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Written by: guruvignesh Edited by: Lamar Stonecypher Published Sep 29, 2010 Why is it more cost efficient to burn off the gases in a flare stack rather than recovering the gases produced in off-shore platforms and in shoreline refineries? This article will give you reasons for it.
Undergrounds wells are mainly gas bearing Condensate reservoirs (pentanes and heavier) Large oil fields (associated gas)
In the case of oil wells, natural gas may present either in solution with the crude oil or as a gas cap above it. Natural gas comes from underground deposits and contains smaller quantities of heavier hydrocarbons (collectively known as natural gas liquids, or NGL). This is in addition to varying amounts of water, carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and other non-hydrocarbon substances. Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Associated gas found in combination with crude oil comprises mainly methane and NGL. NGL is mainly made up of ethane, which is LPG gasoline. NGL has an atmospheric boiling point in the range of -80o C at atmospheric pressure or -45o C at a vapor pressure of 5 bars. Liquefaction of Gases (Atmospheric Boiling Point):
Methane (LNG) is stored at -162o C Propane is stored at -45o C Butane is stored at -0.5o C
During the process of separating the LNG from the raw feed, gas obtained from the crude oil bed cap is burned in the flare stake (i.e., NGLs are burnt). The raw feed gas is first stripped of condensates. This is followed by removal of acid gases like carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulphide. Carbon dioxide must be removed as it freezes at temperatures above the atmospheric boiling point of LNG, and toxic compounds like hydrogen sulphide are removed as they cause
atmospheric pollution when burnt in fuel. Acid gas removal saturates the gas stream with water vapor, and this is then removed by the dehydration unit. The gas then passes to a fractionating unit where NGL is removed and further split into propane and butane. Finally, the main gas flow is now mostly methane, which is liquefied into the end product, liquefied natural gas (LNG). Normally in the offshore platform, the fractionating column of pure dry LNG is then passed into the liquefaction plant situated in the platform. Once the LNG is liquefied by using the compressors, it is then stored in tanks at refrigerated condition -162o C- well below its atmospheric boiling point and maintained in it. The amount of NGL obtained from the LNG fractionating units is considerably negligible, and it is not profitable to install low-duty compressors in the offshore platforms in order to liquefy the NGL like propane and butane, which have a high atmospheric boiling point when compared to LNG. And if at all we install low-duty compressors for liquefying NGL, before liquefaction we have to carry out a separation process. The NGL will contain propane and butane that has to be separated first. So in order to separate the two gases having the different atmospheric boiling points, we need to install a fractionating unit to separate the two gases. So it is better to burn the NGL in the flare stack rather than liquefying it for storage.
where they are extracted. In this process the first volatile gas obtained will be methane and will be produced in lower quantity. Just as on the offshore platform, it is not cost efficient to install the liquefaction plant will light-duty compressors, so the volatile vapors are burnt in the flare stack.
Overall flare height and internal tip diameters (the main construction considerations) are directly affected by the following design parameters:
Radiation Limits Ground Level Concentration Limits Noise Limits Structural stability Chemical Composition of Waste Gas Environmental Conditions Allowable Pressure Drop Exit Velocity of Waste Gas
To fully understand your application, the following questions should be considered: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. What is the flow rate of the gas that is to be combusted? Will this flow be present at all times? What are the utilities present onsite? Does the flare need to be smokeless? How combustible is the gas that is to be flared? Is the gas to be flared dangerous (acidic or toxic)? Will the gas composition smoke? What are the regulations that need to be adhered to in the flares design?
Buckling pin relief valves: In Wheatstone LNG project, the buckling pin (rupture pin) valves in the flare piping are to be designed to ASME Sec. VIII, Div-1 and code stamped. 1. The Buckling Pin relief device is classified as Nonreclosing Pressure Relief Devices per UG-127 of ASME Section VIII. (Page 91 of Sec. VIII, Div-1. (2011 edition of code)). 2. UG-127, sub section (b) on page 93 provides the requirements of pin devices that need to be complied. 3. UG-129, sub section (f) of ASME Sec. VIII, Div-1, on page-95 provides the Marking requirements for pin devices.
4. Certification mark with the UD designator as shown in Fig. UG-129.2 (page 96 of code). Is required.