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LNG production
For optimal design of LNG production plants, selection of the individual units
must be made on the basis of an integrated approach
Saeid Mokhatab
Tehran Raymand Consulting Engineers
T
his article discusses the avail-
able process technology Refrigeration
system
options for onshore liquefied Feed pre-treatment
natural gas (LNG) production Gas
Gas Mercury
plants, including their limitations sweetening
dehydration
removal Pre-
& mercaptans Liquefaction
and opportunities for integration in unit removal unit unit cooling
order to achieve the right flow
scheme that takes advantage of
Off gas to
each technologys strength while atmosphere
maximising integration to minimise
capital and operating costs. Sulphur recovery Nitrogen
unit + tail gas Fractionation
removal
A typical scheme for most gas treating unit unit
unit
processing plants designed to HP
separator
produce LNG from a sour gas feed LNG
Sulphur LPG
is shown in Figure 1. Field produc-
Off gas
tion, upon arrival at the processing N2 -rich gas to
fuel gas system
plant, is processed in a slug catcher,
which captures liquid and then Condensate
Raw gas stabilisation
allows it to flow into downstream unit
equipment and facilities at a rate at
which the liquid can be handled
properly. Gas from the outlet of the Condensate
slug catcher is directed to a high-
pressure (HP) separator, where final Slug
catcher Sour water Water treating
separation of liquid from the gas stripping unit unit
takes place. These liquids are stabi-
lised and then stored before sale on Figure 1 LNG production plant: sequence and requirements
the condensates market. The light
components stripped in the stabili- is processed to produce elemental using non-regenerable activated
sation column are recompressed sulphur in a sulphur recovery unit carbon or a regenerative mercury
and mixed with the gas from the (SRU), consisting of a Claus unit removal sieve, like UOPs Hg Sieve.
slug catcher. The aim is to liquefy and an associated tail gas treating The dry and mercury-free gas is
the resulting raw gas in the down- unit (TGTU) if higher recovery rates then cooled to about -35C, where
stream process. are specified for the SRU itself. The heavy components are liquefied.
The HP raw gas flows through to final residual gas from the TGTU is The cooling temperature is set such
the gas sweetening unit (GSU), in incinerated. that the quantity of these heavy
which acidic components including The treated sweet gas is then ends, extracted as natural gas liquid
H2S and CO2 are removed by means dehydrated on molecular sieves to (NGL), is adjusted so that the
of chemical solvents. Simultaneous achieve 1 ppmv water, to ensure remaining gas composition complies
carbonyl sulphide (COS) removal in safe processing and transmission, with the LNG specification. Ethane,
the GSU is also desired, as it facili- and then purified on a mercury propane and butane are extracted
tates the downstream processing guard bed to limit the mercury by fractionation for the refrigerant
and purification steps, and contrib- content to nanogram levels (10 ng/ make-up and for the LPG market.
utes to the reduction of the total Nm3) and prevent any corrosion The lean gas is condensed and sub-
sulphur content of the treated gas. problems in the cryogenic section. cooled down to about -160C to
The enriched acid gas from the GSU Mercury is conventionally removed produce LNG.