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Dehydration of Natural Gast

R. C.

MILTON

BUCHAN,*R. J. SULLIVAN,*
WILLIAMS,*

AND

H. H. SPAIN*

ABSTRACT
The dehydration of natural g a s in the field i s
discussed from the producers' standpoint. The need
for reducing the water content of g a s to eliminate
freezing in gas-lift systems and to meet the specifications imposed by g a s purchasers is winced out.
Dehydration of natural g a s h a s become a n e c e s s i t y in many fields in which high-pressure g a s i s
handled. When the water content of g a s is reduced
sufficiently, the clogging of l i n e s by hydrates and
i c e i s eliminated. Most g a s companies s p e c i f y a
low maximum water content which requires that t h e
producer remove a s u b s t a n t i a l amount of t h e water
naturally present. Oil producers using g a s for g a s
lift frequently find that i t i s e s s e n t i a l t o dehydrate
s u c h gas. T h e c o s t of dehydration equipment h a s
been high, but is being reduced as a r e s u l t of s t u d y
by operators and equipment manufacturers. T h e
operating c o s t i s low. Dehydration, as d i s c u s s e d
in t h i s paper, i s defined a s the removal of t h e liquid water a n d some of t h e water vapor, in order t o
reduce t h e dew point of t h e gas.
F r e e z i n g of g a s l i n e s , regulators, a n d c h o k e s in
the field h a s a l w a y s been a problem to s o m e extent.
When relatively low-pressure g a s s y s t e m s were
used, trouble w a s usually encountered only during
very cold weather. A s the p r e s s u r e s u s e d in g a s
s y s t e m s were increased to about 1,000 Ib, and a s
w e l l s having tubing p r e s s u r e s in e x c e s s of about
1,500 Ib were produced, freezing troubles i n c r e a s e d
considerably. Until about s i x or s e v e n y e a r s ago,
freezing w a s prevented by heating t o keep t h e temperature of the g a s above the hydrate-formation
point when p a s s i n g through regulators and chokes.
H e a t i n g did not prevent a l l freezing, particularly in
l i n e s downstream from regulator s t a t i o n s where the
g a s approached ground temperatures which were often below the hydrate-formation temperature. Ljanua l l y operated drips for the removal of condensed
water from low-pressure g a s l i n e s were frequently
i n s t a l l e d and were s a t i s f a c t o r y operating a i d s in
*Humble Oil and Refin~ngCompany, Houston.
+presented by R . C . Buchan at the sprlng meeting of the Southwestern District, Dlvision of Production, Dallas, March 1950.

Methods used for predicting trouble are presented.


The three principal dehydration methods in use
which involve the use of line traps, wet-type units,
and dry-t.we
- - - units are described: and the advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed.
many c a s e s . In some isolated i n s t a n c e s , alcohol
injected into g a s l i n e s economically re vented
clogging.
T h e first major ~ r o b l e m sin t h e Gulf C o a s t a r e a
were in fields where g a s from g a s w e l l s operating
a t p r e s s u r e s from 1,800 t o 2,000 p s i were produced
into gas-lift s y s t e m s operating a t p r e s s u r e s from
9 0 0 to 1,000 psi. H e a t e r s satisfactorily prevented
freezing through chokes and regulator s t a t i o n s , but
continuous trouble w a s experienced during four or
five months of the year; and considerable labor w a s
required t o remove hydrates from t h e gas-lift s y s tems and to produce gas-lift wells. T h i s led t o the
installation of wet-type g a s dehydrators using diethylene glycol as t h e absorbent.
In 1942 experimental work w a s s t a r t e d in Humble
Oil and Refining Company t o determine whether
s u i t a b l e d r i p s could be designed for handling s u c h
problems. In many c a s e s s u c h d e v i c e s were found
to b e f e a s i b l e and economical. L a t e r dry-type dehydrators were marketed ahd used, and provided a
third g e n e r a l method available t o producers.
Predicting Trouble
F i e l d experience showed' that h e a t i n g avoided
trouble whenever the g a s temperature could be
maintained above t h e hydrate point. T h i s w a s not
practical where long l i n e s or numerous l a t e r a l l i n e s
were in t h e s y s t e m , or where the g a s volumes
handled varied considerably, b e c a u s e in s u c h c a s e s
the temperature of the g a s remote from t h e heaterapproached t h e ground temperature which w a s frequently below the hydrate-formation temperature.
T h e factors pertinent t o the estimation of g a s
temperature a t a n y given point in a line are:
1. Temperature a t point of departure; i.e., a t t h e
w e l l head o r e x i t of the heater, whichever i s applicable. F o r convenience, t h e point of departure

Fig.

Texas and Louisiana

- Minimum Ground Temperatures at a Soil Depth of 18 in.

