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Formulated solvent reduces shale gas

processing costs
A gas treating facility is upgraded to a formulated solvent to achieve reduced
operating costs compared with operations using a commodity amine blend

ROBERT L DOTSON
Dow Oil, Gas & Mining

W
ith the development of exhibits the highest degree of reac-
Acid dissociation constant (pKa) of
new drilling technology pKa (25°C) tion of gas treating amines when
common amines and CO2
and hydraulic fracturing compared to the pKa of aqueous
techniques, global shale gas produc- CO2 of 6.0 at 25°C.2 In comparison,
OH- 13.8
tion has increased significantly over DEA has a pKa of 8.88 and MDEA
Monoethanolamine (MEA) 9.5
the past five years and is projected Diethanolamine (DEA) 8.88 has a pKa of 8.52 at 25°C.
to continue increasing for several Methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) 8.52 In spite of its higher pKa
years. According to the International CO2 (first dissociation) 6.0 compared to MDEA, DEA has
Energy Agency,1 “by 2020 the disadvantages stemming from its
United States becomes a net Table 1 propensity to degrade in the pres-
exporter of natural gas and is almost ence of CO2 and corrode carbon
self-sufficient in energy, in net Amine/CO2 chemistry steel.3 The degradation reactions of
terms, by 2035.” “…as demand The absorption of CO2 from a gas DEA are catalysed by, but do not
increases by 50% to 5 trillion cubic stream uses the solvent’s ability to consume, CO2. Work by Polderman
meters in 2035. Nearly half of the accept a proton, which provides a and Steele,4 Kennard and
increase in production to 2035 is chemical driving force to assist Meisen, 5,6,7,8
Blanc et al,9 and Kim
from unconventional gas, with most solubilisation of the CO2. This and Sartori10 determined the DEA
of this coming from the United propensity for the aqueous CO2 to degradation reaction mechanism
States, Australia, and China…” act as an acid in the subsequent shown in Figure 1.
Increases in shale gas production reaction with an amine takes place According to Kim and Sartori, the
and decreasing energy prices glob- due to the higher dissociation DEA-CO2 degradation reactions
ally will require competitive constant (pKa) of the amine. The are initiated by the direct reaction
exploration and operational larger the difference in pKa of DEA and CO2 forming (HOCH2
expenses among the energy options. between the amine and the CO2, CH2)2NCO2H (DEA-carbamate),
In early 2011, after having plant the more complete the acid/base which condenses to 3-(2-hydrox-
operational issues, poor reliability reaction that will take place. As yethyl) oxazolidone-2 (HEO). The
of gas treating facility equipment Table 1 shows, MEA has the high- HEO then reacts with another mole-
and high operational costs, a US est pKa (9.5 at 25°C) and therefore cule of DEA, releasing a molecule of
gas treating operator met with Dow
Oil, Gas & Mining to discuss
options to reduce operational costs. O OH
Based on the operational perfor- H
mance information provided for N + CO2
N
HO OH HO OH
newly released Ucarsol Shale
DEA DEA-carbamate
Specialty Solvent from Dow, refer-
ence facilities, solvent technical O OH O
performance simulations and no HO
N N
requirement for expensive and O + H2O
HO OH
complicated chemical additives, the HEO
DEA-carbamate
operator decided to offer one unit
that was about to start up as a O HO
HO
demonstration facility. It was one + (HOCH2CH2)2NH
N N OH + CO2
N
HO
of two similar units supplied with O H

sour gas from the same gas pipe- HEO DEA THEED
line and located at the same
facility. Figure 1 Reactions of CO2 catalysed degradation of DEA

