Optimisation CO2 Removal Design for Block B-17 in the MTJDA

Abstract

Abstract Nine gas fields have been discoved in Block B-17 in the Malaysia-Thailand Joint Devepment Area (MTJDA). Most of them have high CO2 content which makes the gas unmarketable. To achieve the commerciality, CO2 content needs to be reduce to the level that the existing market is able to accept the Block B-17 gas. Under the GSA-HOA which had been signed in 1999 between Buyers and Sellers, it had specified the CO2 content not more than 23 mole%. Therefore, the Sellers need to design the gas processing facilities to meet the requirement of Buyers. Generally, the value of sales gas is based on its heating value, not volume. The high CO2 content means the less heating value resulting the less revenue. Therefore, the Sellers must reduce the CO2 content in sales gas as low as possible. Paradoxically, the more removal of CO2 content in sales gas does not indicate the best economic results, due to the high investment cost. To optimise the project economic, the percentage of CO2 content has to define under the specification of GSA-HOA and economical consideration of the project. Several factors, for instance, gas compositions, reserves, well deliverability, need to be taken into the account of the processing design. In order to achieve the maximum benefit, the CO2 removal optimisation has to be properly designed. This paper will present a model which describes the relationship between values of sales gas and the CO2 removal cost resulting in i) good economical regime with available raw gas quality in the Joint Development Area (JDA), and ii) raw gas mixture for optimum sales gas heating value which relates to economic design of the CO2 removal.