DEHYDRATION O F NATURAL GAS

is a s s u m e d in t h i s d i s c u s s i o n t o be t h e w e l l head.
2. Temperature of ground a t line depth.
3. Rate of g a s flow.
Although t h e temperature of g a s produced from a
well may sometimes be estimated from t h e depth of
the well, t h e bottom-hole temperature, and t h e flow
rate, i t is usually a d v i s a b l e t o determine t h i s temperature directly.
Fig. 1 i n d i c a t e s the minimum ground temperatures
t h a t can b e e x p e c t e d in T e x a s and L o u i s i a n a a t a
s o i l depth of 18 in. T h e d a t a upon which t h i s chart
i s based c o n s i s t e d of s c a t t e r e d measurements of
the a c t u a l ground temperature, supplemented by
atmospheric temperature d a t a , obtained from t h e
United S t a t e s Weather Bureau, combined with d a t a
on the relation of ground temperature t o atmospheric
temperature. T h e minimum ground temperature a t a
s o i l depth Af 36 in. i s ordinarily about 5 F. higher
than the temperatures indicated in Fig. 1.
After wellhead a n d ground temperatures have
been e s t a b l i s h e d , the g a s temperature a t a n y d i s t a n c e from t h e well head may be e s t i m a t e d by u s e of
F i g . 2. T h i s i s a chart which g i v e s t h e relation,
for various r a t e s of flow, between t h e g a s temperature a t a n y point along a line a n d the difference between g a s and ground temperatures. T h e r e l a t i o n s
utilized in Fig. 2 have been deduced from experimental d a t a from various s o u r c e s which embrace
r e s u l t s o n line s i z e s from 2 t o 22 in. Surprisingly,
the line s i z e is not a n important factor. Although
the effect of line pressure i s disregarded in Fig. 2,
pressure d o e s have a minor effect on the temperature-distance relation. E s t i m a t e s made by u s e of
Fig. 2 a r e reasonably c l o s e for g a s p r e s s u r e s of
a b o u t 1,500 psi. At higher p r e s s u r e s t h e line tem- ,
peratures e s t i m a t e d from t h e s e r e l a t i o n s may b e
s l i g h t l y low, a n d a t lower p r e s s u r e s they may be
somewhat high.
T h e s o l i d l i n e s of Fig. 2 are intended only t o
s e r v e a s guide lines. T o use the chart, a line para l l e l t o the guide line for t h e appropriate flow rate
i s drawn through t h e point on the ordinate corresponding t o t h e e x p e c t e d or a c t u a l difference in
temperature between wellhead g a s a n d ground a t
line level. If it i s n e c e s s a r y t o interpolate between
t h e various flow r a t e s for which guide l i n e s a r e
shown, a linear interpolation may b e made between
'the i n t e r c e p t s on a n y grid l i n e s parallel t o the
a b s c i s s a . T h e r e l a t i o n s of Fig. 2 a r e for s t a b i l i z e d '
conditions of flow. It should b e borne in mind that
a s much as s e v e r a l d a y s may b e required for s t a bilization of temperature.
T h e use of Fig. 2 is illustrated by a n example
in which the difference between wellhead tempera-

Fig.

- Chart

for Estimating Temperature Drop


Along Gas L i n e s

ture and ground temperature a t line depth i s assumed t o b e 5 0 F., and in which t h e flow rate is
assumed t o be 3 MMcf per day. From the point on
t h e ordinate corresponding t o the temperature differe n c e , a dotted line is drawn parallel t o t h e guide
line for a r a t e of 3 MMcf per day. T h e dotted line
s h o w s the relation between temperature difference
a t any point and d i s t a n c e from well head for the
conditions assumed.
Fig. 2 h a s been very useful for predicting temperatures in s y s t e m s and for s e l e c t i n g the s i t e of a
dehydrator or h e a t e r s where a wide choice of locations i s possible.
F i g . 3 p r e s e n t s d a t a published by D. L. K a t z ' of
t h e University of Michigan for the prediction of
temperatures and p r e s s u r e s under which g a s e s of
various d e n s i t i e s form hydrates. In t h i s graph the
a r e a above- any particular curve r e p r e s e n t s t h e temperature-pressure region in which hydrates c a n
e x i s t , provided there is sufficient water present,
and the a r e a below the curve r e p r e s e n t s the region
in which hydrates cannot exist. T h e d a t a u s e d in
'References are at the end of the paper.

BUCHAN, SULLIVAN, WILLIAMS, AND SPAIN

10

TEMPERATURE OF

Fig.

Katr' C u r v e s for Predicting Hydrate


Formation

making t h e s e c u r v e s were equilibrium d a t a and


take no cognizance of unstable conditions under
which hydrates f a i l t o form b e c a u s e of lack of agitation, or b e c a u s e of the a b s e n c e of other condit i o n s conducive t o hydrate formation.
Fig. 4 , from the paper b y D. L. Katz, s h o w s the
maximum reduction in pressure which c a n be taken
without freezing in choking g a s e s under various
conditions of temperature and pressure. T h e d a t a
of Fig. 4 were derived from Katz' hydrate d a t a and
information on t h e reduction of temperature in g a s e s
during choking. T h i s figure i s useful in t h e d e s i g n
of mechanical dehydration installations, but should
be u s e d only in those c a s e s in which the g a s i s
choked or throttled.
G a s may contain water as water vapor, or as
water vapor p l u s liquid water. T h e maximum amount
of water vapor which a g a s can contain i s c a l l e d
i t s water-vapor c a p a c i t y and d e p e n d s on t h e press u r e and temperature of the gas. T h e higher t h e
temperature and t h e lower the pressure, t h e greater
i s the water-vapor capacity. T h e composition of t h e
g a s may a l s o affect the water-vapor capacity, but
t h i s effect i s usually s m a l l and may b e neglected
in most c a s e s .
T h e dependence of water-vapor c a p a c i t y on press u r e a n d temperature is shown in Fig. 5. In t h i s
figure, t h e water-vapor c a p a c i t y is plotted a g a i n s t