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carbonic acid-to- bicarbonate reac-
Solvent trial data collection Haynesville shale gas composition
tion for MDEA is very slow
compared to the direct reaction of
Gas flow, MMscfd, daily avg. the carbamate in the MEA and DEA Temp, °F 100
Filter changes, frequency Pressure, psig 1000
Amine make-up, gallons
reaction steps, resulting in a reduced CO2, mol% 3.000
Chemical additives, total dollars (US) CO2 reaction with MDEA,13 allowing H2S, mol% 0.001
Antifoam use, pints CO2 to leave the absorber with N2, mol% 0.100
Amine analysis, bicine, wt% limited removal (CO2 slip). Methane, mol% 96.400
Amine analysis, iron, ppmv Ethane, mol% 0.025
Therefore, an activator is utilised as Propane, mol% 0.030
part of the MDEA formulation to C4+, mol% 0.444
Table 2 effectively assist the reaction rate   100.000  
and tune CO2 selectivity, enhancing
CO2 and forming N,N,N’-tris CO2 removal in the absorber. For a Table 3
(2-hydroxyethyl) ethyldiamine more detailed understanding of
(THEED). Some of the THEED amine gas treating chemistry, refer a typical gas treating design:
slowly condenses to form N,N’-bis to Fundamentals – Gas Sweetening, • 65 MMscfd feed gas treating
(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine (BHEP). LRGCC.13 capability with bypass
Although several of the degradation • Absorber: 6ft diameter, 20 trays
products may contribute to the Solvent trial • Flash drum: 4.5ft diameter x 12ft
corrosivity of the solution, it is In early 2011, the operator decided TL-TL
unknown which is the primary to compare Ucarsol solvent with its • Regenerator: 5ft diameter, 20
source of corrosion. Bicine, standard 80 wt% MDEA/20 wt% trays
N-N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine, is DEA blend diluted to a 50 wt% • Dual shell and tube L/R
another DEA degradation product amine solution (40 wt% MDEA/10 exchangers
that forms in the presence of oxygen wt% DEA/50 wt% water). The • Kettle reboiler/hot oil system
or glyoxal (a dialdehyde used for operator decided it would use the from oil heater
H2S scavenging) in the amine. collected data to perform an • 15 000 gallon system volume
Kim and Sartori demonstrated economic evaluation and an opera- • 45 wt% Ucarsol solvent
that these CO2-DEA degradation bility evaluation. Data collected • Facility is manned during day
reactions are independent of the H2S during the trial are shown in operations
concentration, are not initiated by Table 2. • Facility is unmanned during
thermal degradation, and are night hours
roughly proportional to the CO2 Facility information • Facility uses a DCS and paged
partial pressure. Blanc et al show Haynesville shale gas composition alerts.
that CO2 degradation products do for this area is shown in Table 3.
not cause corrosion in gas environ- Trial description
ments that contain a sufficient Unit 1 MDEA/DEA blend Unit 1 had been in operation for
concentration of H2S. It is generally Unit 1 is a 250 gpm facility with a four months using the operator’s
agreed, per guidelines in API 945,11 typical gas treating design: standard 50 wt% MDEA/DEA
that solutions with H2S-to-CO2 ratios • 75 MMscfd feed gas treating with blend prior to the completion of
of roughly 1:19 reduce corrosion bypass Unit 2’s construction. Prior to the
rates substantially by forming a • Absorber: 6ft diameter, 20 trays addition of the Ucarsol solvent to
protective iron sulphide film.12 In a • Flash drum: 6ft diameter x 12ft Unit 2, the system was washed and
“CO2-only” natural gas stream, such TL-TL drained to remove machining oils
as the Haynesville Shale region of • Regenerator: 5ft diameter, 20 and particulates from construction,
the US, there is insufficient H2S trays which can cause foaming and other
concentration to form this stable • APV plate and frame L/R issues. Unit 2 was then loaded with
layer of protective iron sulphide. exchanger 45 wt% Ucarsol solvent and recom-
MDEA was developed to allow • Direct-fired Bryan reboiler missioned without issue.
operations at higher amine concen- • 10 500 gallon system volume Both Units 1 and 2 were loaded
trations without CO2 degradation. • 50 wt% blended amine (80 wt% with sour gas feed to a point where
However, unlike primary and MDEA/20 wt% DEA) they were able to operate satisfacto-
secondary amines (MEA and DEA), • Facility is manned during day rily and meet the treated gas
MDEA has been shown to be kineti- operations specification. Since this operator
cally limited for CO2 removal, as it • Facility is unmanned during has several units on the pipeline, it
does not form a carbamate molecule night hours is able to move sour gas to these
directly. MDEA is dependent on the • Facility uses a digital control units, most of the time, to keep
CO2 hydrolysis reaction to create system (DCS) and paged alerts. them loaded up to maximum feed
carbonic acid, which slowly dissoci- rates. Unit 1, using the MDEA/
ates to bicarbonate and finally reacts Unit 2 Ucarsol Shale H-102 DEA blend, continued to add the
with MDEA for CO2 absorption. The Unit 2 is a 200 gpm facility with required chemical additives, as

