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Paper PS4-2 PS4-2.1 TREATING DIFF ICULT FEED GASES TO LNG PLA NTS Ed Bras Gerard van der Zwet J eanine Klin k en b ijl Paul Clinton Shell Global Solutions International B.V. PO Box 541, 2501 CM The Hague, The Netherlands AB STRACT Growing demand for Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is leading to increased feed production from more difficult gas reservoirs. These reservoirs may contain higher levels of acid components (sulphur compo nents and carbon dioxide). New production may also end up in more difficult to develop environments, like the arctic, offshore or near shore, etc. Conventional upstream processing in such locations is either infeasible or excessively expensive, so more and more production is by full well stream transfer, thereby reducing the upstream facilities to the bare minimum. The consequences are that the LNG facilities are becoming more complex in design and operation. This paper describes how contaminants (e.g. hydrogen sulphide, mercaptans, carbon dioxide, water, salts, organic acids) and the necessary additives (e.g. corrosion inhibitor, hydrate inhibitor) can be dealt with in the integrated designs whilst complying with ever more stringent environmental requirements (e.g. water disposal quality, sulphur dioxide emissions, hydrocarbon losses). It also describes how the various contaminants and additives can interact (e.g. forming emulsions, solids) and can cause additional problems such as foaming, fouling or corrosion. This is illustrated in specific examples. The paper concludes that a functioning and cost-effective line-up can only be achieved with good input data and by using an integrated approach, in which all the processing steps such as pipelining, separation, stabili sation, treating a nd NGL extraction are considered together. Shell Global Solutions is a network of independent technology companies in the Shell Group. In this material the expression 'Shell Global Solutions' is sometimes used for convenience where reference is made to these companies in general, or where no useful purpose is served by identifying a particular company. The information contained in this material is intended to be general in nature and must not be relied on as specific advice in connection with any decisio ns you may make. Shell Global Solutions is no t liable for any action you may ta ke as a result of you relying on such material or for any loss or damage suffere d by you as a result of you taking this action.