p r e s s u r e for s e v e r a l different temperatures. T h e


water-vapor c a p a c i t y i s e x p r e s s e d in terms of gallons of liquid water per million cubic f e e t of g a s at
s t a n d a r d conditions.
T o determine the water-vapor capacity of a g a s
a t a given pressure and temperature by the u s e of
Fig. 5, it i s n e c e s s a r y only t o l o c a t e t h e inters e c t i o n of t h e l i n e s representing g a s p r e s s u r e and
temperature, then t o read the water-vapor c a p a c i t y
from t h e horizontal projection t o t h e ordinate of
t h i s point. T h u s , for example, the water-vapor
c a p a c i t y of a g a s a t 2,000 p s i and 100 F. i s found
t o be a b o u t 4.6 g a l per million cubic feet. U s u a l l y
more d e t a i l e d c h a r t s than Fig. 5 a r e used when
s t u d y i n g water content.
I t i s important t o distinguish between t h e watervapor c a p a c i t y of a g a s and i t s a c t u a l w a t e r content. T h e water-vapor capacity, as s h o C n previously, i s fixed by temperatures and pressure. T h e water
content, however, i s not. T h e water content may be:
1, e q u a l t o the water-vapor capacity of t h e g a s
when the g a s i s s a i d t o be a t i t s dew point; 2, l e s s
than the water-vapor c a p a c i t y when the g a s i s s a i d
t o be undersaturated with r e s p e c t t o water vapor;
or, 3? greater than the water-vapor capacity. In the
10~000

8 000
6000

4000

2000

Q
a
VI
W

I
3

too0

800

600

Z
400

200

Flnd ontt801 pressure on ordlnote,


f l n ~ lpre5.lure on absclo.lo

T e m p e r ~ t u r e corrsrpondmnq to tnot
polnt 8s the rnlnlmum #ntllal
t e m p e r ~ l u r e l o prevent freerrnq

100
100

200

400

600

BOO I 0 0 0

FINAL PRESSURE

2000

PSlA

Fig. 4
Katz' C u r v e s for P e r m i s s i b l e Expansion
of a 0.6 Gravity Natural G a s without Hydrate
Formation

DEHYDRATION O F NATURAL GAS

11

latter c a s e , the e x c e s s of water over t h a t corresponding t o the water-vapor c a p a c i t y i s p r e s e n t as


liquid water.
After the g a s producer h a s determined the temperature of g a s a t the w e l l or downstream from a
heater by the u s e of Fig. 1 through 5, he c a n pred i c t whether a problem will develop; and, if s o ,
exactly the location and severity of the problem.
After a few hours of study, he should be a b l e to
s e l e c t a method of coping with s u c h a problem.

The U s e of Line Traps


T r a p s or d r i p s installed in g a s l i n e s t o c o l l e c t
liquid water have been in use for many years. De-

Fig.

- Experimental Gas-hydration Unit

a t wellhead pressure, then p a s s e s through a s e c o n d


trap where water which had condensed out during
t h e cooling procedure i s removed. T h e cool g a s i s
warmed somewhat by p a s s i n g through the s h e l l of
the first heat-exchange s e c t i o n , then i s expanded
through a choke to a pressure only slightly higher
than that prevailing in the g a s system. S i n c e the
water content of the expanding g a s i s low, no
freezing o c c u r s a t the choke. T h e cooling which
accomphnies t h i s expansion i s utilized t o cool
the incoming g a s by p a s s i n g the g a s emerging from
t h e choke through the s h e l l of the s e c o n d heatexchange section. From the s h e l l of the heat exchanger, the g a s p a s s e s through a regulator into
the g a s system.
T h e d a t a in T a b l e 1 show the normal operating
conditions and r e s u l t s obtained with t h i s type of
unit.
It i s evident from T a b l e 1 that the g a s processed
under the operating conditions shown w a s unders a t u r a t e d with r e s p e c t t o water vapor when i t entered the field g a s system. T h e dew point of t h e
processed g a s w a s 40 F.
Table 1
Data on Experimental T r a p Installation

Fig.

PRESSURE

LBS PER SO IN

Water-vapor
Capacity of Natural Gas
. .-

v i c e s for automatically bleeding the water from


t r a p s were first u s e d more than 50 y e a r s ago. A
relatively recent development i s t h e u s e of t r a p s '
d e s i g n e d t o utilize the variation in water-vapor
c a p a c i t y a t different p r e s s u r e s and temperatures t o
effect dehydration.
F i g . 6 i s a s c h e m a t i c diagram of a n experimental unit, which i l l u s t r a t e s how t h e s e differe n c e s c a n b e utilized.
G a s i s flowed from well head t o a l i n e trap where
all water p r e s e n t a s liquid i s removed. L e a v i n g t h e
trap, t h e g a s p a s s e s thtough the heat e x c h a n g e r s
where i t i s cooled. T h e cold g a s , s t i l l practically

Polnt
Cons~dered
Reservoir
Well Head
Entrance to
first t r a p

Watervapor
Water C o n t e n t
P r e s - Temper- C a p a c i t y (Gal per MMcf)
sure
ature
(Gal per , -A- ,
(PSI) (Deg F . ) MMcf)
Vapor Liquid