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facility, evaluate the cause and
20000 manually restart the system.

Bicine concentration, ppmw


18000 Antifoam (8-16 ounces) was added
16000 until the foaming was under
14000 control. During these foaming
12000 events, some quantity of amine was
10000 lost through the treated gas outlet,
8000 and make-up MDEA/DEA blend
6000 was added to the system to adjust
4000 the concentration back to 50 wt%.
2000 Unit 1’s 20 micron rich and lean
0
cartridge filters were changed twice
during the trial. During this same
09

09

10

11

12

12
01
period, Unit 2 had no major foam-
20

20

20

20

20

20
l2
ay

ec

g
Ju
Ju

Ja

Au
Fe
ing issues, no shutdowns related to
M

the amine and no filter changes.


Figure 2 Bicine concentration at 17 facilities with “CO2-only” gas using MDEA (40 wt%)/ Antifoam was added to Unit 2, as
DEA (10 wt%)/water (50 wt%) needed, when minor foaming was
thought to be occurring, but no
recommended by the chemical rates. The bypass gas rate was typi- serious foaming conditions
supplier, to manage corrosion due cally 5-10 MMscfd for a total sales occurred to shut down the unit
to the DEA degradation products gas rate of 75-90 MMscfd. Unit 2, during the trial. However, the unit
and bicine. Unit 2, using Ucarsol using Ucarsol solvent, was did shut down due to boiler issues.
solvent, required no additives. designed for 65 MMscfd of sour gas Unit 2 used similar 20 micron
Amine samples for rich and lean feed, but due to the deeper CO2 cartridge filters. Both units ran
amine streams were collected removal and better operational approximately a 10% slipstream of
monthly and analysed in Dow’s performance at high gas rates the the circulating amine through the
amine lab, and the results evalu- plant operators were able to load particulate filters and carbon bed.
ated. The evaluation used normal the facility with 90-100 MMscfd According to the plant operators,
amine analysis to determine amine until equipment limits were met. A they “immediately noticed a differ-
chemistry, amine concentration bypass gas rate of 15-25 MMscfd ence” in the operability of the two
(wt%), bicine concentration (wt%) allowed a total sales gas rate of units. During most start-ups, Unit 1
and iron (ppmw) for corrosion level 105-125 MMscfd. The deeper CO2 was very onerous and often
potential, amine colour, amine clar- removal allowed for a larger bypass foamed. Operators felt like they
ity and amine contaminants. gas rate. However, the H2S in the were “fighting the unit” to get it
total gas stream was typically the started and keep it running. It
Trial results limiting factor. required antifoam, corrosion inhibi-
Unit 1, using the MDEA/DEA During the trial period, Unit 1 tor and the addition of bicine
blend, designed for 75 MMscfd of had three upsets due to severe “killer”. Unit 2 started up with little
sour gas feed, was able to treat foaming, causing the system to shut issue, foamed occasionally with
70-80 MMscfd but was limited due down automatically. A plant opera- minor severity and required no
to foaming issues at higher gas tor was required to travel to the chemical additives to manage
corrosion.
The bicine concentration in 17 of
500 the operator’s facilities using the
MDEA/DEA blend and chemical
Bicine concentration, ppmw

