FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Carbon Based Fuels and Feedstocks

Gas
Dry gas (almost pure CH4)
Wet gas (includes other hydrocarbons, water, CO2,
N2, H2S etc.)

Crude Oil
Light, almost clear to viscous and very dark

Tar Sands and Shale Oils

Coals
Peats, Brown Coals (Lignites) through to Anthracite
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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Hydrocarbon Chemistry - Paraffins
CH4 - Methane - Natural Gas - BP minus 161 deg C

C2H6 - Ethane - BP minus 88 deg C

C3H8 - Propane - BP minus 40 deg C

C4H10 - Butane (normal and iso) - BP 0 deg C/minus 12 deg C

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REFINING PROCESS TECHNOLOGY BASICS

Types of hydrocarbon compounds
Paraffins - straight or branch chain - CNH2N+2 ) Saturated
Naphthenes or Cycloparaffins - CNH2N
Alkenes - Mono-olefins - CNH2N

,,

) unsaturated

Olefins or Aromatics - Stable Benzene ring based

compounds
) unsaturated
Diolefins, Dienes or Alkynes - CNH2N- 2 ) unsaturated
ACETYLENE

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1,3-BUTADIENE

REFINING PROCESS TECHNOLOGY BASICS

Hydrocarbon Chemistry
n and I-Pentane - C5H12 - BP 35 deg C/ 27 deg C (Also
Cyclopentanes, C5H10)
I/n Hexane - C6 - BP 69 deg C (Cyclohexane - C6 in a ring
formation, a naphthene or monocycloparaffin compound)
Heptane - C7 - BP 99 deg C (Toluene, (C6 + C1)H14)
Octane - C8 - BP 126 deg C etc to CnHn+2
Unsaturated Ring Compounds: (Aromatics)
- Olefins/Benzene/Toluene/Napthalenes/Anthrazenes etc.

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REFINING PROCESS TECHNOLOGY BASICS

CRUDE OIL - From the Well
Gases
Mixed Hydrocarbon Oils
Water
Dirt - Minerals

Field separation
May be several stages of pressure letdown and stilling
Separates into
Gas - Re-injected, flared or sent to processing
Oil - Crude Oil - for shipment and/or storage
Water - for treatment then disposal
Dirt - for disposal
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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Gas Terminology - A system designed to confuse!
Natural Gas - from the well - includes Methane,
Ethane, Propane, Butane and heavier fractions,
sometimes referred to as Pentanes +, Natural
Gasoline or Condensate, together with Water
Vapour, Carbon Dioxide, Nitrogen, Hydrogen
Sulphide, Mercury, Helium, Mercaptans, etc.
Natural Gas is also the term given the almost pure
methane stream supplied to consumers
Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) are the bits left after the
methane is removed; in other words, Ethane,
Propane, Butane and heavier fractions
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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Gas Terminology - continued
Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is methane cooled to - 161
degrees centigrade, when it becomes a liquid. It then
occupies a space 1/600 th of when it is a gas, so is
then able to be transported in large quantities in
specially built insulated carriers.
Liquefied Petroleum Gases (LPG) are mainly Propane
and Butane, which is often sold as a mixture in
pressurised cylinders for cooking, heating and even as
a transport fuel. Sometimes they are sold separately,
again in pressurised containers. Butane, which boils at
approximately - 4 degrees, needs little pressure, so
can be sold in very small containers as lighter fluid
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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Gas Terminology - continued
Other terms you may come across:
Synthetic or Substitute Natural Gas (SNG) - A form
of gas produced from Coal or Liquid hydrocarbon
feedstock
Gas - Oil Ratio (GOR) and Gas - Liquid Ratio (GLR)
the ratio between the gas and oil (or total liquids oil and water) coming from the well. Even almost
pure gas wells will have some entrained oil, which
must be separated out at the processing plant.
Similarly, crude oil will have some gas associated
with it as it comes from the well.
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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Diagram of Oil and Gas bearing
deposits or fields
Ground or sea bed level
Gaseous layer at top
of oil field

Impervious layer above oil

bearing rock layer

Oil bearing layer

Water layer below oil

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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Drilling rig

Drill pipe string

Area from where

oil is flowing
within structure

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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Asgard B

Kvaerner Semisub 65

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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Jackets

Gravity based
Structures - Steel
or Concrete

100 Meters

Floating
production and
storage vessel
(FPSO)

Tension Leg
Platform
(TLP)
300 Meters

Typical concept choices for

dry completed wells in the
North Sea

TM

500 + Meters

2000 meters,
3000 meters,
6000 meters

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Kvaerner and SBMs FPDSO design concept
DRILLING/SUBSTRUCTURE
PIPERACK
PROCESS
OFFLOADING

POWER GENERATION
LQ
HELIDECK

TURRET +
MOORING

TM

THRUSTERS

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

TM

SIRI Project

Penn State Project

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Laminaria - The
worlds Largest
FPSO