1,900
1,500

127
74

9.8
2.5

9.8
2.5

0
7.3

1,500

70

2.2

2.2

7.6

E x i t from
first t r a p

1,500

70

2.2

2.2

Entrance to
second trap

1,500

50

1.1

1.1

1.1

E x i t from.
s e c o n d trap

1,500

50

1.1

1.1

875

60

2.4

1.1 ,

Entrance t o
field s y s t e m

12

BUCHAN, SULLIVAN, WILLIAMS, AND SPAIN

I
In order t o a d a p t t h e equipment t o fluctuating demand and t o make i t s operation entirely automatic,
various controls were incorporated. A back-pressure
regulator w a s u s e d for throttling the g a s in lieu of
a positive choke, and a temperature limiter w a s ins t a l l e d to prevent the temperature in the s e c o n d
trap from becoming too low. When the temperature
dropped below a n y d e s i r e d value, t h e b a c k-pressure
regulator w a s opened automatically, allowing the
temperature in the trap t o r i s e t o normal operating
temperature. Liquid from t h e two t r a p s w a s dumped
automatically.
T o obtain optimum r e s u l t s from traps, it i s des i r a b l e that the pressure be a s high a s f e a s i b l e and
t h a t the temperature be a t , or near, the hydrateformation temperature in the line trap.
If no e x c e s s i v e turbulence i s expected, p a s t
experience h a s indicated that the g a s temperature
a t the trap may b e permitted to b e about 10 F.
below the hydrate point. T h e r e may be e x c e p t i o n s
where g a s p r e s s u r e s a r e higher than 2,500 psi. G a s
a t high pressure apparently f r e e z e s a t temperatures
c l o s e r to the hydrate point than d o e s g a s a t moderate pressures.
It i s good practice to avoid e x c e s s i v e turbulence
a t a l l points in the g a s system, both upstream and
downstream from the line trap. It i s often n e c e s s a r y
to heat the g a s which h a s been p r o c e s s e d by t h e
trap, if the g a s must undergo a n appreciable reduction in pressure s u c h a s that occurring in a choke
or regulator.
Wherever p o s s i b l e s w a g s and r i s e r s in the flow
line should be avoided. F i e l d experience s h o w s
that t h e e x i s t e n c e of s u c h s p o t s i s conducive to
freezing.
There i s some uncertainty a s t o the effect of t h e
amount of liquid water in a g a s on i t s tendency t o
form hydrates. Although there i s no obvious theor e t i c a l r e a s o n t o account for it, some field experie n c e h a s indicated t h a t t h e more liquid there i s in
a g a s , the more likely it i s to freeze a t low tern,
perature under high pressure. R e g a r d l e s s of whether
t h i s i s true or not, it i s s t i l l good practice t o remove a s much liquid water a s p o s s i b l e in order
that, if freezing d o e s occur, the severity of the
f r e e z e will be minimized.
After studying the individual problem, i t i s apparent that a n operator c a n adopt p r a c t i c e s and u s e
-auxiliary equipment t o a i d in obtaining the optimum
from line traps. In some c a s e s w e l l s can be flowed
intermittently a t a higher rate t o make u s e of higher
natural temperatures in the system. Where pressure
conditions permit, w e l l s can be partially choked
ahead of the trap in order t o use the cooling effect

'

of the expanding g a s t o obtain optimum temperatures in t h e trap. H e a t exchangers can b e used, a s


and where needed, t o heat or cool the gas. In some
i n s t a n c e s h e a t e r s located downstream from the
trap, but a h e a d of the meters and regulator s t a t i o n s ,
a r e needed to prevent freezing a t t h e s e points of
turbulence.
Fig. 7 i l l u s t r a t e s one of t h e more r e c e n t t y p e s of
automatic line trap. T h e gas-liquid mixture e n t e r s
t h e upper chamber a n d i s separated. T h e liquid
flows to the lower chamber where it i s s e p a r a t e d
into water and liquid hydrocarbons s o that the
water can be bled and the liquid hydrocarbons can
be returned t o the g a s stream either immediately or
downstream from the regulator or meter stations.
T h i s particular device u s e s a highly s e n s i t i v e
means for bleeding the accumulated water. T h e
same device i s a d a p t a b l e for use in removing a l l
liquids that accumulate in the lower chamber. T h i s
type of d e v i c e a l s o l e n d s itself t o an operation in
which t h e water i s removed ahead of the conventional gas-oil separator and permits the operation
of the gas-oil separator a t very low temperatures in
order t o obtain gas-oil separations a t lower temperatures.

Fig. 7

Automatic Line Trap

T h e principal function of line traps is to remove


t h e liquid water, but they can a l s o be used t o reduce the amount of water vapor to obtain a n unders a t u r a t e d condition of the g a s downstream.

Wettype Dehydrators
Until r e c e n t l y practically a l l wet-type dehydrators were installed in conjunction with gasoline
plants or in central locations where a relatively
large volume of gathered g a s i s processed. T a b l e 2

DMYDRATION O F NATURAL GAS

13

Table 2
Dehydration

Drying Agent

P lants

Rated
Rated
Volume
Working Capacity Operating Processed
(MMcf
Pressure ( M M C ~ Pressure
(psi)
per day)
(psi)
per day)

Average
Operating
Temperature
(Deg F.)

Average
Water
Dew Point
Content of
Obtained
Treated Gas Installed
(Deg F.) ( L b per MMcf)
Cost

Vet-type Dehydrators:
Diethylene glycol
Diethylene glycol
D i e t h ~ l e n eglycol
D i e t h ~ l e n eg l y c o l

900
1,200
1,500
1,000

100
12
20
50*

830
960
805
740

50.0
11.O
22 .O
46.0

94
93
80
77

24
34
12
34

6.0
8.0
3.6
9.5

$116,827
26,550
55,021
%,399

13
-5
16
8
15

3.3
1.9
3.4
6.4
4.4

....

