H2S scavenger

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Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is a very toxic and pungent gas that causes problems in both the upstream and
downstream oil and gas industry. The process of removing H2S is known as gas sweetening, by either iron sponge
H2S scrubbers (forming iron sulfide (/wiki/Iron_sulfide)) or chemical scavengers. Typical H2S scavengers used in
the oilfield are amine based chemicals[1]. They can be roughly categorized into regenerative and non-regenerative
H2S scavengers.

Contents
1 Regenerative H2S scavengers
1.1 Chemicals
1.2 Application processes
2 Non-regenerative H2S scavengers
2.1 Chemicals
2.2 Application processes
3 Lessons learned
4 Reference

Regenerative H2S scavengers

Chemicals
In large production facilities, the most economic solution to remove H2S in the gas process stream is to install a
regenerative system for treating the sour gas[2]. After absorbing the H2S, the chemical is then regenerated, usually
by heating and reused in the system. The separated H2S is treated by a modified Claus process
(/wiki/Claus_process) to form elemental sulfur.
Several types of amine solutions can be used as the absorbent depending on the sour gas specifications. Typical
amines are:
Monoethanolamine(MEA) (/wiki/Ethanolamine)
Diethanolamine (DEA) (/wiki/Diethanolamine)
N-methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) (/wiki/Methyl_diethanolamine)
Diisopropylamine (/wiki/Diisopropylamine)
Diglycolamine (DGA) (/wi/index.php?title=Diglycolamine_(DGA)&action=edit&redlink=1), also known as 2-(2-
aminoethoxy)ethanolamine
Most modern amine gas sweetening processes are MDEA-based, which typically only absorbs H2S. MEA, DEA and
DGA typically absorb other acid gases as well (i.e. CO2) besides H2S.

Application processes
Amine gas treating (/wiki/Amine_gas_treating) can be utilized to remove H2S in the gas stream.

Non-regenerative H2S scavengers

Chemicals
This type of scavenger can be divided
into the following categories[3]. Triazine
scavengers are the most commonly
used[4].

Triazine (/wiki/Triazine) - alkaline

and can cause carbonate scaling
Solid scavengers (generally zinc
or iron based materials)
Oxidizing chemicals (e.g. NaClO2,
NaBrO3, NaNO2, etc.) (/wiki/File:Triazine_isomers.png)
Triazine chemistries
 Aldehydes (/wi/index.php?title=Aldehydes&action=edit&redlink=1)
Glyoxal (/wiki/Glyoxal) - can be applied in neutral, acidic, and alkaline conditions. Glyoxal does not
increase scaling risk, but its reaction time is much slower than triazine.
Metal carboxylates and chelates
Both water and oil soluble high valence metal chelates have been used as H2S scavengers for treating
drilling fluids and contaminated water and oil streams.

Application processes
Non-generative H2S scavengers are typically applied via a in-
line injection quail to finely disperse the liquid chemical into the
gas stream to maximize reaction.
A contact tower can be used to improve efficiency if
weight/space is not a constraint.

Lessons learned
H2S scavenger increases the pH of the water and can
cause severe carbonate scale[5].
Over-reacted H2S scavenger can form polymeric sulfar
deposit[6].
Performance of H2S scavenger can be improved by
increasing resident time or adding a static mixer[7].
The dosage of H2S scavenger is calculated based on the
amount of sulfur to be removed.

Reference
1. ↑ Production chemicals for the oil and gas industry
2. ↑ M. Pandey, SPE, Oil and Natural Gas Corp. Ltd. ,
Process Optimization in Gas Sweetening Unit - A Case
Study, International Petroleum Technology Conference,
21-23 November 2005, Doha, Qatar
3. ↑ T. Salma, M.L. Briggs, Baker Petrolite; D.T. Herrmann, (/wiki/File:H2S_removal_tower.jpg)
E.K. Yelverton, British Petroleum , "Hydrogen Sulfide H2S scavenging with solid scavengers, which
Removal from Sour Condensate Using Non-Regenerable includes a loading manway on the top and a media
Liquid Sulfide Scavengers: A Case Study", SPE Rocky dump near the bottom. The solid scavenger media
Mountain Petroleum Technology Conference, 21-23 May is in the middle supported by a bed support system.
Sour gas (/wiki/Sour_gas) comes in from the top
2001, Keystone, Colorado
and goes out at the bottom as sweet gas.
4. ↑ Yaser K. Al-Duailej, Saleh H. Al-Mutairi, and Adel Y. Al-
Humaidan, SPE, Saudi Aramco Oil Company, "Evaluation
of Triazine-Based H2S Scavengers for Stimulation Treatments", SPE/DGS Saudi Arabia Section Technical
Symposium and Exhibition, 4-7 April 2010, Al-Khobar, Saudi Arabia
5. ↑ Meiliza Sumestry, SPE and Hendy Tedjawidjaja, PT Medco E&P Indonesia, " Case Study : Calcium
Carbonate Scale Inhibitor Performance Degradation due to H2S Scavenger Injection in Semoga Field", North
Africa Technical Conference and Exhibition, 20-22 February 2012, Cairo, Egypt
6. ↑ Susan R. Schieman / HCI Travis, Solids-Free HS Scavenger Improves Performance and Operational
Flexibility, SPE International Symposium on Oilfield Chemistry, 16-19 February 1999, Houston, Texas
7. ↑ J.G.R. Eylander, H.A. Holtman, Nederlandse Aardolie Maatschappij; T. Salma, M. Yuan, M. Callaway, J.R.
Johnstone, Baker Petrolite, The Development of Low-Sour Gas Reserves Utilizing Direct-Injection Liquid
Hydrogen Sulphide Scavengers, SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, 30 September-3 October
2001, New Orleans, Louisiana

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