450
400 additives for a 18-month period
prior to the trial averaged ~8000
350
ppmw, with a maximum of 18 000
300
ppmw (see Figure 2). Over 18
250 months, the facilities using MDEA/
200 DEA blend with chemical additives
150 averaged about 3000 ppmw bicine.
100
During the trial, Unit 1, operating
with the MDEA/DEA blend with
50
chemical additives, had bicine
0 concentrations of 3200 and 4000
ppmw (two samples). After upgrad-
11

11

12

12

12
1
20

20

20

20

20

20

ing to Ucarsol solvent, it has a


ay

ov

ar

p
Ju
Au

Se
M
M

non-detectable bicine concentration


Figure 3 Bicine concentration at 10 facilities using Ucarsol (45 wt%) (<100 ppmv) after 16 months of

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has averaged 7.8 ppmw, with a
Operational cost comparison of MDEA/DEA blend and Ucarsol: new 300 gpm facility
peak of 48 ppmw, which quickly
dropped back to the average
New facility cost comparison concentration. Unit 1 had a pipeline
45 wt% Ucarsol 50 wt% MDEA/DEA blend brine-water incursion in July 2012,
Amine, initial fill, lb 58 000 64 500
Amine make-up, lb/yr 17 400 35 000 which brought chlorides (along
First year amine, lb 75 400 99 500 with other contaminants) into the
Chemical additives and antifoam, $ 720 24 912 amine system. This resulted in the
Equip maintenance due to corrosion, $ 0* 20 000 iron increasing to 11 and 14 ppmw
Payback, yr 0.36
until the 13 500 ppmw concentra-
* No additional equipment maintenance expenses due to corrosion tion of chlorides was removed from
the Ucarsol solvent using the
Table 4 Ucarsep Reclamation System from
Dow.
Although this trial was scheduled
50 for three months, the operator
45 decided to remove the MDEA/DEA
Iron concentration, ppmw

40 blend in Unit 1 after just over two


months. The trial had provided
35
enough information for the operator
30
to conclude that Ucarsol solvent
25 was their solvent of choice for the
20 future. As stated by the operator,
Unit 2 “Unit 1 did not perform as well as
15 Trial
10
period Unit 2”. Even though both units
Unit 1 were treating the same gas, Unit 1
5
had more foaming events, shut-
0 downs and filter changes. The
chemical additive cost, higher bicine
11

