GAS SWEETENING

BY
RAVISHANKAR KUPPUSAMY
GAS SWEETENING

Oil & Gas

Contaminants
Gas Sweetening - Acid Gas Removal
Process Selection
Chemical Absorption
– Amine Chemistry
– Amine Selection
– Process & Equipments
– Design Considerations

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GAS SWEETENING- BLOCK DIAGRAM

 Gas sweetening or acid gas removal, refers to a

group of processes that use aqueous solutions, mainly
of various ALKYL AMINES (commonly referred to as
amines) to remove hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and
carbon dioxide (CO2) from gases.

 It is a common unit process in natural gas processing

plants , refineries, and other industries. In refineries it
is off gas treatment as a result of Hydro-
desulfurisation of Naphtha/LPG/Diesel .

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GAS SWEETENING- BLOCK DIAGRAM

Gas Gas
Sweetening Compressor DPCU Gas to Market
Unit Unit
Gas & Oil
Feed Stock Separation
Unit

De-Hydration/ Stabilization
Desalting Unit Stabilized Oil
Unit

GOSP Typical Units:

• Slug Catcher/Pig Receiver • Gas Sweeting Unit (Glycol) • Stabilization

• High Pressure Separation • Dew Point Control Unit • Dehydration Unit
• Medium Pressure Separation • Compressor Units • Desalting Unit
• Low Pressure Separation
GAS SWEETENING- BLOCK DIAGRAM

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GAS SWEETENING- Why ?

Safety considerations (H2S toxicity)

Improve calorific values of gas
(reduce CO2 content)
Reduce corrosion (acid gases
dissolve in water to form acids)

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GAS SWEETENING - CONTAMINANTS
Contaminants Effects
Hydrogen Sulfide Acidity, corrosion, noxious combustion products,
reduced octane no. foul odour
Mereaptans Corrosion, noxious combustion products, reduced
octane no., gum deposits, engine deposits, foul
odour
Naphthemic Acid Acidity and corrosion
Phenol compounds Engine deposits

Total Sulfur Corrosion, Noxious combustion products reduced

octane no.
Nitrogen bases Foul odour, colour formation; possible engine
deposits
Traces of Metals Gum formation, Engine deposits

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GAS SWEETENING - CONTAMINANTS

Water, H2O:

H2O is usually present in small amount;

H2O has to be removed in order to prevent formation of hydrates and condensation

of free water in processing and transportation facilities;

H2O in the presence of acid gases generates corrosive phenomena.

Nitrogen, N2:

N2 has to be removed in order to reduce the compression costs and to increase

gas heat value.

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GAS SWEETENING- CONTAMINANTS
Hydrogen Sulphide, H2S:

H2S concentration in sour natural gas can be very low;

H2S is a corrosive, odourless, and polluting gas;
H2S has to be removed down to ppm concentration to avoid
corrosion in presence of water;
H2S is a lethal gas also at ppm concentration.

Carbon Dioxide, CO2:

CO2 concentration in sour natural gas can be very low (percentage);

CO2 in cryogenic units can freeze;

CO2 in the presence of water gives off a very corrosive solutions.

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GAS SWEETENING- CONTAMINANTS

Mercury, Hg:

Hg is present as traces;
Hg is corrosive for aluminum equipment.

RSH (Mercaptans or Thiols) and COS (Carbonyl Sulphide):

RSH has to be removed for environmental reasons;

RSH and COS are characterized by a deep strong smell.

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GAS SWEETENING- Various Processes
 CHEMICAL ABSORPTION (By Chemical Reaction)
 PHYSICAL ABSORPTION (By Solubility)
 MEMBRANES
 CRYOGENIC FRACTIONATION

Note : Only Chemical Absorption will be discussed in this

presentation as it is applicable for Oil & Gas. However
a Qualitative comparison between Chemical & Physical
absorption will be done.

