Describe the purpose of Glycol dehydration

:What is dehydration?
The process of removing water from a substance is called dehydration.

What is the purpose of glycol dehydration?

1. To prevent the formation of hydrates.

2. To prevent the accumulation of water in transmission lines which can

reduce the capacity of pipelines.

3. To prevent corrosion.

4. To prevent freeze up.

What are the selection criteria for glycol

1.Glycol is hygroscopic in nature readily absorbs moisture

2. Glycol is non-corrosive

3. It does not solidify when a concentrated solution.

4. It does not form precipitates with gas constituents.

5. Glycol is easily regenerated to a high degree of concentration.

6. It is non-soluble in liquid hydrocarbons.

7. Glycol is relatively stable in the presence of sulphur compounds and CO2

under normal conditions.

What is a water dew point?

When a gas absorbs the volume of its water holding capacity at a specific
pressure and temperature it is said to be saturated up to that point.
Any additional water added at the saturation point will not vaporise, but will
fall out as free liquid. Also at this point , if the pressure is increased and the
temperature decreased, the capacity of the gas to hold water will decrease
and some water vapor will condense and drop out.

This point is known as the water dew point which may be defined as the
temperature at which the natural gas is saturated with water vapor at a
given pressure. At the dew point, natural gas is in equilibrium with
liquid water.

To illustrate the concept of water dew point, suppose that natural gas at 500
Psia and 60oF, at the saturation point contains 30lb of water per million
cubic feet. From the attached figure, the dew point of this gas is 60?F.
In the gas the water is vapor in particular temperature.

How is the pH controlled

pH Value: It is a numerical value measuring the acidity or alkalinity of a
solution.

pH control: Glycol is very reactive with sulphur compounds. The resultant

material tends to polymerise and form "junk" which is very corrosive. Also,
the glycol pH becomes lower. The water vapor in gas is relatively fresh and
slightly saline. Na Cl is soluble in TEG to some extent.

At 50oC about 3.3 kg will dissolve in 100 kg of TEG. So some salt is always
present. The soluble salt hydrolyses into HCl and lowers the PH of the
glycol.

As per the pH value, MEA is added to the system (in surge tanks) to
maintain the pH. This should be maintained between 6~7.

. CONTACTOR COLUMN
It is a vertical pressure vessel having bubble cup trays, where water is
removed from gas by using glycol.
. GLYCOL/GAS HEAT EXCHANGER
The lean glycol is cooled. The exchanger maintains the positive
temperature difference between the inflowing lean glycol and the outlet
gas.
The Rich wet Glycol from the contactor passes through these exchangers
where the rich Glycol is warmed up by the lean Glycol to use the least
amount of fuel in the rebolier, before it enters the Flash Tank.

It is a Gas-Condensate-Glycol Separator.
. Sock and Carbon Filters.
Sock Filters:
Are used to remove solids, (corrosion products and sand debris) that may be
in the incoming gas. They can cause foaming in the contactor.

Carbon adsorbers:
Are used to remove contaminants such as well treating chemicals,
compressor oils and heavy hydrocarbons, that is to prevent glycol
degradation in the presence of these material at high temperature in the
reboiler..

A vertically mounted vessel on top of the regenerator where Glycol vapours

condense and water vapours are released.

A Vessel where the glycol and water are heated to 190oC to boil off the
water which was removed from the gas. The glycol free water is called lean
glycol.

Vessel used to store lean Glycol and also where Fresh Glycol is added to
make up the level, this guarantees enough level of glycol to feed the glycol
circulation pumps.

Which raises glycol pressure above that of the inlet gas to

the contactor.
Sock Filter
The purpose is to filter and remove solid particles before carbon adsorber.
Activated carbon Filter
The purpose is to remove Glycol promoting agents and contaminants such as
well treating chemicals, compressor oils and heavy hydrocarbons.

Vary the stripping gas flow to the regenerator and observe the changes in the
system.
Observation:

Too high a stripping gas tends to carry the Glycol with the water vapor into
the still column vent.

Too low a stripping gas will increase the risk of Glycol degradation.

Under normal conditions, it is recommended that the regeneration

temperature of 193 deg C and 20 m3/hr of stripping gas is maintained.

In peak gas conditions, the regenerator temperature should be increased to

202 deg C with the same gas stripping rate.

