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OVERVIEW
Gas Processing

In the past, natural gas was regarded as the fuel of choice for the future. Additional
Well, the future has arrived in North America. The result is a tight sup-
ply situation developing for natural gas on this continent.
Gas Processing
Technical Papers
Conventional sources of natural gas in North America are producing at
capacity. This summer, gas storage levels are low when compared with Available at the SPE e-Library:
Wichert prior years. New sources of future gas supply are in Alaska and the www.spe.org
Mackenzie Delta. To tap these sources will require the building of at least
two major pipelines, which may take 8 to 10 years to accomplish. • SPE 82139
Benefits of Using Deliquescing
Worldwide, natural gas is not in short supply. However, to transport gas from offshore Desiccants for Gas
sources to North America will require building new receipt terminals along the U.S. coast Dehydration
for liquefied natural gas (LNG) and expansion of the delivery system by ship. An innova-
tive idea for the temporary storage of offshore gas, delivered by LNG tankers, in salt cav- • SPE 80486
erns may be one way of enhancing the supply of LNG. Another novel idea is to transport In-House Design and
the gas from nearby offshore sources in pipes under high pressure onboard tankers. Over Modifications Improve
the next decade, the delivery of natural gas from offshore sources will likely be the fastest Sour-Gas Processing in an
growth of new supply of natural gas to North America. Indian Offshore Gas Field: A
Case History
On the processing side, all natural gas must be processed to meet strict sales-gas specifi-
cations. One process that all natural gas must undergo is dehydration. While glycol is the
most common process for dehydrating natural gas, it has the drawback of emitting vapors OTC papers available from
to the atmosphere. This drawback can be avoided by dehydration with a salt-based Linda Hall Library, Document
process. Dehydration of natural gas also can be done with molecular sieves. A new type of Services Phone: 1.800.662.1545
molecular sieve is now available for removing not only water vapor but also nitrogen or 1.816.363.4600
and/or carbon dioxide from natural gas. This technology makes it economically possible
to market indigenous sources of natural gas that require major treatment. JPT • OTC 15301
Offshore Transfer,
Edward Wichert, SPE, is an independent oil and gas industry consultant in Calgary and Regasification, and Salt-Dome
Adjunct Professor in the Dept. of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the U. of Storage of LNG
Calgary. His experience includes technical levels as well as management in drilling, oil and
gas production and processing, reservoir engineering, and economic analysis. Wichert has
published several articles dealing with determining the properties of sour gas and the
application of technology in sour-gas production, metering, and processing, as well as the
disposal of acid gas by compression and injection. His research interests are mainly relat-
ed to sour gas. Wichert holds a BS degree in petroleum engineering from the U.of Alberta
and an MS degree in chemical engineering from the U. of Calgary. He is a member of the
JPT Editorial Committee.

72 SEPTEMBER 2003