11

11

11

12
01

01
20

20

20

20

20
r2

l2

concentrations and therefore corro-


b

ec

ct
Ju
Ap
Ju
Fe

Se

O
D

sion potential, higher iron


Figure 4 Iron concentration for 10 facilities on Urcasol concentrations, and more solids
filtered out of the amine (inter-
operation. Unit 2, while operating may not have been completely preted as corrosion products by the
on Ucarsol solvent, had a non- drained and washed, and that some operator) was enough to justify the
detectable bicine concentration of the high bicine amine was in solvent upgrade. Unit 2 ran cleaner
during the trial and is still non-de- isolated piping (spare pump, (fewer solids filtered), which the
tectable after 18 months of bypass, and so on), contaminating operator deduced was a result of
operation (see Figure 3). All facili- the solvent when it was opened. lower corrosion rates due to no
ties operating on Ucarsol solvent Iron concentrations for Unit 2 bicine and degradation products in
have shown non-detectable (<100 during the trial were measured at the solvent. Their cost evaluation
ppmw) bicine (appearing as one 3 ppmw and 3 ppmw, indicating also determined, based on their esti-
line) with the exception of one facil- very low corrosion rates (see Figure mates for amine make-up usage and
ity, which started near 100 ppmw 4; Units 1 and 2 are indicated by the maintenance, that Ucarsol solvent
and spiked up as high as 460 ppmw green and red lines). During the was the lowest long-term cost of
for a short period before dropping past 18 months, with the addition of operation option rather than their
back down to non-detectable. No eight more units (the total 10 shown standard MDEA/DEA blend with
specific reason for this was found, as lines) upgraded to Ucarsol chemical additives. The lower price
but it was suspected that the system solvent, the iron concentration of the MDEA/DEA blend was
offset by the cost of the required
Operational cost comparison of MDEA/DEA blend and Ucarsol: existing 300 gpm facility chemical additives and high mainte-
nance costs. The operator’s cost
analysis did not include the addi-
Existing facility cost comparison tional cost of filter changes and lost
45 wt% Ucarsol 50 wt% MDEA/DEA blend
Amine, Initial fill, lb 58 000 0 revenue due to down time (as it
Amine make-up, lb/yr 17 400 35 000 was able to switch gas to other
First year amine, lb 75 400 35 000 units, so it was not technically “lost
Chemical additives and antifoam, $ 720 24 912 revenue”), which would have
Equip maintenance due to corrosion, $ 0 20 000
Payback, yr 1.7 increased the cost advantage.
However, for a single or isolated
Table 5 unit that cannot switch gas to

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Trial data evaluation

45 wt% Ucarsol 50 wt% MDEA/DEA blend


Gas flow, MMscfd • Unit 2, designed for 65 MMscfd treated up to • Unit 1, designed for 75 MMscfd, was able to treat 75-80 MMscfd
90-100 MMscfd during the trial and for 18 months during the trial.
since. • Limited by severe foaming at higher sour gas rates.
• Unit 2 treated gas to a lower CO2 concentration,
allowing for increased sour gas bypass flow.
Result: more sweet gas to sales at pipeline specifications.

Filter changes, • No filter changes during the trial. • Required two filter changes.
total number

Amine • Required normal amine make-up volume during • Required amine make-up because of two severe foaming events.
make-up, qty the trial.

Chemical additives, • Requires no additives. • Requires continuous addition of corrosion inhibitor and bicine
total dollars (US) “killer” additives.
• Chemical additive cost: $22 752/yr.

Antifoam use • Low antifoam usage due to a low foaming tendency. • Used three times on Unit 1 due to multiple foaming events and
two severe foaming events.

Bicine concentration, • Unit 2 had non-detectable bicine concentration • Unit 1 bicine concentrations were 3200 and 4000 ppmw (two
wt% (<100 ppmv) during the trial and after 18 months of samples).
operation. • The bicine concentration for an 18-month period prior to the trial
• Unit 1, after upgrading from MDEA/DEA blend to averaged 8000 ppmw, with a maximum of 18 000 ppmw.
Ucarsol solvent, has a non-detectable bicine • Over the past 18 months, the MDEA/DEA blend has averaged
concentration after 16 months of operation. ~3000 ppmw bicine.

Iron concentration, • During the trial, Unit 2 maintained iron concentrations • Units operating on a MDEA/DEA blend from June 2009 to Nov
ppmw between 1-4 ppmw, indicating very low corrosion rates. 2012 averaged 18 ppmw iron. Typical iron range is 8-20 ppmw.

• During the past 18 months, all 10 units upgraded to


Ucarsol have averaged 8 ppmw, with a peak of 48 ppmw.

Operational reliability, • 100% amine operational reliability during the trial. • 95% amine operational reliability during the trial. Unit 1 shut
% of time treating gas Unit 2 shut down due to boiler issues. down twice during the trial due to severe amine foaming events.

Table 6

another unit, this lost revenue “CO2-only” gas, the operator esti- These cost estimates and payback
would further increase the cost mated equipment repairs to pumps, calculations do not take into
advantage. valves and piping due to corrosion account the lost revenue for unit
(corrosion maintenance) at $20 000/ down time or additional opera-
Operations cost comparison year for the MDEA/DEA blend. tional expenses, such as filter
The operator estimated first-year The operator concluded that the cartridges, which would further
and annual operating expenses for payback is 0.36 years for a new 300 reduce the payback time. The reve-
a new 300 gpm facility, based on gpm facility using solvent in place nue of any additional gas
MDEA/DEA blend operational of their standard MDEA/DEA processed, total sweet gas sold to
experience and trial data (see Table blend. the pipeline (treated and bypassed),
4). A new facility requires an initial Note: due to pricing confidential- was also not included.
fill of either amine. The annual ity of amine and antifoam, specific The operator also estimated first-
operating cost of the MDEA/DEA amine and antifoam costs are not year and annual operating expenses
blend requires the addition of provided. All operational cost for an existing 300 gpm facility
chemical additives at $22 752/year comparison tables provide the upgraded from MDEA/DEA blend
for a unit this size. MDEA/DEA pounds of amine for a system fill, to Ucarsol solvent, based on
make-up amine, based on operator estimated pounds of annual MDEA/DEA blend operational
experience and trial results, was make-up amine, estimated annual experience and trial experience (see
estimated to be two times the cost of antifoam, operator-provided Table 5). An existing facility would
make-up requirement for Ucarsol cost of annual chemical additives, require the removal of the MDEA/
solvent. Antifoam usage for the and operator-estimated cost of DEA blend and an initial fill of the
MDEA/DEA blend, based on the corrosion maintenance in a MDEA/ solvent. All other costs — make-up
trial, was estimated at three times DEA system for a 300 gpm facility. amine, antifoam, chemical additives
that for the Ucarsol solvent. From Payback calculations are based on and the estimated cost of corrosion
10 years of operational experience antifoam and amine costs at the maintenance — remain the same
with MDEA/DEA blends in time of the trial. for the cost comparison. The cost of