33,764
39,642
47,264
48,002
49,914
38,387

1.4
1.3

70,000
30,100

Dry-type Dehydrators:
F l o r i te
Florite
Florite
Florite
Florite
A c t i v a t e d alumina

1,500
840
1,500
500
800
1,500

Activated alumina
S i l i c a gel b e a d s

800
1,000

Not yet
determined

- 10
-10

T h i s plant i s d e s i g n e d in such a way that i t s c a p a c i t y c a n be i n c r e a s e d to 100 MMcf by an e s t i m a t e d additional i n v e s t m e n t of $30,000.

s h o w s some of t h e e a r l i e r wet-type p l a n t s i n s t a l l e d ,
the operating conditions, and r e s u l t s obtained.
About a year a g o one manufacturer a d a p t e d t h e
p r i n c i p l e s u s e d in t h e s e p l a n t s t o the manufacture
and operation of lower-capacity u n i t s t o handle
s m a l l e r volume^,^ with the r e s u l t that an i n c r e a s ing number of wet-type dehydrators a r e being installed.
-.

..:

.L

, ,.

Fig. 8

..vrn/

::

I., " I -I

CL

,rr>.

rc

be varied considerably and s t i l l g i v e s a t i s f a c t o r y


r e s u l t s . It i s d e s i r a b l e t h a t the temperature of t h e
g a s t o be dehydrated be a s low a s p o s s i b l e ; the
b e s t all-around operating temperature i s about 75

,ma-

- Glycol-type Gas-hydration U n i t

F i g . 8 i s a diagrammatic s k e t c h s h o w i n g the
method of operating a t y p i c a l wet-type dehydrator.
F i g . 9 i s a photograph of s u c h a plant which proce s s e s 20 to 25 hlMcf per day. T h e g a s t o be dehyd r a t e d i s p a s s e d through the diethylene g l y c o l or
other liquid a b s o r b e n t in the absorption tower.
D i e t h y l e n e g l y c o l i s continuously c i r c u l a t e d through
a heater a n d a tower to drive off the w a t e r and a n y
absorbed g a s e s . T h e d e s i g n of t h i s dehydrator c a n

Fig.

Wet-type Gas Dehydrator

F. T h e a b s o r b e r p r e s s u r e i s a variable which aff e c t s t h e r e s u l t s obtained. T h e optimum p r e s s u r e


i s 700 t o 800 p s i when d i e t h y l e n e glycol i s u s e d ,
and a b o u t 1,000 p s i when triethylene glycol i s u s e d .
At lower operating p r e s s u r e s , s u c h a s 250 p s i , t h e
w a t e r content of t h e treated g a s i s approximately

14

BUCHAN, SULLIVAN, VILLIAMS, AND SPAIN

2%t i m e s t h a t obtained a t 750 psi, a s s u m i n g a l l other


v a r i a b l e s a r e kept constant. Increasing t h e p r e s s u r e
above the optimum d o e s not appreciably reduce the
amount of water in the dehydrated gas. L i t t l e work
h a s been done t o indicate the maximum p r e s s u r e
which i s f e a s i b l e in wet-type dehydrators, but it i s
probably above 1,500 psi. T h e rate a t which t h e
absorbent i s circulated i s another variable that aff e c t s r e s u l t s , and the circulating rate usually u s e d
v a r i e s from 1 0 0 to 200 g a l per n ~ i l l i o ncubic feet.
T h e average dew point lowering obtainable in pres e n t ~ l a n t si s 4 0 t o 5 0 F. However, it h a s b e e n
noted in individual c a s e s t h a t a better r e s u l t i s
obtainable. T h e circulating rate and the heating
f a c i l i t i e s used should be s u c h that the glycol in
the absorbent c o n t a i n s a s little water a s p o s s i b l e ,
i.e., it should contain not more than about 2 percent water, e v e n though many plants operate s a t i s factorily with a s much as 5 percent water.
Indirect h e a t e r s have been used in t h e s e p l a n t s ,
i.e., s t e a m or Dowtherm baths which provide temperatures in a range from 3 0 0 t o 4 5 0 F. Direct
heaters, some of which have the s t i l l mounted on
top, appear s a t i s f a c t o r y and a r e being used more
widely.
T h e installed c o s t of wet-type plants h a s been
fairly high, particularly in the larger plants. Rec e n t d e v e l o p n ~ e n t s indicate t h a t triethylene glycol
i s a much better absorbent than diethylene glycol
for this use.3 It i s probable t h a t by using triethyle n e glycol p r e s e n t plants using diethylene glycol
c a n be improved considerably, and new installat i o n s made in t h e future will be somewhat l e s s expensive a s a r e s u l t of the u s e of a better absorbent.
Wet-type dehydrators used in the p a s t have done
an a c c e p t a b l e job using d i e t h ~ l e n eglycol; and with
improvement it i s p o s s i b l e that they could s a t i s f y
a majority of the requirements where the u s e of
traps d o e s not give sufficiently low dew points, or
where extremely low dew points a r e unnecessary.
B e s i d e s the u s e of better absorbents, current development work on absorber design and on s t i l l
design should r e s u l t in better operation and higher
c a p a c i t i e s a t lower installation c o s t s .
Dry-bed Type Dehydrator
In the p a s t s e v e r a l y e a r s dry-bed dehydrators
have been a d a p t e d t o the oil-field problem. T h e
method used, shown diagrammatically in Fig. 10,
c o n s i s t s of p a s s i n g g a s to be dehydrated through a
bed of mineral having the capacity t o a b s o r b the
water v a p o r - p r e s e n t until the mineral h a s absorbed
a n amount of water e q u a l to about 5 percent of i t s
weight. T w o absorption towers are used; and while

one i s in operation, t h e other i s being regenerated.


