ANALYSIS OF THE PROBLEM OF PURIFICATION OF NATURAL GAS FROM ACIDIC COMPONENTS AT THE UCHKYR FIELD

АBSTRАCT

The article highlights the problems of gas and gas condensate fields located in the Republic of Uzbekistan, which are sulfurous and need to be purified from hydrogen sulfide for transportation to consumers. Mainly, the sulfur cleaning plant (SСP) located on the territory of the Uchkyr field is studied, where gas is purified using an aqueous solution of ethanolamine.

In addition, an analysis is given in the field of natural gas purification, which shows that the main processes for processing large gas flows are absorption using chemical and physical absorbents and their combinations.

In connection with the above, it is clear that this problem of gas purification from hydrogen sulfide is relevant and serious. Study of kinetic patterns of absorption purification of natural gas with ethanolamine, identification of deficiencies in the existing scheme of the Uchkyr SСP.

АННОТАЦИЯ

В статье освещается проблемы газовых и газоконденсатных месторождений, расположенные в Республике Узбекистан, которые являются сернистыми и необходимо очищать их от сероводорода для транспортировки потребителям. В основном изучается сероочистная установка (СОУ) находящейся на территории месторождения Учкыр, где газ очищается с помощью водяным раствором этаноламина.

Кроме этого приводится анализ в области очистки природных газов, которые показывает, что основными процессами для обработки больших потоков газа являются абсорбционные с использованием химических и физических абсорбентов и их комбинации.

В связи с вышеизложенным видно, что данная проблема очистки газа от сероводорода является актуальной и носит серьезный характер. Исследование кинетических закономерностей абсорбционной очистки природного газа этаноламином, выявление недостатков в существующей схеме СОУ Учкыр.

Keywоrds: gas, gas condensate, fields, sulfur, hydrogen sulfide, cоmpоnents, corrоsiоn, plant, ethanolamine.

Ключевые слова: газ, газовый конденсат, месторождения, сера, сероводород, компоненты, коррозия, завод, этаноламин.

Introduction. Most gas and gas condensate fields located in Uzbekistan are sulfurous. To transport gas to consumers, it is necessary to clean it from hydrogen sulfide.

Today, in the Gazli region, on the territory of the Uchkyr field, there is a sulfur cleaning plant (SCP) with a capacity of 1.5 billion m³ per year. Gas is cleaned using an aqueous solution of ethanolamine [1, p.46].

Methods. Currently, various processes are used to purify natural gas from H₂S and CO₂, which can be divided into the following groups:

1. Chemisorption processes based on the chemical interaction of H₂S and CO₂ with the active part of the absorbent;

2. Physical absorption processes in which the extraction of acidic components occurs due to their solubility in organic absorbers;

3. Combined processes using both chemical and physical absorbers;

4. Oxidation processes based on the irreversible conversion of absorbed hydrogen sulfide into sulfur;

5. Adsorption processes based on the extraction of gas components by solid absorbers-adsorbents (molecular sieves, activated carbons, etc.).

The choice of the process for cleaning natural gas from sulfur compounds depends on many factors, the main ones being: the composition and parameters of the raw gas, the required degree of purification and the area of ​​use of commercial gas, the availability and parameters of energy resources, and production waste [2, p.247].

Results and Discussion. Analysis of world practice accumulated in the field of natural gas purification shows that the main processes for processing large gas flows are absorption processes using chemical and physical absorbents and their combinations. Oxidation and adsorption processes are used, as a rule, for cleaning small gas flows, or for fine gas cleaning.

In connection with the above, it is clear that this problem of gas purification from hydrogen sulfide is relevant and serious.

Study of kinetic patterns of absorption purification of natural gas with ethanolamine, identification of shortcomings in the existing scheme of the Uchkyr SCP [3, p.69].

The feedstock for the ELTS is purified gas after the Uchkyr SCP. The composition of the gas at the inlet of the Uchkyr ELTS is given in Table 1.

Table.1

The composition of the gas at the inlet of the Uchkyr ELTS

Parameters of the initial gas:

- pressure at the inlet to the ELTS 4.8-5.0 MPa;

- temperature 30-35 ^oC.

For a positive solution to the tasks set, they can be characterized in the following order:

1. Search for modern ways to improve the efficiency of absorption equipment based on the analysis of the state of the issues of absorption theory and practice, modern development trends.

2. Study of problems in gas purification from sulfur compounds and carbon monoxide.

3. Increasing the degree and quality of gas purification.

4. Development of theoretical provisions for the calculation and design of absorption gas purification and amine regeneration units [1, p.47].

The physicochemical properties of the components included in the processed gas, as well as the explosion hazard category and group, are given in Table 2.

Table 2.

Physicochemical properties of the components included in the processed gas, category and explosion hazard group