IPORSM TECHNOLOGY FOR NGL RECOVERY IN THE MARCELLUS SHALE

摘要

Much of the gas being developed from the Marcellus Shale is rich in natural gas liquids, including a significant concentration of ethane. Today there is insufficient market for the majority of the ethane being produced, and it may be some time in the future before markets develop so that all of the ethane produced is fully utilized. Most natural gas processors operating in the region are using expander technology so that when the ethane market develops, their plants will have the capability for high ethane recovery. Today, however, they are operating inefficiently in an ethane rejection mode, targeting maximum recovery of the C3+ fraction, sacrificing potential NGL revenue. IPOR~(SM) (Iso Pressure Open Refrigeration), an advanced refrigeration process developed by Randall Gas Technologies , a part of Lummus Technology, a CB&I company, can economically achieve essentially total C3+ recovery from most natural gas streams. It is an ideal solution for rich gas streams like those being produced in the Marcellus or Utica shales. Using a conventional closed loop mechanical refrigeration process in combination with an open loop mixed refrigeration cycle, IPOR~(SM) technology can achieve NGL recovery efficiencies comparable to that of turboexpander cycles, but in many applications, with significantly less CAPEX and OPEX, with options for future ethane recovery. This paper reviews the fundamentals of the IPORSM process, including features, benefits and applicability. Four case studies comparing the IPOR process performance with a conventional GSP type turboexpander design processing Marcellus type feed gas streams are presented: Case I Maximum Propane Recovery Case II Maximum Propane Recovery with Incidental Ethane Recovery Case III High Ethane Recovery Case IV Ethane Rejection – Ethane Recovery Results of these case studies illustrate that the IPOR process is a viable alternative to conventional turboexpander type technology for processing the rich gas being developed in the Marcellus, or other similar shale developments like the Eagle Ford, Utica, or the Woodford.