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Similar to the gas-sweetening process, the methyldiethanolamine (MDEA) liquid-sweetening process removes a considerable amount of methanol from a sour NGL (Natural Gas Liquid) stream. Moreover, if the methanol content of the sour NGL is high, the sweetened NGL may still retain high methanol content and can cause operational troubles in the downstream processes. Provisions of purging reflux (Water Draw) of the regenerator column and its replacement with “Fresh Water” can improve methanol recovery. [Keep reading]

Similar to the July 2016 TOTM, this tip will consider the presence of methanol in the sour NGL stream and determine the quantitative traces of methanol ending up in the sweet NGL, flash gas and acid gas streams. [Keep reading]

This tip will consider the presence of methanol in the sour gas stream and determine the quantitative traces of methanol ending up in the sweet gas, flash gas and acid gas streams. To achieve this, the tip simulates a simplified MDEA gas sweetening unit by computer. [Keep reading]

PetroSkills | John M Campbell’s May 2015 tip of the month (TOTM) presented a method which allows the users to estimate the decline of their adsorbent based on only one performance test run (PTR) for molecular sieve dehydrators using low pressure regeneration. This permits early formulation of a credible action plan. Site-specific factors will determines an adsorption unit’s decline curve. Consequently, conducting more than PTR is highly recommended. A poorly performing inlet separator, for example, could result in a unit exhibiting a more pronounced decline than indicated by the generic performance decline curves. [Keep reading]

This tip is the follow up of the previous tip (April 2016) which investigated the benefits of having a water-draw in a condensate stabilizer column. It will use a commercial simulation software to simulate the performance of an operating stabilizer. In order to take into account the non-ideality of water, the tip will perform three-phase (vapor, liquid hydrocarbon, and aqueous phases) calculations on the trays with excessive water rates. Specifically, it will study the influence of the column temperature profile and water partial pressure profile on the optimum location of water-draw tray in the column. It will also study the impact of the upstream 3-phase separator temperature on the reboiler, condenser, feed-stabilized condensate heat exchanger duties, and the reflux pump power. The tip will present a summary of the computer simulation results and the key diagrams for the same case study. [Keep reading]

This tip will investigate the benefits of having a water-draw in a condensate stabilizer. It will use a commercial simulation software to simulate the performance of an operating stabilizer. In order to take into account the non-ideality of water, the tip will perform three-phase (vapor, liquid hydrocarbon, and aqueous phases) calculations on the trays with excessive water rates. [Keep reading]