MODERNIZATION OF NATURAL GAS TREATMENT

Link for citation: Liintin I.A., Erofeev V.I. Modernization of natural gas treatment. Bulletin of the Tomsk Polytechnic University. Geo Аssets Engineering, 2023, vol. 334, no. 6, рр.126-133. In Rus. The relevance. Most of the existing fields in the Russian Federation are at the last stage of development. They are characterized by low wellhead pressures, increase in water cut, as well as a large amount of mechanical impurities.  These factors have a detrimental effect on the technical and economic performance of the installations, as well as on the further transport of gas through the main gas pipelines. As a result, there is an urgent need to create new efficient technologies in the preparation of natural and associated petroleum gases. In addition to creating new technologies, it is possible to upgrade the existing well production facilities or change process parameters. The main aim: to modernize the current technological scheme of natural gas treatment. Object: complex gas treatment plants of gas fields. Method: modeling with a software package «UniSim Design». Results. It was calculated and shown how much of the hydrate formation inhibitor must be supplied to the gas pipeline during transportation from a cluster of gas wells to a complex gas treatment unit. The dew point temperatures were calculated before and after the upgrade of the inlet separator, as well as the percentage of moisture in natural gas before and after the upgrade of the gas treatment unit. If the wellhead and reservoir pressures drop significantly, it is necessary to carry out a general reconstruction of fields, prefabricated networks, it is possible to combine fields, install modular compressor stations, since the pressure and amount of gas for booster compressor stations will not be enough. In this regard, supersonic separation is the most promising method for separating and purifying gas condensate mixtures from moisture and acid gases. After replacing the separator with a 3S-separator in the complex natural gas purification unit, the dew point temperature of the commercial gas decreased. Gas pressure at the outlet of the 3S-separator has values corresponding to the process mode of absorber operation and the amount of separated moisture and liquid, in percentage terms, will increase.