NS4960 Summer Term 2019 Natural Gas Processing

Overview Natural-gas processing complex industrial process designed to clean raw natural gas by separating impurities various non-methane hydrocarbons and fluids to produce what is known as pipeline quality dry natural gas.

Natural Gas Processing I Natural-gas processing begins at the well head. The composition of the raw natural gas extracted from producing wells depends on the type, depth, and location of the underground deposit and the geology of the area. Oil and natural gas are often found together in the same reservoir. The natural gas produced from oil wells is generally classified as associated-dissolved, meaning that the natural gas is associated with or dissolved in crude oil.

Natural Gas Processing II Natural gas production absent any association with crude oil is classified as “non-associated.” Typically in the US, 89 percent of U.S. wellhead production of natural gas was non-associated. Natural-gas processing plants purify raw natural gas by removing common contaminants such as water, carbon dioxide (CO2) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S). Some of the substances which contaminate natural gas have economic value and are further processed or sold.

Process

Processing Plant