Regeneration i s accomplished by beating a s m a l l
volume of g a s taken from the main stream, p a s s i n g
i t through the tower, then through a heat e x c h a n g e r
and separator t o remove liquid water. T h e g a s u s e d
for regeneration i s then recombined a h e a d of t h e
absorption tower in operation a s the dehydrator.
F l o r i t e , a c t i v a t e d alumina, and s i l i c a g e l have
b e e n u s e d a s drying agents. Activated alumina h a s
given s l i g h t l y better r e s u l t s with r e s p e c t t o capacity, but F l o r i t e apparently w i t h s t a n d s attrition
better. Neither i s s a t i s f a c t o r y for u s e where g a s
temperatures a r e above 1 0 0 F. In s u c h c a s e s s i l i c a
g e l in t h e form of b e a d s i s recommended, and i t
a p p e a r s p o s s i b l e t o allow t h i s mineral t o a b s o r b
about 7.5 percent water before regeneration. T h e
time c y c l e of a b s o r b e r s in operation c a n be varied
provided i t s t a y s within the c a p a c i t y of e a c h tower.
Dew p o i n t s a s low a s -10 F. a r e frequently obtained; and in t h i s r e s p e c t dry-bed type dehydrators
a r e outstanding. T a b l e 2 s h o w s some of the dry-

Fig. 10

Solid-dessicant Type Dehydration Unit

bed u n i t s in u s e , the operating conditions, and t h e


r e s u l t s obtained.
Fig. 11 i s a photograph of a dry-bed unit opera t i n g a t a compressor plant t o handle g a s which
originated a s low-pressure l e a s e g a s gathered and
compressed to 9 5 0 psi. T h e temperature of t h e g a s
leaving the compressors i s 220 F.; and a radiatorfan type g a s cooler i s u s e d t o reduce t h i s t o a
r e a s o n a b l e temperature. T h i s r e s u l t s in a g a s tem' perature varying from about 9 0 t o 110 F. It w a s
found that, when the g a s temperature w a s 1 1 0 F.,
6.5 LlLlcf per d a y could not be properly dehydrated
in the unit which had a rated c a p a c i t y of 1 0 RlMcf
per d a y a t 7 0 F. T h e a c t i v a t e d alumina bed w a s
replaced with s i l i c a gel beads. When treating 6.5
hlhlcf per d a y a t 95 t o 1 0 0 F., a -10 F. dew point
g a s i s obtained by the u s e of the s i l i c a g e l bed.
T h e installed c o s t of dry-bed u n i t s i s approximately the s a m e or s l i g h t l y higher than the wettype dehydrator using diethylene glycol a s t h e absorbent. Dry-bed units lend t h e m s e l v e s readily t o

DMYDRATION OF NATURAL GAS


d e s i g n for p r e s s u r e s up t o 2,000 p s i and higher.
T h e s e u n i t s have not been in s e r v i c e long enough
to obtain a c c u r a t e operating c o s t s . However, i t
should be approximately 0.001 t o 0.002 c e n t s per
thousand cubic feet, which includes replacement
c o s t of mineral a n d t h e fuel consumed for regeneration. T h e mineral life will vary with conditions,
but i t should be from one to four years, provided
t h e mineral i s not abused.
Dry-bed u n i t s have reached a high level of development, but i t i s thought that continued s t u d y
a n d development a r e desirable to reduce t h e ins t a l l e d c o s t of thib equipment and t o improve the
r e s u l t s obtained. One s u c h r e c e n t development i s a
radial-flow type absorber tower,4 which h a s a n advantage over a conventional down-flow tower in that
a n y liquids entering the dehydrator can b e removed

15

g a s i s low enough to have adequate water-carrying


capacity.
A r e c e n t installation of rob able interest i s an
operation in an E a s t T e x a s field. T h e production
from e a c h condensate well is p a s s e d through a
corn bination water-knockout-gas-oil
separator t o
divide t h e stream i n t o water, liquid hydrocarbons,
a n d gas. T h e g a s , after metering, i s dehydrated for
transmission through a pipe line 8 miles long. T h e
liquid hydrocarbons from the separator are recombined downstream from t h e g a s dehydrator and a c company the g a s to a g a s o l i n e plant located-in t h e
s e c o n d field. T h i s s y s t e m w a s s e l e c t e d after cons i d e r a b l e study. In view of t h e f a c t that the opera t i n g conditions of the pipe line indicated that hydrate formations should be expected, t h e threep h a s e separation a h e a d of the dehydrator w a s
s e l e c t e d to eliminate t h e n e c e s s i t y for pumping the
oil back into t h e line if t h e water and oil were bled
together and dehydrated t o pipe-line oil.
T h e knowledge gained in t h e g a s d e h y d r a t i n g
s c i e n c e i s being carried into the oil-treating and
gas-oil separation s c i e n c e . In some c a s e s it i s
f e a s i b l e to remove water in t r a p s operating a t well
p r e s s u r e s , then carry out gas-oil separation a t low
temperature. T h e low-temperature s e p a r a t i o n s inc r e a s e the relative volume of liquid hydrocarbons
recovered. Usually, t h e liquid in t h e bottom of t h e
s e p a r a t o r must be heated to insure proper functioning of liquid dump v a l v e s on the separator.

