Separation of natural gas liquids and water from gas condensate

Abstract

Unlike dry gas reservoirs, condensate gas reservoirs contain a considerable amount of natural gas liquids which should be extracted to maximize energy usage. This paper uses Bryan ProMax to set up the processing units for the recovery of natural gas liquids and removal of water. The parameters for the simulation were a gas composition which assumes a sweet gas content. The outcome of the simulation includes reduction of water content below 7 lbm/MMscf, recovery of methane and recovery of propane and isobutane only. The glycol dehydration unit minimized water impurity, while cooling with Joule–Thomson valve and heat exchangers help in methane recovery and separation from natural gas liquids. The results show that natural gas liquid recovery which depends on gas composition can be recovered by controlling the conditions of several units, namely heat exchangers, flash vessels, cold separators, fractionators, stabilizers with their reboilers and condensers.