Glycol monitoring: 

When I have looked over a 3 month period or so for the glycol loss, it does not seem to have 
an obvious pattern shown in the below graph. The stripping gas, its volume and pressure does not 

250 5
4.5
200 4
3.5
150 3
m3/hr
2.5
Glycol loss
100 2
bar
1.5
50 1
0.5
0 0
8/19/2012 8/29/2012 9/8/2012 9/18/2012 9/28/2012 10/8/2012 10/18/2012 10/28/2012 11/7/2012 11/17/2012 11/27/2012 12/7/2012

seem  to  indicate  an  anomaly  also,  apart  from  the  tripping  gas  stopped  between  October  21st  and 
November 7th.  When I have looked in to the theory of stripping gas, it is only to further purify the 
glycol  and  should  not  have  a  direct  impact  on  the  chemical  property  as  we  have  seen  during  that 
period where glycol become more acidic going out of the specs and should not have a direct impact 
on the glycol loss through the condenser on the boiler 

When I have looked in detail on a monthly basis, I could relate some peaks and troughs with 
glycol pump switching from A to B and vice versa, in September related to pump leak reasons and 

ESD shut down
250 B gp job
A to B
200 A to B
A to B
Glycol top up
150
pump change
glycol loss
100 B to A
Stripping gas
50 B to A

0
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36

for the following months also, in a lesser extent. 

measured mump glycol loss
Glycol heater A stop due to maintenance 2 hours
140 and 137 ml/hour
Pump B repair aprox 3.5 L/day Unblock tripping gas Glycol heater B stop due to maintenance 9 hours
225
200
175
150
125 glycol loss (lt)
100 strip gas m3/h
75
50 No Stripping Gas
25
0
10‐Oct
11‐Oct
12‐Oct
13‐Oct
14‐Oct
15‐Oct
16‐Oct
17‐Oct
18‐Oct
19‐Oct
20‐Oct
21‐Oct
22‐Oct
23‐Oct
24‐Oct
25‐Oct
26‐Oct
27‐Oct
28‐Oct
29‐Oct
30‐Oct
31‐Oct
1‐Oct
2‐Oct
3‐Oct
4‐Oct
5‐Oct
6‐Oct
7‐Oct
8‐Oct
9‐Oct

End of October and beginning of November stripping gas was stop the see the impact on the 
glycol loss. During the trial glycol loss was observed to be reduced. But even though reduction in loss 
was observed the loss volume was not stable. Ranging from 75 to +200 Lt a day with an average of 
121 Lt 

Mid November had the only stable period of glycol loss between 13 to 22nd but at a +/‐ 175Lt 
a day rate. But oddly enough this relatively stable period starts with re starting the glycol system due 
to faulty reading on LT4760‐3 which  is used to monitor the glycol level and to calculate the glycol 
TEG F/R Stripping G Re start Adjust stripping Adjust stripping
B2A A2B 2.3 to 2.0 50 to 62 glycol system gas 6o m3/hr gas 6o m3/hr
GP leak B repaired m3/hr m3/hr LT4760‐3 faulty inc. P dec .P
reading Contactor: LIC‐2435‐1 problematic...
waiting on  parts
275
250 LT4760‐3 faulty corrected on the 22nd
225
Glycol contactor glycol reboiler
200 level alarms B stopped
175
150 glycol loss (lt)
125
strip gas m3/h
100
75
50 NO STRIPPING GAS
25
0
1‐Nov
2‐Nov
3‐Nov
4‐Nov
5‐Nov
6‐Nov
7‐Nov
8‐Nov
9‐Nov
10‐Nov
11‐Nov
12‐Nov
13‐Nov
14‐Nov
15‐Nov
16‐Nov
17‐Nov
18‐Nov
19‐Nov
20‐Nov
21‐Nov
22‐Nov
23‐Nov
24‐Nov
25‐Nov
26‐Nov
27‐Nov
28‐Nov
29‐Nov
30‐Nov
loss.  The  same  component  was  diagnosed  faulty  on  Nov  19th  and  changed  on  the  22nd.    Later  in 
November it was found out that on the Glycol Contactor, the LIC‐2435‐1 the controller for LV‐2435‐1 
was problematic and was changed on December the 10th on the day the process was upset due to 
ESD3 @ TVBN.  