CONCLUSION
Fig. 11

- Dry-bed Type Gas Dehydrator

before they have a harmful effect on the bed. Better


dehydration and e a s i e r regeneration should be poss i b l e , a s w e l l a s reduction of pressure drops through
t h e mineral. T h e u s e of horizontal absorbers h a s
not been a d e q u a t e l y investigated. Some additional
study is d e s i r a b l e t o improve the heating and cooling procedures during regeneration. F a s t e r heating,
for example, may be t h e a n s w e r t o t h e problem of
exposing the mineral to liquid water during the regeneration cycle.
Combination Units
In some i n s t a n c e s combination u n i t s may have
advantages. F o r example, if a dry-bed unit is ins t a l l e d a n d t h e volume of g a s t o be dehydrated exc e e d s t h e capacity of the installation, some of the
g a s can by-pass the dehydration plant, if liquid
water i s removed, and be recombined with dehydrated g a s provided the dew point of t h e dehydrated

E a c h of the three general methods of dehydration


d i s c u s s e d h a s a d v a n t a g e s and disadvantages, a n d
e a c h i s applicable t o certain problems. T h e line
trap h a s the advantage of simplicity and low ins t a l l a t i o n and operating c o s t s , but i t h a s a limited
application. T h e wet-type dehydrator will usually
be cheaper to i n s t a l l and operate than the dry-rype
unit; however, t h e wet-type unit may not reduce t h e
water content sufficiently t o meet a l l s a l e s contracts. T h e dry-type dehydrator i s h i g h e s t in c o s t ,
but can obtain the lowest water content. T h e r e i s a
need for considerable further s t u d y t o provide better
methods of dehydrating g a s , a s well a s to develop
better d e s i g n s of equipment to utilize the present
methods. E a c h dehydration -problem should be
s t u d i e d carefully before s e l e c t i n g a method and
equipment. T h e major factors which must be taken
into account a r e volume, pressure, temperature, and
the dew point required in view of the local temperature conditions or requirements imposed by g a s
purchasers.

16

BUCHAN, SULLIVAN, WILLIAMS, AND SPAIN


ACKNOWLEDGMENT

T h e kind permission of t h e Humble Oil and Refining Company t o publish t h i s paper i s appreciated.
REFERENCES
Katz, D. L: Prediction of Conditions for Hydrate Formation in Natural Gases, T r a n s . A m . I n s t . M a n a n g M e t .
Engrs. (Petroleum Development and Technology),lbO,

140-149 (1945).

Lawrence, L. L - and Reid, L. S: Gas Dehydration at


the Well Head, W o r ld O t 1 , 129 [2], 156, 158-159, June
(1949).

Porter, J. A. and Reid, L. S: Vapor-llquid Equilibrium


Data on the System Natural Gas-water-triethylene glycol
at Various Temperatures and Pressures, (T.P. 2 8 4 8 )
Trans. Am. Inst. Manrng Met. Engrs. (Petroleum D e v e l o p m e n t a n d T e c h n o l o g y ) 189, 235-240 (1950).
4

Francis, A. W., Jr.; and hlaher, J . L: Automatic Package Ilnits for Gas Dehydration, presented at meetlng of
Natural Gas Association of Amerlca, Amarillo, Texas,
December 9, 1949.
DISCUSSION

B. Re Koehler (Sun Oil Company, Beaumont,


T e x a s ) : T h i s paper i s of timely importance. T h e
authors have done an e x c e l l e n t job in i t s preparation.
T h e information presented regarding the method
of predicting temperatures in g a s l i n e s i s very in, teresting. It should offer a useful method for e s t i mation of temperatures in g a s s y s t e m s , for predicting hydrate trouble, or for s e l e c t i n g locations for
h e a t e r s or traps. However, i t a p p e a r s that it could
be s u b j e c t to considerable error a s s u c h factors a s
kind of s o i l , moisture content of the s o i l , and type
of line coating a r e not considered.
T h e information presented on the use of line
traps and the u s e of wet- a n d dry-type units to dehydrate g a s i s good and i s well summarized.
T h i s d i s c u s s i o n will be concerned with the drybed or solid-desiccant type of dehydration unit by
relating Sun Oil Company's experience. with u n i t s
of t h i s type installed in i t s Gulf C o a s t division.
In August 1948, our company p l a c e d i n s e r v i c e
two dry-bed dehydration u n i t s in difierent a r e a s
south of Beaumont, T e x a s on s y s t e m s delivering
g a s for s a l e t o a pipeline operating a t a pressure
of 700 t o 800 psi. T h e purchaser required dehydration of the g a s t o 7 Ib of water per million cubic
feet of gas.
T h e dehydration u n i t s are automatic packaged
t y p e s and a r e rated a t 1,000 p s i working pressure.
T h e smaller unit h a s a rated capacity of 1 0 hlhlcf
per day, a n d the larger one a rated capacity of 35
MMcf per d a y , when operated a t a pressure of 8 0 0