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GAS SWEETENING-
ABSORPTION PROCESS COMPARISON
CHEMICAL PHYSICAL
ABSORPTION ABSORPTION
SOLVENT Ethanol Amines DEPG (Selexol),
(MEA,DEA,MDEA,DGA NMP (Purisol),
etc.), hot Potassium Methanol (Rectisol)
Carbonate
Acid Gas High
Concentration
Inlet Pressures High
Regeneration Heat is required Reduction of Pressure

MOC Special Materials Carbon Steel

Others Heavy Hydrocarbon
Concentration in feed
gas is low
Applications Oil & Gas Coal Gas, Synthesis
Gas Purification

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GAS SWEETENING-
ABSORPTION PROCESS SELECTION CHART

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GAS SWEETENING- CHEMICAL ABSORPTION
The alkanolamine technology is the most widely used one today to
capture CO2 and H2S because of their versatility and their ability to
remove acid gases to very low levels.

Aqueous monoethanolamine (MEA), a primary amine, or

diethanolamine (DEA), a secondary amine has been used
extensively because of its high reactivity and low solvent cost.

Aqueous Methyl Diethyl Amine (MDEA) is also used as it has

some advantages like high equilibrium loading capacity and lower
energy requirement for regeneration

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GAS SWEETENING- CHEMICAL ABSORPTION
Absorption is the transfer of a gas phase component (H2S and CO2) to a liquid
phase (amine). The tendency of a component to move from the gas to liquid
phase is called the partial pressure of that component. Acid gases react with
liquid bases to form thermally Regenerable salts
acid + base  salt + heat
H2S
+ amine  salt + heat
CO2
* caustic (NaOH or KOH): too strong
* ammonia: (too volatile)
* alkanol amine: (good balance)

Adding energy (heat) to the salts reverses the absorption reaction to form the
original bases and acids
acid + base  salt + heat
H2S
+ amine  salt + heat

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GAS SWEETENING- CHEMICAL ABSORPTION
Alkanolamines have three functional groups
Nitrogen atom- the site where acid gases react
Alcohol (hydoxyl) group-improves water miscibility; modifies
the base strength and lowers the vapour pressure (minimize
losses)
Alkane (hydrocarbon) arm separates the amine and hydroxyl
group to provide chemical stability

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GAS SWEETENING- CHEMICAL ABSORPTION
Amine-containing chemical solvents
• partial pressure of CO2 in the feed gas is relatively low
• H2S to be reduced to a very low concentration

Important amine solvents

• Primary alkanolamines (e.g., MEA, AMP)
• Secondary alkanolamines (e.g., DEA, 2-PE)
• Tertiary alkanolamines (e.g., MDEA)

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GAS SWEETENING- CHEMICAL ABSORPTION

Chemical Absorption

Complete removal Selective removal of H2S

Primary and Secondary Amines Tertiary Amine

 MEA  MDEA
 DEA  TEA
 Activated solvents

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – AMINE CHEMISTRY
AMINE FORMULA

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – AMINE CHEMISTRY

LNG
CO2 < 50 ppm vol

H2S < Traces

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – AMINE CHEMISTRY
AMINE REACTION

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GAS SWEETENING- CHEMICAL ABSORPTION
AMINE CHEMISTRY

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – AMINE SELECTION

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – AMINE SELECTION

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – AMINE SELECTION

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – AMINE SELECTION

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – AMINE SELECTION

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – AMINE SELECTION

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 GAS SWEETENING- PROCESS
Sweet
gas
Demi
Water Process scheme
Contactor
Lean amine
Acid
gas
Sour gas

Rich amine Off gas

Stripper
Flash

Steam

Steam

Amine
Tank

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GAS SWEETENING- PROCESS

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – EQUIPMENT LIST

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – EQUIPMENT LIST

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

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GAS SWEETENING-
CHEMICAL ABSORPTION – DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

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GAS SWEETENING- DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

Crucial operating parameters:

• Amine circulating capacity

• Amine concentration
• Regenerator bottom temperature
• Absorption column pressure

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GAS SWEETENING- DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
AMINE CIRCULATION RATE ESTIMATION

Eg : For MDEA

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GAS SWEETENING- DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

GAS SWEETENING Design

consideration.docx

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GAS SWEETENING- DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

VENDOR should confirm final Design

even if initial sizing is done based on
T-SWEET software

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GAS SWEETENING

THANK YOU

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