Topic Assigned:

Online Gas Chromatograph

Submitted to:
Excel Technological Services

(Sir Wajeeh Abbas )

Submitted by:
Akasha Noor
Contents to be discussed:
 Basics & fundamentals of Gas Chromatograph
 Assembly of GC
 Column Technology
 Carrier Gases
 Calibration Gases
 Detector & its types
 Standards & codes that apply on GC
 Practical Applications of GC in industry
 NGC8209
 Gas Chromatograph

 A gas chromatograph (GC) is an analytical instrument that

measures the content of various components in a sample.
The analysis performed by a gas chromatograph is called gas
chromatography
• Gas quality is most commonly measured with the use of a Gas
Chromatograph
• It is essential to measure gas quality for custody transfer
 Purpose of GC
Gas chromatography is a widely accepted
technique
• For monitoring and analyzing hydrocarbon
mixtures
• Delivers all of the measurement information
which includes:
Relative density
Heating value
Wobbe index
HCDP (hydrocarbon dew point)
H2S measurement
Assembly of Gas Chromatograph
 GC Components

Sample handling Sampling Carrier gas

system Probe

Calibration gas Column Technology Detector

I. Sample handling sysytem
• It is installed after the sample probe to continuously
purify and deliver gas samples to the analyzer.
• It consists of membrane inside which filters the incoming
sample sample gas.

II. Sample Probe

• Sample probe is inserted into the process line 1/3 of the
diameter of the process line.

III. Carrier Gas

•The main purpose of the carrier gas is to carry the sample
through the column.
• It is the mobile phase and it is inert and does not interact
chemically with the sample
Continued..
Commonly used carrier gases include hydrogen, nitrogen, helium,
argon, and carbon dioxide. 
Hydrogen:
• Better thermal conductivity
• It reacts with unsaturated compounds & is inflammable
• Explosive in nature
Nitrogen:
• Nitrogen is inexpensive but it gives reduced sensitivity
Helium:
• It is the most preferred gas
• Excellent thermal conductivity
• It is compatible with all common detectors
Grades of Helium
• Basically it describes the purity of helium.
• It includes Grade 4,4.5,5,5.5 & 6.
• The first number in the grade (before the decimal point) is always equal to the
number of 9’s in the purity. For example, 6.0 helium = six 9s, or 99.9999%.
IV. Calibration Gas
• Calibration gas is a reference gas or gas mixture used as comparative standard
in the calibration of analytical instruments, like gas analyzers or gas detectors.
• Presence of greater amount of H2S gas will cause the gas reactive decreasing
the shelf life
 Provisions for Calibration Gas
Provisions for
Calibration Gas

Will be manufactured at If the calibration gas In order to keep the

a specific dew point cylinder is in no use cylinder not to reach dew
usually 32⁰F or 40⁰F. over six months, it is point it is recommended
The cylinder should not recommended to rolled to provide a heating
be exposed to temp it for 30min in order to blanket across the
below the dew point. homogenize the mixture cylinder

Calibration gas manufacturer

• SEMA Gases are used for calibration
• It is headquartered in The Netherlands
 Difference between Vol% and Mol%.
 Vol% characterize the composition of gas mixtures. Gas mixtures obeying the
ideal gas law sets the relation between the gas volume, temperature and
pressure. According to this law the volume is proportional to the number of
moles of a gas, and therefore, the mole % is the same as the vol% for gas
mixtures.
 As per Avogadro law, equal volume of gases at same temperature and pressure
contain equal number of moles regardless of chemical nature of gases.
 Mole percent is based on the weight of each of the gas components per
volume and volume % is based on the volume of each of the gas components.
 
Column Technology
There are two general types of column, packed and capillary 
(also known as open tubular). 

