This intensive three-day course is designed to address the operation and control of natural gas processing equipment for onshore fields. Gas processing onshore involves the gathering of the gas using field or nodal compressors before dehydrating, compressing and either re-injecting, storing in caverns or exporting via a pipeline. Carbon Dioxide may be removed from the gas using membrane separation and further removal of heavier hydrocarbons may occur by dew-point conditioning. The field/nodal compressors are usually screw or reciprocating units with centrifugal compressors used in the larger gas plants. Reciprocating compressors, screw compressors, gas dehydration (using glycol units), and hydrocarbon dew-point conditioning will therefore be covered in detail. Centrifugal gas compressors and acid gas removal using membrane separation will be briefly touched depending on the interest of the delegates attending each 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 onshore natural gas production either working in the field or at the gas plant. Operations personnel who have some level of responsibility for the operation, control or management of the gas processing facilities will benefit most from this course.
Key Topics Covered:
Reciprocating Compressor Control and Operation
How a reciprocating compressor works
Pressure - Volume diagrams and what they tell us
Capacity control - suction or discharge pressure
Clearance pockets, suction valve unloaders.
Rod loading
Important checks during start-up, normal operations and shutdowns
Screw Compressor Control and Operation
How a screw compressor works
Oil injected screw compressors
Screw compressor controls - slide valves, variable Vi, and recycle
Injection oil systems and their operation
Dehydration - Glycol
The glycol dehydration process
Contactor operation and control
Glycol regeneration process - operation and control
Important checks to keep the glycol solution clean (and minimise losses)
Hydrocarbon Dew Point Conditioning
Methods and reasons for conditioning
J-T Valves
Turbo expanders and recompressors
Operation and control of turbo-expander/recompressor sets
NGL recovery and disposal options
Acid Gas Removal
Membrane separation
Centrifugal Compressor
How a centrifugal compressor works
Principles of operation
Introduction to capacity and anti-surge control