Energy-efficient Natural and Associated Petroleum Gas Dehydration Technology with Composite Adsorbents

Abstract

Abstract Extracted natural and associated petroleum gases contain water vapor, amount of which is determined by pressure, temperature, gas composition and salinity degree of formation water. The amount of water vapor in natural gas is regulated, because the moisture can condense in technological pipelines and vessels, forming liquid plugs, gas hydrates, as well as increase the corrosion rate of technological equipment, especially in the presence of acidic and corrosive substances (carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, mercaptans, chlorine ions, salts). There are several basic technologies used in oilfield conditions for natural gas dehydration: absorption dehydration, low temperature separation, membrane technology and adsorption dehydration. Adsorption dehydration technology could be applied at all stages of gas production from the wellhead to the consumer: on the gas field and compressor stations treatment facilities, gas-processing on the gas processing plants and chemical complexes, as well as on the gas distribution stations and CNG stations. While technological scheme of gas dehydration unit fundamentally is not changed, differences relate only to layout solutions and auxiliary equipment. In addition, in the oil and gas industry adsorption dehydration could be used for the gas field treatment of associated petroleum gas, for dehydration of fuel gases, as well as for dehydration of air and other process gases. This paper presents new energy efficient technology of adsorption gas dehydration technology, which could be characterized by small weight and size of the final installation, small thermal energy and dehydrated gas consumption for regeneration of the adsorbent, and as a result, low capital and operating expenses, which allows to extend the limits of applicability of adsorption technology and to apply it for treatment of large volumes of gas. Unit provides required degree of gas dehydration for the specified initial data and is characterized by a high level of industrial and environmental safety. Compared with the absorption dehydration, which is traditionally used for gas in fishing conditions developed installation is characterized by the decrease of capital expenses by 30%, operating expenses in 2-4 times, as well as decrease of the required area. Compared to other technologies (low temperature separation, membrane separation) reduced capital costs could reach 40%.