Fundamentals of Natural Gas Processing

Fundamentals of Natural Gas Processing Training

The fundamentals of natural gas processing training course covers the fundamentals and principles of purifying natural gas for the purpose of fuel. The fundamentals of natural gas processing training course gives you a great perspective of the natural gas industry, from wellheads to market.

Natural gas, as is used in the market, is completely different from the natural gas extracted from wellheads. While the processing of natural gas is less complicated than the processing and refining of crude oil, it is equally as necessary before its use by consumers. Some of such processes are necessary to be able to transport the gas over long distances and some are critical for the recovery of valuable components contained in the gas. The fundamentals of natural gas processing training course gives you a thorough overview of these processes and introduces you to various steps that natural gas plants pass to deliver the usable natural gas to end users.

Natural gas benefits our society in two major aspects; it is clean and it is abundance.  These two advantages cause an ongoing demand in the United States for engineers, managers, and operators in this industry.  The fundamentals of natural gas processing training course teaches you the basics you need to know about natural gas resources, its purification processes, the market, and the economics of it.

Through the fundamentals of natural gas processing training course, you will gain sufficient knowledge of the major natural gas purification processes including gas compression, dehydration, acid gas removal and tailgas cleanup, sulfur recovery, cryogenic extraction of natural gas liquids (NGL), as well as LNG production, storage and transportation.

Audience

The fundamentals of natural gas processing training is a 2-day course designed for engineers, operators, managers, legals, and sale people and basically all the individuals who need a basic understanding of gas processing and its common technologies.

The fundamentals of natural gas processing training course is ideal for technical, operations and maintenance personnel involved in gas gathering and processing who have had limited exposure in this area, or for professionals involved in other areas of the petroleum industry who require a comprehensive overview of gas gathering and processing.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of the fundamentals of natural gas processing training course, the attendees are able to:

• Understand the chemistry of natural gas basic science
• Describe the major and common processes of the natural gas plants
• Understand technical process drawings
• Understand how natural gas is found in nature and how gas wells are developed
• Determine various methods used to purify natural gas
• Understand the oil and gas facilities terminology
• Discuss how gas processing fits into the value chain for hydrocarbon products
• Identify the key issues at the plants
• Explain the transportation of the natural gas
• Describe the difference between various gas conditioning and processing technologies
• Explain which technique should be used based on the process
• Understand the principles of gas measurement and common measurement devices
• Discuss the market’s needs for NGL, LPG, ethane, propane and butane

Course Outline/Agenda

An Overview to Natural Gas Processing

• Background
• History
• Resources
• Uses

Natural Gas from Wellhead to the Market

• Exploration
• Extraction
• Processing and Production
• Transport
• Storage
• Distribution
• Marketing

Natural Gas Fundamentals

• Characteristics of natural gas
• Chemistry of oil and gas
• Raw gas contaminants
• Sales gas and product specifications
• Vapor/liquid separation principals
• Terminology

Gas Traditional Processes

• Excess water removal
• Acid gas removal
• Dehydration
• Mercury removal
• Nitrogen removal
• NGL separation
• Gas sweetening and sulfur recovery
• Acid gas re-injection
• Natural gas liquids and dew point control

Nitrogen Rejection Processes

• Cryogenic process
• Absorption process (using lean oil or solvent)
• Membrane separation
• Adsorption process (activated carbon)

Storage System

• Storage tanks
• Vapor recovery system
• LACT unit
• Sampling

Natural Gas Transportation

• Pipeline components
• Compressor stations
• Metering stations
• Valves
• Control stations

Business Sector

• Industry and market Structure
• Natural gas demand
• Natural gas supply
• Economics of the natural gas plants

Introduction to Compressor Stations

• Compressor stations
• Compressor station architecture
• Compressor station components and operation
• Inspections on compressor stations for weatherization

Regulations

• The history of regulations
• The market under regulation
• The environmental impacts
• Compressor station regulation

Introduction to Compressor Stations

• Compressor stations and natural gas pipeline network
• Compressor station architecture
• Compressor station components and operation
• Methods to maintain the flow and pressure of natural gas
• Re-pressurizing and the pipeline system

Components of a Compressor Station

• Inside compressor building
• Compression station yard
• Station Yard Piping
• Filter Separators/Scrubbers
• Compressor Units
• Gas Cooling System
• Lube Oil System
• Mufflers (Exhaust Silencers)
• Backup Generators

Compressor Stations Operation, Maintenance and Safety           

• Safety considerations
• Permitting and regulatory framework
• Inspections on compressor stations for weatherization
• Emergency shutdown valves
• Odorization
• Material and design specifications
• On-site inspections
• Review of maintenance and safety procedures
• Site considerations
• Sound Emissions
• Air quality
• Soil mitigation and site restoration
• Building design
• Site location
• Municipal and zoning considerations