Pump B2A Pump A2B Proces upset due Pump B leak

PSV testing leaking GP to ESD3 @TVBN 20 L/day

280
270
260
250
240
230
220
210
200
190
180
170
160
150
140
130 glycol loss (lt)
120
110
100 Strip gas m3/h
90
80
70
60
50
40
30 Contactor: LIC‐2435‐1 changed  for 
20 V‐2435  controler.
10
0 Also LI‐2435  changed on DEC 11th

For my understanding if we have a glycol leak through the glycol regeneration system (boiler,
still and condenser) it should be pretty constant, as the heat input is the same fluid properties is the
same so the evaporation should be the same. With the same token if the reflux condenser, still
column parameters are the same our los should be constant also! (Glycol loss vs time graph above,
still column and reflux condenser temperatures graph below). But the data for glycol is all scattered.
Which suggest we have another loss point that we need to look into

Bearing this in my mind I have also looked in to the data of the glycol contactor and some
other equipment and parameters.

- Glycol pump, flow rate temp.

- Re-boiler, temperatures TIC-4760-5 Still column, TI-4760-7, reflux condenser temp TIC-4760-
11 and tank level
 For the glycol pump(s) the temperature is varying a lot which is the main contributor to the pump
gland packing ware and tare. Pressure and flow rates are stable. Currently Pump B has the original
gland packing which is adjusted automatically. Pump A is still with the modified packing and the gland
packing are manually adjusted. Pump A also has a machined cross head due to previous damage
and M&R does not advise us to use it unless a need to do maintenance and or repair on pump B
required.

Glycol Pump: running glycol pumps (top graph orange shades), glycol flow rate (black) and temperature (red).

Still column and reflux condenser temperatures are stable; there is a variation of top boiler
temp TI4760-7 which is somewhat associated with the glycol volume in the tank. Glycol level
recording is generally in a wide band, except for mid to end November. The wide recording band can
be due to a faulty transmitter!

Still column (black), Boiler top (red), reflux (green), and glycol level (grey)
I have also looked in to Gas dehydration in the glycol contactor as it is another possible loss area

- Wet gas and lean glycol in to Glycol contactor.

- Glycol level in Glycol coalescer

The wet gas and the lean glycol in to the glycol contactor, from what I have read needs to have a
delta T of 5 to 15F to have the best interaction, which is what we have. This can be seen on the below
graph.

When I look in to the process flow diagram a glycol carry over with the gas flow is fore seen
thus a glycol coalescer is present. Below is the fluid glycol level within the coalescer… Black is LI
2445-4 for the bottom half and the Red is LI 2445-3 for the top half. The top half indicator is negative,
no glycol, bottom half indicator is between 2% to negative.
 The two main valves SDV-2445-1 and SDV-2445-2 are and have been permanently closed in
as no glycol ever is present in the coalescer!. My question is; why don’t we have any glycol carry over
In to the coalescer?. And if we have why can’t we contain it in the coalescer?

We have and are all focusing on the re-boiler unit for the main glycol loss, a little high but
stable reflux condenser should be able to condense the glycol, if not keep it at a constant loss (we
shouldn’t see sharp peeks), which is not our case, when we look at the glycol loss in global. I think
and assume that we would have a close to a constant loss from the reflux condenser with the stable
parameters even if not the ideal ones. Again I don’t think stripping gas will have a big affect also as its
main purpose is to further purify the glycol not to cause a loss.

Coming back to the Glycol contactor, there are a couple parameters that can affect the
process and can contribute to a high glycol carry over to the glycol coalescer and even to the gas pipe
line. The wet gas inlet temperature and the delta temperature between the wet gas and the lean glycol
coming in to the glycol contactor are within specs. But currently the gas flow through the contactor
and the coalescer are higher than design spec (176.3MMSCFD including 10% design margin, for
contactor & 160MMSCFD and normal operation volume 152MMSCFD for the coalescer). From
reading I have found out that glycol foaming is one of the contributor to glycol loss and it is a function
of the ratio of gas velocity to glycol recirculation flow with on the glycol contactor, the higher the gas
velocity and the lower the glycol re-circulation, the larger the foam. We might be having this
problem…

“Mist eliminators, multi cyclones and coalescer filters are highly effective in removing glycol
mist BUT have limited effect when film flow or foam is present in the system”.