Higher temperatures may require less stripping gas. The same concentration
of Glycol sent will increase the risk of Glycol degeneration.

glycol dehydration procedures and

operations
Write the Start up Sequence after the PSD

1. Check the panel for the cause of the trip.

2. Rectify the fault, if not call maintenance.

3. After clearance from maintenance, if rectified OK, start the plant.

4. Check and reset the shut down alarms.

5. Reset the shut down valves in the system.

6. Inform control room of the start up.

7. Pressurise the system with the H.P gas from the H.P separator to the
isolation valve of the SDV at the Pig launcher.

8. Check the level in the Surge tank. If low, make up the level.

9. Start the Glycol circulation pump.

10. Pressurise the Flash tank Glycol condensate and Gas separator in the
makeup line to the required pressure.

11. Check the levels in contactor, flash tank, regenerator and surge tank.

12. Light the pilot burner on the regenerator. (see the attached procedure in
sub-task
13. When the pilot burner is stabilised, open gas to main burner and light.
(ref. sub-task

14. Light the main burner with the temperature controller (TIC) on manual
keeping minimum output.

15. Slowly increase the temperature with either TIC on manual or auto.

17. Check all the parameters in the system.

18. After stabilisation of glycol regeneration system, start gas flowing by

opening the isolation valve of the SDV at the pig launcher.

19. Check the dew point of the export gas in order to ascertain the
performance of the system.

Describe the start up of the burner at the regenerator.

1. Open the manual ball valve upstream of the PCV on the glycol skid
which feeds gas to the ignition system.

2. Open the manual ball valve on the pilot ignition line (located on ignition
control panel

3. Open the manual needle valve located in the same line.

4. Adjust the pressure from the existing self-regulator (PVC located on

the glycol skid), to read approximately 0.35 barg on the gauge.

5. Switch on the general switch (HS-101).

6. For safety reasons, it is recommended that, in case of a previous

failure of the main burner, approximately 15 minutes must pass before
pushing the button for a new start.

7. Unlock the start push button (HS-102) and push for start.

8. Once the ignition takes place, operators can proceed to open the main
line of gas for the burner.

9. Lock the start push button again.

Describe the safeguard system provided on the burner

control.
The burner is a natural draught type, with a flame arrestor on the combustion
air inlet.

Protection is provided for :

· Flame failure .
· High stack temperature (TSHH).
· Low burner pressure (PSLL).
· High Glycol temperature.

In the same plant, an automatic air purge is provided for the fire tubes.

What are the factors involved in the performance of the

operation of the Glycol unit?
1. Dew Point depression required, depending on the inlet gas temperature
and moisture content.

2. Dew Point depression and Glycol concentration which depends upon:

a. Glycol circulation rate

b. Contact efficiency of Gas and Glycol

c. Lean Glycol concentration

d. Contact temperature and pressure

One common symptom is the loss of Glycol from the

absorber. This loss is due to one or a combination of the
following:

a. Foaming

b. Glycol leakage into gas through pin holes in the Gas/Glycol exchanger

c. Degradation

d. Salt plugging in generator Still Column

e. Inadequate mist extraction

f. Spillage of Glycol or Gland leakage of the pumps

g. Lean Glycol is too hot when entering the absorber (may be due to low
viscosity, Glycol carry over is possible)

h. Drain via the condensate LCV of the flash tank

.
What is foaming
Glycol tends to foam if not corrected. The foam tends to be more stable
when aromatics and sulphur compounds are present. Metallic sulphides or
sulphites and degradation products all contribute to the foaming problem.

Describe the operation strategy.

Based on the operating conditions of oil trains, compressors and the status of
the gas dehydration unit, a targeted export rate is maintained.

The flow should be adjusted to this targeted value by FIC. The system
pressure will be maintained at the preset rate. Automatic overrides are
provided from the filter separator, LIC and H.P separator PIC. The H.P
separator reset signal from the PIC acts on the export line PCV/FCV. When
the preset rate proves excessive and causes a transient or longer term dip in
the H.P separator pressure, it will automatically close the PCV/FCV and
maintain the pressure. During abnormal conditions, i.e. low flow, low H.P.
separator pressure or very high liquid production, the level may rise
excessively in the filter separator due to inadequate driving force. For this
reason, a reset signal is provided from the filter separator LIC to the
FIC/PCV. High levels in the filter separator will cause the valves, FCV/PCV,
to throttle, increase gas train pressure drop and push the condensate into the
export line. Consequently, the level in the filter separator is carefully
controlled.

What is meant by QMIS?

It is Quality Measuring Indicator Switch.

Why is QMIS used?

The purpose of using QMIS is to detect the contamination or pollution of the
condensate with crude upon which the condensate will deviate back to the
process. When condensate becomes on spec, it will deviate back to the
export Gas Line.

Explain the principle of operation.

This is an optical fluid analyser which converts changes in
absorption/turbidity/colour of a sample liquid into electrical energy which
can be displayed or used to operate or control other equipment.

The system measures the amount of absorbed light passing into a sample of
liquid.

The light source supplies either a focused or collimated beam of light

(depending upon beam length) to the scanner head mounted on the opposite
side of the flow cell chamber. Changes in the absorption/turbidity/colour are
detected by the scanner head unit and converted to an electrical signal to be
processed by the control panel and displayed on the digital meter.