p s i and a temperature of 70 F. T h e d e s i c c a n t mater i a l u s e d in both units w a s a c t i v a t e d alumina. Indirect-type steam-bath heaters a r e u s e d for h e a t i n g
t h e regeneration gas. T h e installed c o s t of t h e
smaller unit w a s $19,551, a n d the c o s t of the
larger $41,189. T h e s e c o s t s s e e m to be somewhat
l e s s than t h o s e for u n i t s of comparable c a p a c i t y
and working pressure l i s t e d by the authors.
T h e 10-hlilcf per d a y unit h a s been in s e r v i c e
for a period of approximately 19 months without a n y
apparent operating trouble. Average g a s dew points
of 0 F. or lower a r e s t i l l being obtained. T h e unit
h a s operated a t r a t e s varying from 1.75 Mklcf per
d a y t o 8.5 ~ ~ c f ' day,
~ e but
r h a s never b e e n loaded
over i t s rated capacity.
T h e 35-i\.lhlcf c a p a c i t y unit h a s been operated a t
r a t e s varying from approximately 1 3 hlhlcf per day
to a maximum of 3 7 RIXIcf per day. It operated continuously a t t h e 37-MMcf rate, which i s s l i g h t l y in
e x c e s s of i t s rated capacity, for a period of 3
w e e k s during J u l y 1949. In November 1949, a f t e r
the unit had been in s e r v i c e for approximately 1 5
months, i t became n e c e s s a r y t o replace the d e s i c c a n t because of e x c e s s i v e l y high dew points.
Water content as high a s 15 t o 18 Ib per million
cubic feet w a s being obtained toward t h e end of the
drying cycles. T h e s p e n t d e s i c c a n t w a s removed
and replaced with new d e s i c c a n t material. New
a c t i v a t e d alumina w a s placed in one tower and
F l o r i t e in the other. D a t a a r e being accumulated in
order to e s t a b l i s h the efficiency and relative merits
of a c t i v a t e d alumina a n d F l o r i t e for u s e a s drying
agents. T h e water removed from e a c h tower during
each regeneration L ycle i s dumped into a tank where
i t is measured. A record is kept of the amount of
water recovered from e a c h tower. Such a record,
kept over a period of time, should e n a b l e u s t o
e v a l u a t e t h e different materials as d e s i c c a n t s . Also,
i t e n a b l e s u s t o e s t i m a t e the water content of the
p r o c e s s e d g a s to check a g a i n s t t h e content determined by dew-point t e s t a p p a r a t u s . T h i s i s p o s s i b l e
s i n c e t h e water content of t h e g a s entering the dehydrator can be determined fairly accurately b) u s e
of water-capacity c u r v e s s u c h a s t h o s e mentioned
by the authors.
Over the p a s t two months the water recovery on a
per million cubic foot b a s i s from the towers containing t h e different d e s i c c a n t materials h a s been
e s s e n t i a l l y the same.
Laboratory t e s t s run on t h e s p e n t d e s i c c a n t mater i a l s removed from t h e unit indicated that i t s maximum absorptive c a p a c i t y w a s s l i g h t l y l e s s than 2
percent of i t s dry weight. Washing with various
agents, s u c h a s carbon tetrachloride, ether, ben-

DEHYDRATION O F NATURAL GAS


zine, methanol, or dilute hydrochloric a c i d , and
s u b s e q u e n t regenerating a t temperatures ranging
from 3 5 0 to 6 0 0 F. failed to r e a c t i v a t e t h e d e s i c c a n t materially. It i s our opinion that the l o s s of
absorptive capacity w a s due, to fouling of the d e s i c c a n t c a u s e d by an increasing amount of high
boiling point hydrocarbons being l e f t on the d e s i c c a n t surface after e a c h s u c c e s s i v e regeneration.
Soon after replacing the d e s i c c a n t in t h e dehydrator, i t w a s found n e c e s s a r y to do certain other
remedial work on the unit in order t o keep the dew
point of the g a s low enough t o meet s a l e s qualifications. T h e 4-in. double-seated motor v a l v e s controlling t h e flow of g a s from one tower t o the other
by a time-cycle controller were replaced with &in.
high-capacity single-seated v a l v e s of a new type.
T h e double-seated v a l v e s had been leaking, thereby allowing some of t h e hot regeneration g a s ,
which w a s very high in water content, to leak into
the dried g a s stream leaving the dehydrator.
A t the s a m e time t h e v a l v e s were changed, t h e
s i z e of the s t a c k on t h e regeneration heater w a s inc r e a s e d in diameter from 8 t o 12 in. and the pop
valve w a s replaced with one of higher pressure
s e t t i n g in order that the heater could be operated a t
i t s full rated working pressure of 3 0 0 psi. Enlargi n g the s t a c k and r a i s i n g the operating pressure of
t h e regeneration g a s heater i n c r e a s e d i t s output
from approximately 500,000 Btu per hour t o 600,000
Btu per hour; and i n c r e a s e d the temperature of the
regeneration g a s entering the dehydrator towers

17

from 3 4 0 F. t o 3 8 0 F.
Since the v a l v e s have been changed and the
h e a t e r capacity increased, i t h a s been p o s s i b l e to
keep t h e water content of t h e dehydrated g a s down
to a maximum of 2.5 to 3.5 Ib per million cubic feet
even when p r o c e s s i n g a t r a t e s s l i g h t l y in e x c e s s
of the rated c a p a c i t y of t h e units.
Our u n i t s have not been in s e r v i c e long enough
for u s to obtain a c c u r a t e operating and maintenance
c o s t s , but experience t h u s far i n d i c a t e s t h a t t h e
e s t i m a t e s given in the authors' paper a r e reasonable. It is quite interesting to note that the value
of the'liquid hydrocarbons being recovered by our
dehydration units i s approxinlately 0.0005 c e n t s
per thousand cubic feet of g a s , and t h i s will offset
a portion of the operating c o s t s .
In summarizing, it can be s t a t e d that we feel the
principal difficulties experienced in the operation
of our packaged dehydration unit have been d u e t o
leaky control valves, fouling of the d e s i c c a n t by
t h e accumulation of high boiling point hydrocarbons,
p o s s i h l e overloading of the units, and lack of sufficient heat to reactivate the d e s i c c a n t material
properly.
We certainly agree with the authors in their conclusion that there i s need for considerable further
study of t h e dehydration problem. Such study should
result in better d e s i g n s of equipment, should reduce t h e i n s t a l l e d c o s t s , and should provide better
dehydration a t lower operating costs.

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