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the removed amine disposal was make-up amine, reducing operating References
not included, as the operator was costs. 1 International Energy Agency, World Energy
able to move the amine to another The higher frequency of filter Outlook 2012.
facility using the MDEA/DEA changes in the MDEA/DEA system 2 Martell A E, Smith R M, Motekaitis R J,
Critically Selected Stability Constants of Metal
blend. The first-year expenses, in is likely due to the degradation
Complexes Database, NIST Standard Reference
this case, are higher for the solvent products and bicine causing a
Database 46, Version 7, US Department of
to pay for the amine conversion, weakening of the iron carbonate Commerce, 2003.
but the expenditure is recovered by protective layer. Since upgrading 3 Kohl A L, Nielsen R B, Gas Purification,
the higher annual cost for the the amine in the two units, filter Fifth Ed, Gulf Publishing Company, 1997, Ch 3,
MDEA/DEA blend for antifoam, changes are now once every two to Solution Degradation, 232-242.
chemical additives and the esti- three months rather than monthly 4 Polderman L D, Steele A B, Why
mated cost of corrosion or shorter. Operating costs due to diethanolamine breaks down in gas treating
maintenance. The operator these changes have been reduced service, Oil and Gas Journal, Vol 54, 30 July
concluded that the payback for the too (the difference in filter change 1956, 206-214.
existing case is 1.7 years (see Table expense was not used in the opera- 5 Kennard M L, Meisen A, Control DEA
degradation, Hydro. Process., Vol 59, No. 4, April
5). tional cost comparisons). Units 1
1980, 103-106.
and 2’s facility corrosion mainte-
6 Kennard M L, Meisen A, Gas
Conclusions nance has also been reduced over chromatographic technique for analyzing
Based on the experience of the the past 18 months since the partially degraded diethanolamine solutions, J.
operator, who has used a 80 wt% upgrade according to the operator, of Chromatography, Vol 267, 1983, 373-380.
MDEA/20 wt% DEA blend for over further reducing operational costs. 7 Kennard M L, Meisen A, Mechanisms and
10 years, the data collected during The operator has been able to kinetics of diethanolamine corrosion, Ind. Eng.
the trial and over 18 months of increase treated gas production Chem. Fundamentals, Vol 24, 1985, 129-140.
operation, it was concluded that the through the two units due to the 8 Kennard M L, Meisen A, DEA degradation
long-term operational cost of lower sweet gas CO2 concentration mechanism, Hydro. Process., Vol 61, No 10,
Ucarsol solvent has a payback that produced after the upgrade. More October 1982, 105-108.
9 Blanc C, Grall M, Demarais G, The Part
supports its use in their facilities. sour gas can be processed in the
Played by Degradation Products in the Corrosion
Through the end of 2012, the opera- gas treating system to a lower CO2
of Gas Sweetening Plants Using DEA and MDEA,
tor has upgraded 10 facilities and concentration, allowing more sour Laurence Reid Gas Conditioning Conference
continues to find opportunities to gas to be bypassed and blended to Proceedings, University of Oklahoma, Norman
upgrade additional facilities to meet pipeline gas specifications. OK, 1982.
Ucarsol solvent to reduce operating This increase in revenue was not 10 Kim C J, Sartori G, Kinetics and mechanism
costs. included in the operational cost of diethanolamine degradation in aqueous
The requirement and cost for the comparisons, but would further solutions containing carbon dioxide, Int. J. of
continuous addition of chemical reduce the operational costs and Chem. Eng. Prog., October 1984, 64-71.
additives (corrosion inhibitors and payback time. However, the results 11 American Petroleum Institute (API),
bicine “killer”) to control corrosion for another facility can vary widely, Avoiding Environmental Cracking in Amine
Units, API Recommended Practice 945, 1st Ed,
from DEA degradation products depending on the facility and
August 1990, American Petroleum Institute,
and bicine versus no chemical addi- equipment condition, sour gas, and
Washington, DC.
tives for the Ucarsol solvent was a many other conditions and factors. 12 Nielsen R B, Lewis K R, McCullough J G,
significant deciding factor for the The operator determined the Hansen D A, Controlling Corrosion in Amine
operator. The trial results and over payback for a new 300 gpm facility Treating Plants, Laurence Reid Gas Conditioning
18 months of operation indicating is 0.36 years and the payback for an Conference Proceedings, University of
non-detectable bicine and low iron existing 300 gpm facility is 1.7 Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 1995.
concentrations in the Ucarsol years. This cost evaluation is 13 Seagraves J Quinian M, Conley J,
solvent further justified the supported even when the estimates Fundamentals — Gas Sweetening, Laurence
upgrades for the operator. of higher antifoam and make-up Reid Gas Conditioning Conference Proceedings,
Foaming in Unit 1 with the rates are removed and maintenance University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK, 2010.
MDEA/DEA blend was an issue, corrosion costs eliminated, result-
especially when the system was ing in a payback of 0.55 years for a Robert L (Rob) Dotson is a Senior Gas
loaded heavily with sour gas feed. new 300 gpm facility. Conditioning Specialist with Dow Oil, Gas
This could have been seen as just a Evaluating the data collected & Mining, with over 32 years’ experience
result of the system/equipment during the two-month side-by-side designing, operating and managing world-
scale facilities in the chemical and oil and gas
design, since the two units in the trial shows the advantages of
industries. He provides technical consultation
trial were not identical; however, Ucarsol solvent over a MDEA/
for refineries, natural gas and unconventional
Unit 1 has performed better since DEA blend (see Table 6). gas treating facilities, natural gas liquids
upgrading to Ucarsol solvent for 18 (NGL) treating facilities and power plant CO2
months and is now treating up to capture (CCS) facilities around the world. He
110 MMscfd without significant holds a degree in chemical engineering from
foaming issues. Less severe foam- UCARSOL and UCARSEP are trademarks of The the University of Florida, and is a licensed
ing events have resulted in less Dow Chemical Company. Professional Engineer in Texas.

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