New Treatment Technologies Necessary to Meet Emerging Gas Energy Demands

Gas is expected to remain the preferred energy source for meeting ever increasing energy demands around the world for many decades to come. While in the past oil and gas operators have had the luxury of being able to rely on the ability to produce gas from those reservoirs that were technically easiest to develop, this is already beginning to change. In the future, it will be necessary to develop fields that feature a much higher acid gas content in order to meet ever increasing energy market demands. At the same time, there is also now an increasing demand for environmentally responsible H2S removal technology.

Currently, it is estimated that approximately 40 percent of the natural or associated gas reserves in the world that are yet to be produced are, in fact, sour. These fields, comprising approximately 2,600 trillion cubic feet, contain both H2S as well as CO2. In order to bring those fields to market, effective CO2 and H2S removal  methods are essential.

The H2S and CO2 removal process from highly sour gas fields has traditionally been viewed as an expensive operation. Typically, the cost of removing contaminants from acid gases is based on the amount of acid contained in the gases. The development of more efficient technologies has made it possible for operators to tap into fields that were previously deemed too expensive to develop.

Amine processes have been employed for years as an effective method for removing acid gases from both natural and associated gas streams. The use of amines is considered a highly versatile process that can be used for treating all types of sour gases in an effective manner, regardless of the CO2 and/or H2S content. In fact, with the proper amine treatment solution, it is possible to treat even severe specifications, including those related to gas liquefaction plants.

A variety of other gas treatment methods has also been introduced, thus allowing for the effective treatment of sour gas streams in the most challenging situations. One of those applications involves the use of molecular sieve technology utilizing a propane refrigeration system with hydrocarbon dew point control for the purposes of gas dehydration.

Today, a variety of other gas processing systems is now available to deliver products to the precise specifications of plant operators. Although there is a burden on the operator to choose the right technology to meet economic and technological targets, working with an experienced gas treatment facility can ensure that these targets are met. In many instances, it is also necessary to select a treatment solution that is appropriate for use in remote locations. The use of skid-loaded treatment systems is often an ideal solution for such applications, delivering effective treatment while reducing the need for operator intervention.

While it is anticipated that the need to develop increasingly larger sour gas fields will continue to expand in the future, advanced treatment solutions make it possible for operators to do so in an efficient and cost-effective manner.