This intensive three-day course is designed to address the operation and control of natural gas processing equipment on an offshore facility. Gas processing offshore involves the removal of any liquids (condensate/oil and water) from the well fluids in one or more separators before dehydrating, compressing and either re-injecting or exporting via a pipeline. Acid gases (Carbon Dioxide and Hydrogen Sulphide) may be removed from the gas on the facility and further removal of heavier hydrocarbons may occur by dew-point conditioning. The compressors used in the processing and export of the gas are usually centrifugal compressors. Centrifugal gas compressors, gas dehydration (using glycol units), and hydrocarbon dew-point conditioning will therefore be covered in detail. Acid gas removal (by the use of scavengers, amine units, membrane separation or molecular sieves) will be touched briefly depending on the interest of the delegates attending the course. Each topic will be covered using a mix of short lectures, videos, dynamic simulation models and group workshops.
Suitable for: This course is designed for participants who are involved with the operation of offshore natural gas production on either fixed platforms or FPSOs. Operations personnel who have some level of responsibility for the operation, control or management of the gas processing facility would benefit most from this course.
Key topics covered
Centrifugal Compressor Control and Operation
How a centrifugal compressor raises pressure
Compressor operation and performance curves
Capacity control - suction or discharge pressure; fixed or variable speed
What is surge; the symptoms and consequences of surge
Simple anti-surge control
Compressor protection
Dehydration - Glycol
The glycol dehydration process
Contactor operation and control
Glycol regeneration process - operation and control
The important checks needed to keep the glycol solution clean (and minimise losses)
Hydrocarbon Dew Point Conditioning
Understanding of methods and reasons for conditioning
J-T Valves
Turbo expanders
Operation and control of turbo-expander/recompressor sets
NGL recovery and disposal options
Acid gas removal - the principal methods used
Membrane separation
Amine systems
Molecular sieves
Scavenging
Acid gas disposal