Knowra Natural gas processing Natural gas processing Natural gas processing separates water, acid gases, natural gas liquids, and other impurities from raw gas to produce pipeline-quality gas and recover valuable products.
Gas–liquid separation : A process that separates a gas phase from liquid droplets or condensed liquid in a mixture. Inlet separators remove bulk liquids before finer dehydration and contaminant-removal steps.
Raw natural gas : An unprocessed gas mixture produced from underground reservoirs, containing methane and varying amounts of other substances. Its changing water, hydrocarbon, and contaminant content sets the processing requirements.
Pipeline-quality natural gas : Natural gas that meets specified limits for composition, water, contaminants, and heating value before pipeline delivery. This is the principal product specification that shapes treatment and separation choices.
Membrane gas separation : A separation process in which components permeate through a selective membrane at different rates. Membranes can remove carbon dioxide or water without the solvent circulation used in many treating systems.
Flaring : The controlled burning of unwanted or excess combustible gas at an industrial facility. Insufficient processing or takeaway capacity can lead operators to flare raw or treated gas.
Gas dehydration : The removal of water vapor from a gas stream. Removing water prevents hydrate formation, corrosion, and liquid water in pipelines.
Natural gas : A naturally occurring gaseous fossil fuel composed mainly of methane, with smaller amounts of other compounds. Processing converts raw gas into a marketable form of this fuel.
Liquefied natural gas : Natural gas cooled into a liquid, primarily to enable storage and transport by ship. LNG plants require stringent removal of water, carbon dioxide, and other substances that freeze at low temperatures.
Pressure swing adsorption : A gas-separation process that cycles pressure to adsorb and release selected components on solid materials. Adsorption offers an alternative to liquid solvents for certain impurity-removal duties.
Venting : The intentional release of gas directly into the atmosphere without combustion. Gas handling and recovery systems limit methane losses that venting would release.
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