Amine Gas Sweetening System Problems Arising from Amine Replacement and Solutions to Improve System Performance

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Process engineering department, South Pars Gas Complex Assaluyeh, Iran

Abstract

This paper includes the significant on-site experience of the authors related to problems faced in amine systems with fresh amine and their possible solutions in phases#2&3 of South Pars gas                complex. The amine system was designed as a closed circuit system with the primary objective of removing H2S, CO2, and other acidic components from gaseous hydrocarbon streams. Amine plant operational problems such as excessive foaming, intense corrosion and capacity reduction are observed in gas sweetening unit. Heat stable salt (HSS) accumulations were found to be one of the main reasons for corrosions. Since there are no MDEA purification facilities in phase#2&3, it was decided to replace old MDEA solution with fresh MDEA. However, there are some problems that many plants have experienced after amine replacing or construction. In this paper, practical strategies with experimental data were proposed to overcome these problems.

Keywords

References

[1] Shao J., Lu G. & Ye M., “Removal of Heat Stable Salts-A Solution to Amine Plant Operational Problems”,  Chemical Engineering in Petroleum & Natural Gas Journal, China, 2002.
[2] Mogul M.G., “Reduce corrosion in amine gas                  absorption columns”, Hydrocarbon Processing, Vol. 78 (10), pp. 47-56, 1999.
[3] Jouravleva D. & Davy P., “Impact of Continuous Removal of Heat Stable Salts on Amine Plant Operation”,  Laurence Reid gas conditioning conference Norman, Oklahoma, 2000.
[4] Shao J., Amine Purification System (AmiPur®)– Continuous Heat Stable Salts Removal from Amine Solutions, Oil & Gas, Eco-Tec Inc, Canada, 2007.
[5] Simmons C.V., “Reclaiming Used Amine and Glycol Solutions”, Proceedings of Laurance Reid Gas Conditioning Conference Norman, 1991.
[6] Burns D. & George R.A., Proceedings of the 74th GPA Annual Convention, pp. 95-103.
[7] ELF EP, phase 2&3 gas sweetening unit-operating guidelines, South pars gas field development, Paris, 1998.
[8] Sheilan M.H., Spooner B.H., E.street D. & van Hoom E., Amine Treating and sour water stripping, amine                                                                                                   expert Inc, 2005.
[9] Cummings A.L., Veatch F.C. & Keller A.E., Corrosion and corrosion control methods in amine system containing H2S, 1000 South Pine Ponca City, Oklahoma, 2008.
[10] Verma N. & Verma A., Amine system problems arising from heat stable salts and solutions to improve system performance, Saudi Aramco, Udhailiyah -31311, Saudi Arabia, Department of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati, Assam-781039, India, 2008.

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics