energy and emissions reductions from a gas dehydrator

2017©COPYRIGHT PROCESS ECOLOGY INC. 1

“Innovation at Work”

Energy and Emissions Reductions from a Gas Dehydrator using the

GasPro VRU

L. Chutny – Process Ecology

October 23, 2017

PROCESS ECOLOGY INC.


Founded 2003, Calgary, AB

Engineering consulting, process simulation & optimization, software development, air emissions estimation and management

Track record of advanced modelling, simulation and process design, combining and extending simulators and rigorous engineering calculations to handle complex scenarios

CORE COMPETENCIES

INNOVATION NEEDED!

26/10/20172017©COPYRIGHT PROCESS ECOLOGY INC. 3

• New Regulations on Methane

• increased/changed regulation on GHG

• Actionable in next 12-18 months

• Other Air Emissions also get increased focus – CACs, NOx, VOCs and Benzene

• Corporate risk (Carbon, Regulatory) increased

• Existing Technology is ‘Business as Usual’

• How to decrease emissions, improve operations and make a profit?

INNOVATE!

METHANE EMISSIONS ADVISORTM


Non-Routine:

Blowdown

Compressor Start

Pig Trap Venting

Relief Event

Fugitive Emissions

Liquid Loading

Continuous:

Flare

Glycol Dehy

Glycol Refrigeration

Tank Emissions

Pneumatics

Compressor Venting

Inventory

Development


Regulatory Reporting

BENZENE EMISSIONS ADVISORTM

Benzene Emissions Reporting1. Data Management 2. Emissions Estimation

Identify Best Opportunities for Savings and GHG/Methane

Reduction

TECHNOLOGY SELECTION - SPECIFIC TOOL

2017-11-82017©COPYRIGHT PROCESS ECOLOGY INC. 6

(INFO.PROCESSECOLOGY.COM - Currently in Alpha Testing)

GASPRO COMPRESSION BTEX VRU - INNOVATION


• Benzene absorbed in glycol used to dehydrate natural gas (a ‘dehy’).

• Glycol regeneration causes Benzene emissions (low pressure, dilute source)

• Benzene is Type 1 Carcinogen, so we must regulate –Directive 39

• New innovations to remove the Benzene are essential

• GasPro combined existing unit operations in a new way in a skid mounted, easily operated unit.

GASPRO COMPRESSION BTEX VRU


• Condense Still overhead vapour into Receiver

• Pump condensed liquid to site PW Water Tank

• Capture Vapours from Receiver with recip VRU - Send to facility inlet.

• Majority BTEX stays with water phase.

• Methane goes to Facility overhead compressor

GAPRO COMPRESSION BTEX VRU


Inlet Condenser Compressor

Scrubber Liquid Pumps

GASPRO COMPRESSION BTEX VRU


• Verified operation mass balance:

• Sampled inlet gas and water phases.

• Modeled operation of dehy with HYSYS (per Directive 39)

• Confirmed no leaks or tank emissions by FLIR (Greenpath)

• Unique use of Air Cooler more efficiently condenses still overheads, keeping more BTEX in the water phase.

• Reciprocating Compressor VRU is:

• Easier to operate

• Easier to maintain

• Allows higher discharge pressures for recovery of methane to facility inlet.

EMISSION REDUCTIONS LEARNINGS


• New solutions required – but must be vetted.

• Wholistic view of facility required – ensure emissions aren’t just ‘relocated’.

• Watch tanks as places where unexpected emissions can occur.

• Use quality equipment – test new equipment and new designs to ensure leaks are fixed.

• Focus on operations – easy to operate and maintain will mean less emissions in the long run!

• Often removing one emission ‘type’ (like Benzene) will remove others (like Methane, GHGs & VOCs).

DEHYDRATOR GHG EMISSIONS


Alberta Dehys: 2 MT/yr GHG

Currently

1.1 MT/yr GHG (or more) Low

Cost Reductions Possible

PROCESS ECOLOGY – MEASURE AND REDUCE EMISSIONS


• Helping O&G inventory and estimate emissions.

• Analyzing facilities for emissions reductions opportunities.

Contact Us: www.processecology.com

Or: Laura Chutny, [email protected]

403-478-4758

THANK YOU!

http://www.processecology.com/

mailto:[email protected]

energy and emissions reductions from a gas dehydrator

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