Subsea Facilities

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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

SIRI Platform under

Tow to Field, Oct -98
Amerada Hess Penn State
Platform
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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

CRUDE OIL - From the Well
Gases
Mixed Hydrocarbon Oils
Water
Dirt - Minerals

Field separation
May be several stages of pressure letdown and stilling
Separates into
Gas - Re-injected, flared or sent to processing
Oil - Crude Oil - for shipment and/or storage
Water - for treatment then disposal
Dirt - for disposal
TM

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

GAS
SWEETENING

GAS DEHYDRATION
AND DEWPOINTING
GAS TO EXPORT
OR REINJECTION
DEW POINT COMPRESSION
CONTROL

WELL HEAD
SEPARATION/
PRIMARY
SEPARATION/
PARTIAL
PROCESSING

CHEMICAL
INJECTION

ELECTROSTATIC COALESCENCE
OIL TO EXPORT
DEOXYGENATION
REJECT OIL
PRODUCED
WATER
TREATMENT

Diagram showing typical

processing requirements for
well fluids prior to export

TM

WATER TO DISCHARGE
OR REINJECTION

FILTRATION DISINFECTION
CHEMICAL
INJECTION

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Typical Three Phase Separator

Gas
Out

Inlet pipe with

baffle devise

Demister
Pad
(optional)

Mixed
Fluids In

Overflow
Weir Plate
Perforated
Inlet Calming
Baffle plate

TM

Coalescer
Plate Pack
(optional)

Vortex Breakers
Water/Dirt
Out

Oil
Out

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Diagram showing principle of operation of Biphase separator
Direction of flow

Gas

Height difference
between weirs sets
oil/water interface level
Gas passage

Shaft
Oil diffuser scoop

Inlet
Nozzle

Gas

Perforated plate
(liquids drain through)
TM

Separation
zone

Water diffuser scoop

Weir arrangement
(rotates)

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Conventional and Biphase Turbine Concepts
Gas

Optional
Pump
High pressure
two-phase or
flashing
liquid streams

Conventional
Gravity Separator
Gas

Biphase Rotary
Separator Turbine
TM

Liquid

Power
out
Liquid
(can be
pressurised)

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Comparison of footprint and weight
for Biphase separator turbines
(excluding motors) vs conventional
separators
Biphase
Separators
20 m2
Conventional
Separators
266 m2

Conventional
Separators
668 tonne

Biphase
Separators
64.5 tonne
AREA COMPARISON
TM

WEIGHT COMPARISON

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Typical Oil Processing Facility

To Fuel
Gas
To Flare

Heat
Exchanger

Manifold
Crude from
Wellhead

Production
Separator

Electrostatic
Coalescer
Heating
Fluid
Crude Oil to Shipping

Water
Conditioner

TM

Water to Re-injection or
Disposal

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Typical Field Separation Scheme

Associated Gas to
Shipment or Re-injection

To HP
Flare
From
the
Well

FIRST
STAGE

To MP
Flare

Water and
Dirt

SECOND
STAGE

To LP
Flare

Water and
Dirt
HEATING
(Optional)

THIRD
STAGE

Water and
Dirt

TM

Crude Oil to Shipment

or Storage

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Gas Processing

- at the well - remove dirt, free water, condensate etc. and make it
ready to transport.
- It needs to be stable and at a high enough pressure to reach its
destination. Minimal processing is normally done close to the well.
Typical operations - Simple clean-up then:
Glycol or methanol injection (to absorb water vapour and prevent
hydrate formation)
Corrosion Inhibitor injection, to prevent gas contaminants from
damaging the pipeline
Heating, so that frictional pressure drop and associated temperature
decrease does not result in condensate fallout
Compression, to ensure the gas will reach its destination

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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Pipeline Technology
Deepwater Pipeline Engineering
Innovative Pipeline Installations
Diverless Tie-In Techniques
Riser Systems Design
Pipeline Installation Equipment
Insulated Pipeline Systems
Process and Thermal Analysis
Systems Integration
Pipeline Trenching Equipment
Subsea Templates
TM

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Deepwater Pipeline Engineering
Conventional Applications
S-Lay Analysis
J-Lay Analysis
Reel Barge Analysis

Innovative Alternatives
Bottom Tow Analysis
Controlled Depth Tow Analysis

Steel and Composite Pipelines

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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Innovative Pipeline Installations
Practical Experience
Single and/or Multiple Pipelines in Cased Pipeline
Bundle
Up to 10 miles in Length for a Single Section
Bottom Towed along a Selected Route of 500 miles
Towed in Water Depths to 3,300 feet
Diverless Connections in Depths to 2,700 feet

