DEHYDRATION OF NATURAL GAS

OVERVIEW

 Dehydration of natural gas is removal of the water that is associated with

natural gases in vapor form.
 When produced from a reservoir, natural gas usually contains a large amount
of water and is typically completely saturated or at the water dew point. This
water can cause several problems for downstream processes and equipment.
 The natural gas industry has recognized that dehydration is necessary to
ensure smooth operation of gas transmission lines.
Why should we dehydrate natural gas ?

Reduces heating value

Create gas hydrates

Create corrosion

Sales contractor specification

1. 4-7 lb of H2O/MMSCF

2. 950 BTU/SCF
 Adsorption Water is trapped on the surface of pores in a solid (think of connate water).

 Absorption Water is absorbed by a liquid with a higher affinity for water than the natural gas Removal
takes place inside an absorber (contactor or tower).
 Key factor is controlling dew point – dew point depression.

 Dew point is the temperature at any given pressure for which the gas is fully saturated with water vapor.

 Dew point must be decreased below the hydrate formation temperature for a given set of conditions.

 Two primary systems in use today use one of these two techniques.

 Liquid desiccant dehydration

 Solid desiccant dehydration

DEHYDRATION Of Natural Gas

 Dehydration Systems
 Direct Cooling

 Compression followed by cooling

 Absorption

 Adsorption
Dehydration By Direct Cooling
 The ability of Natural Gas to contain vapour decreases as temperature is lowered at constant pressure.
(during cooling process, the excess water in vapor sate became liquid and removed from the system).
 Cool the gas to a temperature below the dew point.
 Cooling is used in conjunction with other dehydration process.
ABSORPTION AND ADSORPTION

 Absorption: is process in which water vapour are removed from Natural Gas by bubbling the gas counter-
currently certain (hygroscopic) liquid that have special attraction or affinity for water. Water vapour in gas bubbles is
entrained in the liquid and carried by liquid.

 Adsorption: is a process in which gas flow through bed of granular solid that have affinity for water. The water is
retained on the surface of the particles of the solid material.
 The vessel allows either the adsorption and adsorption take place is called the “Contractor or Sorber”.

 The liquid or solid that has affinity for water and is used in contractor is called “Desiccant.

 The major types of dehydration equipment: liquid desiccant dehydrator or solid desiccant dehydrator.
Essential Feature In
Solid Desiccant
Feature
Regeneration
Terms

 Wet Gas Stream (Inlet Gas Stream)

 Dry Gas Stream (outlet Gas Stream)
 Regeneration gas
 Wet gas heated to 400 AND 460 F

 Passed through saturated tower to remove moisture

 Desiccant
 Solid granules

 Large surface area (4 MM sq.ft/lb)

Terms

 Adsorption – physical trapping of moisture in the desiccant. No chemical reactions involved

 Activated alumina

 Silica gel

 Adsorbents are often chemical specific

 Regeneration – drive off the water by raising temperature or reducing pressure

 Inlet separator critical to avoid fouling
Adsorption
Process
Dehydration Of Natural Gas

The advantage of Solid-desiccant dehydration Includes:

 Lower dew point, essential dry gas can be produced. ( water < 1.0 ib / MMcf).
 Higher contact temperature can be tolerated, depend on adsorbent chosen.
 Higher tolerance sudden to load changes, esp on startup.
 Higher adaptability for recovery of certain liquid hydrocarbons in addition to dehydration

Issues:
o Solid desiccants became less effective as they age and require replacement.
o Dehydrating tower must be regenerated and cooled for operation before another tower exhaustion.
o Hydrogen Sulfide can also damage the desiccant and reduce the capacity.
o Sudden pressure surge may upset the desiccant bed and channel the gas stream result in poor dehydration.
Dehydration By Absorption

 Normally single type of pure glycol is used in dehydrator, but sometime glycol (TEG) blend
economically attractive.
 Dew point depression of 40 F to 140 F can be achieved gas pressure ranging from 25 to 2500 psig and
gas pressure between 40 F to 160 F.
 Very hot gas streams are often cooled prior to dehydration to prevent vaporization of TEG.
Definitions wet gas – gas containing water vapor prior to desiccation

 Dry gas – gas leaving the absorber

 Desiccant – dehydrating (or absorbing) medium (in most cases TEG)
 Lean glycol – 95-99% TEG by weight
 Rich glycol - <95% TEG by weight (remainder is water plus impurities)
OPERATION
CONDITION