EXPRESS FEASIBILITY STUDY TOOL FOR PROJECTS TO EXTRACT TARGET LIQUID HYDROCARBONS FROM ASSOCIATED PETROLEUM GAS

Abstract

For a long time, associated petroleum gas was considered a by-product of oil production. Its properties were underestimated and most of the extracted raw materials were burned. However, the development of the gas and petrochemical industry has made it possible to take a fresh look at the possibilities of using associated petroleum gas: the extraction of valuable products from it using hydrocarbon processing technology. Currently, each oil producing company adheres to the approach to the rational use of associated gas, which is based on its use as a feedstock for obtaining valuable hydrocarbon products. In this regard, there is a growing need to carry out technical and economic feasibility for projects to extract target liquid hydrocarbons from associated petroleum gas.The article outlines the difficulties in applying the traditional approach to the implementation of technical and economic feasibility for projects to extract target liquid hydrocarbons from associated petroleum gas and natural gas in large fields with developed infrastructure. The need to develop a new, more efficient methodology for conducting technical and economic feasibility of such projects in terms of reducing the time and cost of work is indicated.The authors proposed a methodology for creating a software tool for conducting an express technical and economic feasibility on the extraction of target liquid hydrocarbons from associated petroleum gas and natural gas. This methodology will allow in a short time and at minimal cost to rank and select the most attractive projects for further full-fledged technical and economic feasibility and exclude work on conducting a technical and economic feasibility of obviously unprofitable projects.