Membrane process for CO2 removal tested at Texas plant

A pilot field study of carbon dioxide (CO2) removal from natural gas by a polymeric membrane system found that a single-pass membrane process can reduce the CO2 concentration from 5 mole % in the feed to less than 2 mole % in the sales gas and H2O from 67 lb/MMscf to less than 7 lb/MMscf. The methan...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Oil & gas journal 1994-01, Vol.92 (5), p.90-92
Main Authors: LEE, A. L, FELDKIRCHNER, H. L, GAMEZ, J. P, MEYER, H. S
Format: Magazinearticle
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Capital costs
Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide removal
Cellulose acetate
Chemical engineering
Economics
Energy
Ethane
Exact sciences and technology
Flow rates
Fuels
Gas conditioning and treatments. Desulphurization. Liquefaction
Gas flow
Gas industry
Gases
Hydrocarbons
Membrane processes
Membrane separation
Membranes
Methane
Natural gas
Operating costs
Permeability
Pilot projects
Process engineering
R&D
Research & development
Studies
Technological change
Testing
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Summary:A pilot field study of carbon dioxide (CO2) removal from natural gas by a polymeric membrane system found that a single-pass membrane process can reduce the CO2 concentration from 5 mole % in the feed to less than 2 mole % in the sales gas and H2O from 67 lb/MMscf to less than 7 lb/MMscf. The methane loss through the membrane permeate was approximately 10%, and the total operating cost was $0.14/Mscf. The study was funded by the Gas Research Institute, and took place at a 500-Mscfd plant in Trinity County, Texas. Field testing for this project occurred at a small, commercial-size, spiral-wound membrane system on a gas well. Because CO2 and H2O are more permeable than methane, ethane, and higher hydrocarbons, an efficient separation can be achieved. A recent economic study showed that hybrid membrane/amine systems may be more economic in some feed-gas flow rate and CO2-concentration ranges.
ISSN:0030-1388
1944-9151