Comparison
Packed Column Capillary Column
Parameter
Glass or stainless
Material Fused Quartz
steel
Length 1 to 3 meters 10 to 100 meters
Internal Diameter 2 to 4mm 0.1 to 1mm
Higher efficiency,
Produce broad peak,
Advantage handle large sample faster, better for
complex mixtures
volumes
Detectors
Several types of detectors are available for gas chromatographs, including
Detectors Selectivity Sensitivity
Thermal Conductivity Detector Universal 10^-9 g
(TCD)
Flame photometric Detector Sulphur & 10^-5 g
(FPD) phosphorus
Flame Ionization Detector (FID) Organic compounds 10^-11 g

Selectivity:
It determines the type of compounds that the detector will detect.
Sensitivity:
It defines the concentration levels the detector will detect.
 Codes & Standards
Meter type (Orifice ,Turbine,
Sr# Standard PD, Coriolis Purpose
& Ultrasonic )
1 AGA8 Applies to all types Density , Compressibility factor (z) ,super compressibility factor
Natural Gas energy measuerement (Heating Value) for custody
2 AGA5 Applies to all types
transfer
3 API14.1 Applies to all types Collecting and handling of Natural gas samples for custody tranfer

4 GPA 2166-05 Applies to all types Techniques for natural gas spot sampling

Analysis for Natural Gas & Similar Gaseous Mixtures by Gas

5 GPA 2261-00 Applies to all types
Chromatography
Calculation of Gross Heating Value, Specific Gravity
6 API 14.5 Applies to all types & Compressibility of Natural Gas Mixtures from Compositional
Analysis

7 GPA 2145-03 Applies to all types Table of Physical Constants for Hydrocarbons &
Other Compounds of Interest to the Natural Gas Industry
Selection, Preparation, Validation, Storage of Natural Gas &
8 GPA 2198-03 Applies to all types Natural Gas Liquids Reference Standard Blends
Calculation of Gross Heating Value, Specific Gravity,
9 GPA 2172-96 Applies to all types & Compressibility of Natural Gas Mixtures from Compositional
Analysis
Converting Mass of Natural Gas Liquids & Vapors to Equivalent Liquid
10 API 14.4 Applies to all types
Volumes
 Difference b/w NIST & ISO 17025
ISO 17025 (Internationally recognized
NIST
standard)
Does not take into account the Certifies the competence of the
monitoring of the environment in laboratory that produces the
which the calibration was informed calibration gas

Mainly identifies that the standards

Discipline of calibration in addition to
used in calibration is traceable to
NIST the traceability of the standard

Does not determine the level of

competence of the staff that Also includes measurement
uncertainties of the calibration result
performs the calibration
 Practical Applications of Online GC

Online Gas Chromatograph finds a wide range of

applications over oil and gas industries in Pakistan:
Upstream sector includes:
• OGDCL
• Mari Gas
Midstream sector includes:
• PSO
• Shell
Downstream sector includes:
• Byco
• PARKO
• Upstream includes anything having to do with
the exploration and production of oil and
natural gas.
• After the exploration/production the mixture
is send to a separator where oil is send to the
refinery and gas for sweetening process.
• It is recommended to employ GC after the
sweetening process for sake of custody
transfer.
Midstream includes:
• Processing
• Shipping
• Trading
It is very important to know the
concentration of various hydrocarbons /
heating value of the gas mixture before
transporting to the downstream.
Therefore for such purposes GC’s are
employed before shipping gas to other
companies.
Downstream sector includes
• Refining
• Distribution
• Transportation
• Point of Sale
• Marketing
GC is employed now a day in :
• Improving burner control
• Landfill applications
• LNG gas quality testing
• Tetrahydrothiophene (THT) in Natural gas
 NGC8209
The NGC8209 provides precise and reliable measurement of an extensive
range of natural gas values, from C6+ to C9+.
• Analysis time C9+ 360 sec
• Column Technology Packed column
• No. of detector 2
• Type of detector Thermal conductivity detectors (TCD’s)
• Repeatability on BTU C9+ ± 0.125 Btu @ 1,000 Btu
• No. of streams allowed 4
• Data storage 35 days
Continued..
• Software PCCU 32
• No. of communication ports 4

(Two remote serial digital communications ports, One USB Host and one
Ethernet port)

• Display (Built in/ separate unit) 1/4 VGA display with multiple

screen access
Any questions ?