Total Systems Approach to Reduce Fouling and Improve System Efficiency Using Hydrogen Sulfide Scavengers

The Cotton Valley sand and Haynesville shale formations are situated in East Texas, USA, producing oil, gas, and condensate on land. Most of the producing assets are mature and souring, and the presence of hydrogen sulfide in the produced fluids and gas provides both operational concerns in terms of solids deposition and asset integrity in the production facilities as well as complexity when considering the processing, export, and sale of condensate and gas. Produced gas was traditionally treated with MEA triazine hydrogen sulfide scavenger prior to liquification by LNG plant. There have been historical issues with both the levels of hydrogen sulfide left in the gas and also solids formation in the process, which threatened periodic shutdown of the LNG plant. A holistic approach was used to improve the overall sulfur removal process. This includes the reduction or elimination of solids formation as well as improvement in the system scavenging efficiency. The approach considered current operating procedures, system parameters, equipment design (contactors), and H2S scavenger chemistry.