Troubleshooting Checklist for TEG Dehydration Units for Natural Gas Dehydration

Trouble Action Points

Too high water dew point of gas or 'freeze ups'
1. Too high gas load a) Increase glycol circulation rate
b) Increase reboiler temperature
c) Increase TEG contactor pressure

2. Too low gas load a) Increase glycol circulation rate

b) Blank off bubble caps in TEG contactor

3. Too high feed gas temperature / water content a) Increase glycol circulation rate
b) Cool Feed Gas (Desirable to keep feed gas temperature below
50⁰C)

4. Too low glycol circulation rate a) Check pump performance

5. Too low lean glycol concentration a) Increase Reboiler Temperature

b) Check reboiler efficiency
c) Increase stripping gas rate to maximum (75 Sm3 / m3 of glycol)

6. Inefficient glycol/gas contacting a) Clean contactor

b) Check gas scrubber efficiency
c) Check for foaming

Excessive Glycol Losses (Allowable Loss: 20-60

liters / 106 Sm3 of gas)

1. Mechanical Leaks a) Repair faulty equipment, pump packings, valves etc.

2. Entrainment due to high gas velocity in contactor a) Check mist extractor in contactor
b) Reduce gas load
c) TEG contactor loss to <10 liters / 106 Sm3 of gas
d) Install after-scrubber
3. Entrainment due to foaming caused by
contaminants
i) hydrocarbon liquids in glycol (maximum a) Check gas scrubber efficiency
permissible 1% by volume)
b) Check or install activated carbon filters
c) Keep lean glycol temperature 2-5⁰C above gas temperature in top
of contactor to avoid condensation of hydrocarbons
d) Add Anti-foam agents, a drop at a time, but only as a temporary
solution

ii) Corrosion inhibitor in glycol a) Check gas scrubber efficiency

b) Prevent overdose of acid neutralizing chemicals

iii) Salt in Glycol a) Check gas scrubber efficiency

b) If salt concentration >10 kg / m3 of glycol, replace glycol
c) Check source of salt

a) Check gas scrubber efficiency

iv) Suspended salts in glycol (max. permissible: 0.01
kg / m3 glycol)
b) Check the filters (5 µm) efficiency

4. Vaporization of glycol in TEG contactor a) Keep lean glycol temperature at inlet of TEG contactor not more
than 8⁰C above inlet gas temperature
Trouble Action Points
5. Vaporization of glycol in glycol still a) Check still condenser efficiency
b) Overhead temperature of still to be <100⁰C

6. Entrainment from glycol still a) Check glycol still packing condition

b) Replace or clean packing

7. Decomposition of glycol a) Keep glycol reboiler temperature <200⁰C, preferably 190⁰C

b) Clean reboiler tubes
c) Check flame direction and stability
d) Check for hotspots

8. Oxidation of glycol a) Avoid oxygen ingress by using gas blankets on open glycol storage
b) Check pump suction connections and pump packing glands

Corrosion of Glycol Facilities (pH to be maintained

between 6.5-8.0)
1. Organic Acids from glycol oxidation a) Avoid oxidation of glycol as per point 8 above
b) Use neutralizing agents (Refer point 2 below)

2. H2S and CO2 acids

a) Neutralize with borax, ethanolamines (not for CO2 acids), soda
ash or other alkaline chemicals
b) Avoid overdosing

3. Corrosive Salt deposits a) Check upstream gas scrubber efficiency by determining upstream
produced or formation water separation

Excessive wear of glycol pump

1. Solids in Glycol a) Check all glycol filters
b) Determine origin of solids

Reference:
Shell Oil and Gas Manual, Vol. 7
and various web sources

Prepared by: Ankur Srivastava

Chemical Engineer
Email: ankur_2061@hotmail.com