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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Innovative Pipeline Projects
Feasibility and Conceptual Designs
High Efficiency Insulating Materials
Composite Structures for Improved Strength &
Insulation
Up to 12 miles in Length for a Single Section
Towed in Water Depths to 6,000 + feet
Diverless Connections in Depths to 6,000 + feet

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FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Pipeline Experience
Pan Arctic 65
Esso Australia
Kingfish A 250
Esso Australia
Kingfish B
250
Esso Australia
Cobia 250 Placid
2,350

Mobil
Statfjord A 500
1000

Esso Australia
2000 Fortiscue 250

Esso Australia
Esso Australia Bream B
200
Flounder
300

Esso Australia
West Tuna 200

Amerada-Hess
Penn State
1,650
Flextrend
1,470

Enserch
MC 441
2,800

Enserch
GB 387
3,300

Esso Australia
Halibut 250

BP Troika
3,300

Water Depth
(feet)

3000

4000

5000

6000

1975

Legend:
Design and Installation
Design Studies (Partial List)
Water Depths

1980
TM

1985

Time (years)

Conoco
Voring Plateau
Norway Study
4600

1990

Texaco
Fuji Study
4300
Conoco
West Africa
Lazy W Connection
4600
1995

Exxon
Albacora Leste
6000
2000

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Vent
Purge Connection

Flow Tee
Pig
Indicator

Quick
Closure

XI
BARREL

Pipeline
Drain

Platform or
Processing Plant
TM

Drain

Pig
Handling
System

Simplified Diagram of
Pig Launcher/Receiver

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Cylindrical Brush Pig

Cup

Brush

Some Examples of Typical Pigs

Gauging Pig

Gauge Plate

Sphere Pig - Used for

separation or displacement

Foam Pig

TM

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Onshore gas plant processing
Facilities Design depends upon:
Components in raw gas stream
Contaminants which must be removed
Required product specifications
Recovery levels of heavier hydrocarbons
desired
Availability of product shipping facilities
Local environmental considerations
TM

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Pipeline Fluids in

A Typical Finger
Slug Catcher
Gas Out

meters long or more,

80and-100
sloped towards liquid
outlet end

Liquids Out

TM

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Typical Vessel type Slug
Catcher

Gas Out

Demister
Pad

Pipeline Fluids in
Liquid level

Baffle plate
Vortex Breaker
on raised pipe
Condensate
out

TM

Glycol/Methanol/Water
/Dirt out

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Wet Gas In

Typical Adsorption
Bed Drying System

Wet
Regeneration
Gas Out

Regenerating
Bed

Drying
Bed

Dry Gas Out

TM

Dry
Regeneration
Gas In

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Dry Gas Out

Typical Glycol Drying

System

Lean Glycol
inlet

Internals of
trays or
structured
packing

Vent

Glycol
Regeneration
Package

Contactor

Glycol/Glycol
Exchanger

Rich Glycol
outlet
Heating to
drive off water
vapour

TM

Distributor

Dry Gas Out

Wet Gas In

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Acid Gas Removal Processes: MEA

DEA
TEA
MDEA
ADIP
DGA
Sulfinol
Stretford
Zinc Oxide
Hot Potassium Carbonate
Benfield
Catacarb
Giammarco - Vetrocoke
Hipure
Propylene Carbonate
Water Wash
Selexol
Alkazid
Molecular Sieve
Membrane Systems.
TM

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Typical Once Through Claus Plant
Hot Gas Bypass
Tail Gas
Waste Heat
Boiler
Acid
Gas

Incinerator

1st Stage
Reactor

2nd Stage
Reactor

Air

Condenser
Condenser

Sulphur

TM

Sulphur

Sulphur

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Other Clean up Stages: Sulphur Recovery

Claus - (H2S + O2 = SO2 + H2S = H2O + S)

Tailgas Treatment for Sulphur Removal

Wellman-Lord

Davy S-H

IFP

CBA

Maxisulf

SCOT
TM

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Separation of Clean Gas stream into its constituents
Options Available: Adsorption
Oil Absorption
Refrigeration
Compression/cooling
External Refrigeration
J-T Valve expansion
Turboexpander
TM

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Typical Tubo-expander
Flow scheme

Residue
Gas

Demethaniser

Expander/
compressor

Feed
gas

TM

Liquid
Product

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Ethane

Raw
Liquid
in

DeEthaniser

TM

Propane

DePropaniser

Butane

DeButaniser

Typical LPG fractionation train

Pentanes +,
Raw
Gasoline

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

TM

North Morcambe Gas Terminal

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

Final Oil Processing prior to Shipment

Stabilisation
Mild heating to boil off the last if the
light fractions (mostly i and n-butane)
Pressure reduction to allow last of light
ends to evaporate
Dehydration
Primary water removal
Electrostatic dehydration
TM

FUNDAMENTALS OF OIL AND GAS

TM

Sullem Voe Terminal