- If the mist eliminator is not working efficiently (fouled) on the contactor, glycol will be entrained
out of the contactor.
- Foam flooding the mist eliminator will be carried over.

In our case: NO glycol in Glycol Coalescer, either system is working perfect and no loss from here
or whatever passes over is a loss. At present we don’t and in the past we have not done foam or
pH treatment that I have found out by asking.

Some facts:

1) Glycol pH>9 has a tendency to foam and emulsify. In our system currently we don’t have pH
control and the pH varies. During the stripping gas “shut in” period the pH was <7 and glycol
loss was lover compared to current days where glycol pH is >8 close to 9 and we have higher
glycol loss.
2) High gas volume, with close or exceeding gas flow rates compared to the design, combined
with relatively lower glycol flow can cause foaming.

As I understand we have not looked on to this side of the glycol system, may be due to the fact that
no glycol is ever present in the coalescer… or is it all carried over.

On the following pages I have summarized some causes of glycol losses of which I have read
along with some reference information and data from tech. specs.
GLYCOL

Some of the major problems are:

1. GLYCOL LOSS
2. FOAMING (contributes to glycol loss)
3. THERMAL DECOMPOSITION OF GLYCOL (contributes to glycol loss)
4. DEW POINT CONTROL
5. GLYCOL pH CONTROL (High pH (>9) contributes to glycol loss
6. SALT CONTAMINATION
7. GLYCOL OXIDATION
8. SLUDGE FORMATION

GLYCOL LOSS:

Glycol loss can be tracked down to 3 main areas;

A. The Contactor
B. The Re-Generator
C. The mechanical losses

A. At the glycol contactor (absorber),

Higher glycol losses may have a number of causes.

a. The mist eliminator
- may be incorrectly installed,
- fouled or
- Inadequately sized.

In this case, glycol mist will not be effectively separated and will be entrained out of the glycol
contactor. Foaming may also be caused by fouling of the mist eliminator.

Also;

- High gas velocity through the glycol contactor will cause carryover of glycol into the
pipeline
- poor mist eliminator (mist extractor) on top of the glycol contactor will pass some glycol
even at normal gas velocity

b. Foaming.

Foam floods the mist eliminator and it is not effectively removed. Foam carried out of the system is
normally not converted into mist but results in a bottom or annular flow, depending on the linear flow
velocity of the gas. The volume of foam formed in the glycol contactor is a function of the ratio of gas
velocity to glycol recirculation flow. The higher the gas velocity and the lower the glycol recirculation
flow, the larger the foam volume formed in the glycol contactor. Foaming of Glycol can increase glycol
loss where the entrained glycol within the gas will carry over from the contactor (absorber) in to the
gas line.
Some factors that can cause foaming are;

- Low glycol solution concentration to the contactor.\

- High differential temperature between wet gas inlet and lean glycol inlet to the contactor.
- High glycol pH - (Note: Basic glycol solution of pH > 9 tends to foam and emulsify)
- Hydrocarbon liquids (condensate)
- Finely divided suspended solids
- Salt contamination
- Field corrosion inhibitors
 c. Lean Glycol Temperature:

- If the temperature of the wet gas is around 60°C or above, the natural gas does not want
to give up the water vapor to the glycol. Or, if the natural gas temperature is 5°C or below,
the glycol becomes viscous and does not want to pick-up the water vapor. The best
results will be obtained between 27 and 43°F. The temperature of the lean glycol entering
the top tray of the contactor tower should be 5 to 10 °C above the temperature of the gas
to be treated. If the glycol temperature is much higher than the gas temperature, the
glycol will tend to foam and be carried out of the contactor tower with the gas.

