Water content of high pressure natural gas

Data, prediction and experience from field

Classification: Open 011-08-04
Kjersti Omdahl Christensen, Torbjrn Vegard Lkken, Even Solbraa, Cecilie Fjeld Nygaard, Anita Berss
2 - Classification: Open
Background
Field experience
Phase behaviour
Experimental work
Thermodynamic model
Outline
Summary
3 - Classification: Open
Natural gas contains water in varying amounts
dependent on upstream conditions
Water in natural gas can create problems during
transportation and processing
Gas hydrates
Ice formation
Increase corrosion potential
Understanding of the phase behaviour of natural
gas and it trace components is crucial for safe
and efficient gas processing
Background
Rich gas
flow
4 - Classification:Open
Water spec: -18 C @ 69 barg
Moderate dew point depression
Triethylene glycol (TEG) used
as water absorber
Gas from TEG contactor
contains TEG (g)
Field experience
Onshore process
Cold processes
Freezing of
hydrocarbon/glycol/water
solutions
Hydrate formation in
hydrocarbon/glycol/water
solutions
Platform process
5
Phase behaviour of natural gas with traces of water and TEG
Operating
point, TEG
contactor
6 - Classification: Open
CPA-EoS
CPA: Cubic plus association
EoS: equation of state
SRK: Soave-Redlich-Kwong
( ) 1 ln
1 (1 )
( ) 2
i
i
m
i A
i A
m m
V a T g
Z x X
V b RT V b

| | c
= +
|
+ c
\ .

Classic
cont ribut ion
( SRK)
Cont ribut ion from
hydrogen bonding
( associat ion and
solvat ion)
CPA-EoS is developed by CERE / DTU
7
Experimental set-up
A
B
Gas
supply
D
Water bath I Water bath II
F
C M C M C C
G
I
I
H
I
Dewpoint analyser
Karl
Fischer
Gas
clock
J
I
A: Gas regulator E: Coil I: Metering valve
B: Shutdown valve F: Thermo element J: Flow meter
C: Valve G: El. heated pressure regulator --- Heat tracing
D: Pressure transmitter H: Safety valve M: Moisturizer
C: Condenser
C
E
A
B
Gas
supply
D
Water bath I Water bath II
F
C M C M C C
GG
I
I
H
I
Dewpoint analyser
Karl
Fischer
Karl
Fischer
Gas
clock
Gas
clock
J
II
A: Gas regulator E: Coil I: Metering valve
B: Shutdown valve F: Thermo element J: Flow meter
C: Valve G: El. heated pressure regulator --- Heat tracing
D: Pressure transmitter H: Safety valve M: Moisturizer
C: Condenser
C
E
0
50
100
150
200
250
300
350
-20 -15 -10 -5 0 5 10 15 20
Temperature [C]
W
a
t
e
r

c
o
n
t
e
n
t

[
p
p
m

(
m
o
l
)
]
Measurement (Karl Fischer)
CPA-EoS hydrate
CPA-EoS water
CPA-EoS ice
8
Results
Comparison of experimental data for natural gas - water at 150 bar to stable and meta-
stable phases predicted with the CPA-EoS
T. Lkken et al, Conference paper IGRC Paris (2008)
Data for the equilibrium
water content in methane
and a natural is available in
the temperature range -20
to 20C and pressures up
to 150 bar
9 - Classification: Open

Knowledge of phase behaviour of natural gas an its
trace components is crucial for a safe and efficient
production.

CPA-EoS combined with thermodynamic models for
the ice and gas hydrate phases gives excellent results
for calculation of:
Equilibrium water content of natural gas
Water dew point temperature
Natural gas hydrate temperature
Ice precipitation temperature
Aqueous dew points
Summary
Classification: Internal 2011-08-04
Water content of high pressure natural gas
Kjersti O. Christensen
Researcher
kchr@statoil.com, +47 99 48 76 84
www.statoil.com
Thank you