A NEW ACID-GAS REMOVAL SYSTEM FOR UPGRADINGSUBQUALITY NATURAL GAS USING PHYSICAL SOLVENTN-FORMYL MORPHOLINE - FIELD TEST DATA FROM SHELL PLANT

摘要

N-Formyl Morpholine (NFM) is currently being tested in a I MMSCFD pilot plant unit atShell Oil Company's Fandango plant site for treatment of subquality natural gas because of itspotential advantages of no solvent refrigeration, higher CO2/H2S gas loadings, selective absorptionof CO2/I-12S, and less loss of C I-C6 valuable hydrocarbons compared with other commercialphysical solvents. Preliminary testing from this pilot plant indicates that the use of NFM has greatpotential in treating subquality natural gas. To date, a total of for～-three (43) tests at a range ofconditions using random packing and another fifteen (15) tests using Koch's high-efficiencyFlexipac 1.4 Y structured packing have been completed. The data, when used in a sophisticatedprocess simulation, predict a 40% operating cost savings. NFM solvent absorbs less amounts ofdesired methane and ethane than other commercial physical solvents at wellhead temperature.Preceded by the field test program, an experimental program to obtain data for evaluatingNFM's gas sweetening applications has included the following:? Thermodynamic: Vapor-liquid equilibrium, Joule-Thompson effect(auto-refrigeration), and density? Transport: Surfa～ tension, viscosity, volumetric mass transfercoefficients, and diffusion coefficients? Chemical: Thermal stability and corrosion