B. At the Glycol regenerator (boiler still column and reflux condenser)

a. excessive reboiler temperature,
- increased glycol vaporization that cannot be controlled by reflux condenser
- thermal decomposition of glycol (TEG) The glycol reboiler temperature is limited by the
Tri-ethylene Glycol decomposition temperature which is approx 204°C. Beyond this point
decomposition of the Tri-Ethylene glycol (TEG) starts and corrosive compounds form as
well as increased glycol vaporization thus losses through the reflux condenser.
b. still column,
- Excessive top temperature in the still column allows vaporized glycol to escape from the
still column to atmosphere with the water vapor.
- if the temperature at the reboiler column head reaches inadmissibly high values. High-
temperature cracking processes convert glycol into smaller molecules which are also
carried out of the column head even if the temperature is sufficiently low.
c. reflux Condenser
- excess vapor flow,
- fouling of the reflux coil,
- low flow rate of rich glycol through the coil .. etc

are the main causes for glycol loss from here

C. Mechanical losses such as leaking pumps, valves.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

• Stripping Gas: Stripping gas may be used to obtain higher glycol purities to help lower glycol circulation rates.

• The reboiler operates best when it is able to achieve a uniform temperature.

• Still Column Temperature: It is also important that the overhead condenser temperature in the top of the stripper
column be optimized. If the temperature is too low, excessive reflux, and consequently unnecessary loading of the
reboiler will occur. If the temperature is too high, excessive TEG losses to the atmosphere will occur. At atmospheric
pressure, the boiling point of water is 100oC and of TEG is 288oC (The Dow Chemical Company, 1981).
• According to Ballard (1986), the temperature in the top of the still column should be about 96oC. Below 93oC there is
a possibility that the water will start condensing and washing back into the still column. When this temperature
reaches 121oC and above, the glycol vaporization losses will sharply increase.
• Dehydration Temperature: While TEG can dehydrate gas at operating temperatures from 50 to 130 F, the preferred
temperature range is 80 – 100 F. Below 70 F, glycol is to viscose and above 110 F the inlet contains too much water
and the drying ability of the glycol is reduced.

 
Operating Temperatures: 

Process Location  Temperature or temperature  CPP Design  CPP 

range 
 
Inlet Gas to  80 – 100 F  27 – 37 C  46 C Normal  Approx 45 
contactor  operating temp 
MAF‐2435 TI‐  
2400‐1 
Glycol in to  5 – 15 F warmer  5 – 10 C  5 C warmer approx 49
contactor  than gas  warmer than   
HBG‐2440 TI‐ (TI2400‐1)  gas (TI2400‐1 
2440‐4 
Glycol in to flash  100 —150 f  37 – 65 C  N/A   
tank  (Preferred  150)  (preferred 65C) 
MBD‐4755 
Glycol in to filters  100 —150 F  37 – 65 C  N/A   
MAJ‐4795 / 4790  (Preferred  150)  (preferred 65C) 
Glycol in to Still  300 – 350 F  148 – 176 C  160 C normal  152 C 
ZBE‐4760  operating temp   
TIC4760‐5 
Top of Still  210F, with  98 C ‐ 87 C  99 C normal  102 C 
HBG‐4760 TIC‐ stripping gas  with stripping  operating temp 
4760‐11  190F  gas 
Reboiler  380 ‐400 (prefer  Preferred 193  204 C  
BBC‐4760  380F)  C 
TEG entering  <200F (Prefer  Preferred 82 C N/A 109 
pump  180)   
PBE‐4775 TI‐
4780‐4 

                                                               Glycol  CPP Glycol 
Parameter  Rich  lean     
pH  7.0 – 8.6  7.0 – 8.6     
 
Chlorides  <600  <600
(mg/L) 
Hydrocarbon  <0.3  <.03
(wt%) 
Iron (mg/L)  3.5 – 7.5  <1.5
 
Suspended  <200  <200
solids (mg/L) 
Foaming  Foam height 10 – 20ml
tendency  Break time 5 sec 
pH usually lover on rich glycol due to acid‐gas content
Difference between lean and rich glycol water contents should be 2‐6% 
   

   
Glycol loss before during and after stopping the stripping gas 

 
 

 
 
 
 

