ination

H2S

EU
CIS
Africa
Middle
east

9
10
5
78

Aseana

75
35
30

LAmerica

World

CO2

H2S+CO2

93
38

62
100
37
6

94
100
45

63

GasOil Separation Plant (GOSP)

Crude oilgaswater mixtures produced from wells are
generally directed, through flow lines and manifold system, to a
central processing and treatment facility normally called the
GasOil Separation Plant (GOSP).
The first step in processing of the produced stream is the
physical separation of the phases (oil, gas, and water) into
separate streams.
This takes place in two-phase gasoil separators when the
produced stream contains no water or three-phase separators
when the produced stream contains water.
The separators are used to relieve the excess pressure due to the
gas associated with the produced crude and, consequently,
separating it from the oil.
Fig.1 describes further field treatment of each stream .

An outline of the processing

surface field operations

Further treatment of Oil

After separation also, Oil may contain water as emulsified
water
The presence of this salt water presents serious corrosion and
scaling problems in transportation and refinery operations.
Water remaining in the oil is known as the basic sediments and
water (BS&W).
A maximum of 1% BS&W and in some cases less than 0.5%
BS&W is acceptable.
The limit on the salt content of the remnant water in oils is
usually in the range of 10 to 15 PTB (pounds of salt per
thousand barrels of oil).
Treatment involves emulsion treatment/dehydration and
desalting processes.

Crude Oil Specifications

Parameter

Before Treatment

After treatment

Water

Emulsion 10%
Free Water 30%

0.3 vol% maximum

Salt

50,000-250,000
mg/L formation
water

H2S

1000 ppm

Gas/vapor Pressure

600 scf/bbl crude oil 10 psig (4-5 psi

RVP)

70 ppm

Need for Gas dehydration

Water vapor is not objectionable as such;
however, the liquid or solid phase of water is very
troublesome.
This is experienced when the gas is compressed
or cooled for the recovery of higher
hydrocarbons.
The liquid form of water accelerates corrosion of
pipelines and other related equipment. It also
reduces pipeline capacity, because it
accumulates in low-point regions.
Solid hydrates plug valves, fittings, and in some
cases the pipe itself.

Acid gas separation

Acid gases basically imply hydrogen sulfide and
carbon dioxide (H2S and CO2).
Both H2S and CO2 are corrosive, especially in
the presence of water.
Hydrogen sulfide when combusted, produces
sulfur oxides- atmospheric pollutants
H2S could be commercially utilized to produce
sulfur.

Natural Gas Treatment

It is desirable to remove hydrocarbons
heavier than methane from natural gas,
especially for fuel gasses.
Heavier hydrocarbons, specifically C3+,
on compression tend to condense,forming
two-phase flow and thus creating pipeline
operating problems.

Natural Gas
Parameter

Natural Gas
Specification

Water Content

7 lbs/MMSCF (in a 1000psia gas line)

Oxygen (air)
H2S

0.2% by volume
0.250.3 grain per 100ft3
(one grain64.799 mg)

Total Sulfur
Carbon dioxide
Liquefiable hydrocarbons
Thermal heating value

20 grains per 100 ft3

2% by volume
0.2 gal per 1000 ft3
1150 Btu/ft3

Pipe Line Gas

Liquified Natural Gas