What is natural gas processing?

What is natural gas processing?

Natural gas processing consists of separating all of the various hydrocarbons and fluids from the pure natural gas, to produce what is known as ‘pipeline quality’ dry natural gas. NGLs include ethane, propane, butane, isobutane, and natural gasoline.

What is a natural gas gathering system?

Gas gathering is collecting gas from the wellhead and moving it to a processing plant or to a major transmission line. This application uses either small, individual wellhead compressors or large central units handling several wells or an entire field. …

What are the steps in natural gas production?

The seven steps of oil and natural gas extraction

1. STEP 1: Preparing the Rig Site.
2. STEP 2: Drilling.
3. STEP 3: Cementing and Testing.
4. STEP 4: Well Completion.
5. STEP 5: Fracking.
6. STEP 6: Production and Fracking Fluid Recycling.
7. STEP 7: Well Abandonment and Land Restoration.

What are advantages of natural gas?

Advantages of Natural Gas

• Natural gas is abundant and a major source of energy.
• Infrastructure already in place.
• Natural gas can be easily transported.
• Natural gas produces less overall pollution.
• Natural gas is a nonrenewable resource.
• Storage.
• Natural Gas Emits Carbon Dioxide.
• Natural gas can be difficult to harness.

What is a gas gathering facility?

Facilities are a system of vessels, piping, valves, tanks and other equipment that are used to gather, process, measure, store or dispose of petroleum, natural gas or water.

Why is natural gas processed?

Natural-gas processing is a range of industrial processes designed to purify raw natural gas by removing impurities, contaminants and higher molecular mass hydrocarbons to produce what is known as pipeline quality dry natural gas.

What is gathering system?

Gathering systems are a collection of distribution, regulation, and separation equipment designed to “transport and control the flow of oil or gas” from its source to a particular destination. They act as a vital midstream component to the industry, keeping the flow of energy running smoothly and efficiently.

How is natural gas processed or refined?

Raw natural gas is commonly collected from a group of adjacent wells and is first processed in a separator vessels at that collection point for removal of free liquid water and natural gas condensate. The condensate is usually then transported to an oil refinery and the water is treated and disposed of as wastewater.

How is natural gas processed and treated for distribution to customers?

The basic stages of natural gas processing/treatment are The natural gas flow into the separator comes directly from the wellhead. Extracted condensate is sent to storage tanks. Dehydration: A dehydration process removes water that may cause the formation of undesirable hydrates and water condensation in pipelines.

Which is the last step in the natural gas processing process?

The last step in the processing sequence is the Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) extraction, fractionation, and treatment, as described in Figure 12.4. Natural gas liquids (NGLs) have a higher value as separate products.

What’s the difference between natural gas and natural gas processing?

Processing Natural Gas. Natural gas, as it is used by consumers, is much different from the natural gas that is brought from underground up to the wellhead. Although the processing of natural gas is in many respects less complicated than the processing and refining of crude oil, it is equally as necessary before its use by end users.

How are NGLs extracted from the natural gas stream?

Cryogenic processes are also used to extract NGLs from natural gas. While absorption methods can extract almost all of the heavier NGLs, the lighter hydrocarbons, such as ethane, are often more difficult to recover from the natural gas stream. In certain instances, it is economic to simply leave the lighter NGLs in the natural gas stream.

Where does the natural gas go after extraction?

Following the NGL extraction, the treated natural gas stream that is, now, mostly methane, or a gas compliant with the natural gas specifications is sent to the pipeline for transmission to the point of use.