17 days before stop stripping gas 17 days after stop stripping gas

Date Glycol Loss Note Date Glycol Loss Note Date Glycol Loss Note

No#

1 4‐Oct‐12 159 1 21‐Oct‐12 108 8‐Nov‐12 158 Lt/day

2 5‐Oct‐12 92 2 22‐Oct‐12 116 9‐Nov‐12 206 Lt/day
10‐Nov‐12 134 Lt/day
 

3 6‐Oct‐12 113 3 23‐Oct‐12 127

Re started 
4 7‐Oct‐12 102 4 25‐Oct‐12 96 11‐Nov‐12 62 Lt/day
stripping gas on 
5 8‐Oct‐12 156 5 26‐Oct‐12 143 12‐Nov‐12 64 Lt/day
Nov 8th.  Stripping 
6 9‐Oct‐12 192 6 27‐Oct‐12 213 13‐Nov‐12 167 Lt/day
gas was increased 
7 10‐Oct‐12 143 7 28‐Oct‐12 86 14‐Nov‐12 173 Lt/day
to 60m3/hr on 
8 11‐Oct‐12 189 Use stripping gas  8 29‐Oct‐12 101 15‐Nov‐12 170 Lt/day
Stop tripping gas  Nov 11th. The 
9 12‐Oct‐12 73 appro. 50m3/hrs for  9 30‐Oct‐12 148 16‐Nov‐12 175 Lt/day
on 21‐Nov‐12 pressure on the 
10 13‐Oct‐12 112 purify lean glycol 10 31‐Oct‐12 100 17‐Nov‐12 179 Lt/day
stripping gas was 
11 14‐Oct‐12 92 11 1‐Nov‐12 99 18‐Nov‐12 161 Lt/day
adjusted twice to 
12 15‐Oct‐12 154 12 2‐Nov‐12 104 19‐Nov‐12 185 Lt/day
maintain to 
13 16‐Oct‐12 156 13 3‐Nov‐12 99 20‐Nov‐12 176 Lt/day
60m3/hr. See 
14 17‐Oct‐12 162 14 4‐Nov‐12 167 21‐Nov‐12 186 Lt/day
history on "Nov 
15 18‐Oct‐12 139 15 5‐Nov‐12 130 22‐Nov‐12 185 Lt/day
2012 glycol 
End September to end November Glycol loss vs stripping gas volume and pressure 

16 19‐Oct‐12 119 16 6‐Nov‐12 87 23‐Nov‐12 93 Lt/day

history" tab
17 20‐Oct‐12 108 17 7‐Nov‐12 135 24‐Nov‐12 126 Lt/day
25‐Nov‐12 99 Lt/day
26‐Nov‐12 191 Lt/day
Glycol Chemical properties before during and after the stripping gas stopped. 

pH Water Content, % Date pH (Spec 6.5 ‐ 9)  Water Content, % (Spec 5.84)

Date Lean Rich Lean  Rich Note
Lean (7.0 ‐ 8.6) Rich (7.0 ‐ 8.6) Lean (<1.5) Rich (3.5 ‐ 7.5)
6.5 ‐ 9.0 (spec) 5.84 (spec) 8‐Nov‐12
Use  9‐Nov‐12 5.6 5.98 3.05 9.66
29‐Aug‐12 8.21 7.12 2.31 6.86
stripping  10‐Nov‐12 6.72 6.04 2.79 10.8
gas appro.  11‐Nov‐12 6.08 5.78 3.61 10.93
30‐Sep‐12 7.35 6.38 2.11 6.3 In Spec 12‐Nov‐12 6.92 6.65 4.15 10.67
50m3/hrs 
13‐Nov‐12 6.26 5.75 5.15 10.36
for purify  14‐Nov‐12 6.25 5.73 4.1 10.15
18‐Oct‐12 7.76 6.62 2.1 7.86
lean glycol 15‐Nov‐12 7.1 6.05 3.64 10.01
Stop  16‐Nov‐12 7.26 6.33 3.51 9.66
21‐Oct‐12 17‐Nov‐12 7.06 6.13 4.08 10.1
NA NA NA NA stripping 
18‐Nov‐12 7.16 6.3 4.44 9.68
gas.
24‐Oct‐12 6.34 6.56 6.34 12.52 19‐Nov‐12 7.19 6.22 4.21 9.8
  the pH &  Out of  20‐Nov‐12 7.3 6.36 4.23 9.61
Water  Spec 21‐Nov‐12 7.61 6.72 3.1 7.4
3‐Nov‐12 6.35 5.92 4.54 10.12
Content  22‐Nov‐12 7.84 6.8 2.64 6.95

 
 
 
were out  23‐Nov‐12
7‐Nov‐12 6.03 6.23 4.37 10.61 24‐Nov‐12
of spec. 
25‐Nov‐12
26‐Nov‐12