PETE 1010 · Natural Gas Processing

Led by Senior Gas Plant Operations Engineer Simulacrum

Natural gas processing from wellhead gathering and sweetening through dehydration, NGL recovery, sulphur recovery, LNG and GTL technologies, pipeline systems, integrity management, underground storage, and the future role of gas infrastructure in hydrogen and CCS.

1. Module 1

   Natural Gas Properties, Gathering, and Initial Treatment

   Led by Senior Gas Plant Operations Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   Natural gas composition varies enormously — a lean dry gas is a different engineering problem from a rich, sour gas with 10% H₂S. This module develops the phase envelope and hydrocarbon dew point concept that governs pipeline operation, the gathering system from wellhead through slug catcher to inlet separator, gas sweetening by the amine process (absorber-regenerator cycle, MDEA selectivity), physical solvent processes for high-CO₂ applications, direct conversion for low-H₂S streams, and mercury removal upstream of aluminium heat exchangers.

   Outcome

   The student can describe the phase envelope and dew point, explain the amine sweetening cycle, compare amine with physical solvent and direct conversion, and state the full inlet treatment sequence. (Gas properties, gathering, and sweetening)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 1.1 Natural Gas Composition and Phase Behaviour Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 1.2 Gas Gathering Systems and Slug Catchers Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 1.3 Gas Sweetening: The Amine Process Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 1.4 Physical Solvent and Direct Conversion Processes Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 1.5 Mercury Removal and Inlet Gas Treatment Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Begin the course → Print certificate of completion
2. Module 2

   Gas Processing: Dehydration, NGL Recovery, Sulphur, and Compression

   Led by Senior Gas Plant Operations Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   After sweetening, the gas still contains water vapour and heavy hydrocarbons that must be removed. This module covers TEG glycol dehydration (contactor-regenerator cycle, stripping gas enhancement), molecular sieve dehydration for cryogenic service, NGL recovery by mechanical refrigeration and the turboexpander process (and why the turboexpander achieves 90–99% C₃+ recovery), the NGL fractionation train, sulphur recovery by the Claus process with tail gas treatment, and centrifugal gas compression with anti-surge control.

   Outcome

   The student can describe both dehydration methods, explain the turboexpander NGL recovery process and its advantage over mechanical refrigeration, describe the Claus sulphur recovery process, and explain anti-surge control for centrifugal compressors. (Dehydration, NGL recovery, sulphur, and compression)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 2.1 TEG Dehydration: Glycol Contactor and Regeneration Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 2.2 Molecular Sieve Dehydration and Cryogenic Pre-Treatment Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 2.3 NGL Recovery: Mechanical Refrigeration and Turboexpander Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 2.4 NGL Fractionation Train Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 2.5 Sulphur Recovery, Tail Gas Treatment, and Compression Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
3. Module 3

   LNG and GTL Technologies

   Led by Senior Gas Plant Operations Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   LNG and GTL unlock stranded gas that cannot reach a market by pipeline. LNG cools natural gas to −162°C, reduces its volume 600-fold, and ships it by tanker. GTL converts it chemically into premium liquid fuels through the Fischer-Tropsch process. This module covers the full LNG chain from liquefaction to regasification, the three dominant liquefaction processes (C3-MR, cascade, DMR), full-containment storage and boil-off gas management, LNG shipping, FSRUs, the Fischer-Tropsch GTL process from syngas through product, and small-scale LNG applications.

   Outcome

   The student can describe the LNG chain and the three liquefaction processes, explain the full-containment tank design, describe the Fischer-Tropsch GTL process, and explain the FSRU concept and small-scale LNG applications. (LNG and GTL technologies)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 3.1 The LNG Chain: Liquefaction to Regasification Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 3.2 Liquefaction Processes: C3-MR, Cascade, and DMR Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 3.3 LNG Storage, BOG Management, and Shipping Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 3.4 GTL: The Fischer-Tropsch Process Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 3.5 LNG Regasification and Small-Scale LNG Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
4. Module 4

   Pipeline Systems, Integrity, and Storage

   Led by Senior Pipeline Integrity Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   The pipeline is how gas reaches the consumer — and keeping it safe, efficient, and operational over a 40-year design life is the pipeline integrity engineer's discipline. This module covers pipeline design (the Barlow equation for wall thickness, steel grade selection), compressor station spacing and flow control, the six primary integrity threats and the inline inspection pigs that detect them, the B31G remaining life assessment for corroded pipe, cathodic protection and the −850 mV criterion, and underground gas storage in depleted reservoirs, salt caverns, and aquifers.

   Outcome

   The student can calculate pipeline wall thickness from the Barlow equation, describe the ILI pig types and defect types each detects, explain the B31G remaining life assessment, describe the cathodic protection principle, and compare three underground storage types. (Pipeline systems, integrity, and storage)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 4.1 Pipeline Design: Wall Thickness, Material, and Routing Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 4.2 Compressor Stations and Flow Control Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 4.3 Pipeline Integrity: Threats, ILI, and Remaining Life Assessment Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 4.4 Cathodic Protection and External Corrosion Management Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 4.5 Underground Gas Storage: Depleted Reservoirs, Salt Caverns, and Aquifers Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion
5. Module 5

   Operations, Monitoring, Environmental, and Future Trends

   Led by Senior Instrumentation & Control Engineer Simulacrum

   The question

   A gas network is a 24/7 operation monitored from the control room through SCADA, and the custody transfer meter at the delivery point is the basis of every commercial transaction. This module covers SCADA architecture and alarm management, the four metering technologies for custody transfer (ultrasonic, orifice, turbine, Coriolis), gas quality monitoring by online chromatograph, computational pipeline monitoring for leak detection, LDAR programmes for fugitive methane emissions, the methane intensity metric, and future trends — hydrogen blending constraints, CCS in depleted reservoirs, and LNG's role in the energy transition.

   Outcome

   The student can describe the SCADA system for gas operations, explain the four metering technologies, describe the CPM leak detection method, explain the LDAR programme, and describe the hydrogen blending constraints and the CCS opportunity. (Operations, monitoring, environmental, and future trends)

   Sub-units

   1. ○ 5.1 SCADA and Control Room Operations Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   2. ○ 5.2 Metering, Custody Transfer, and Gas Quality Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   3. ○ 5.3 Leak Detection and Pipeline Monitoring Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   4. ○ 5.4 Environmental Management: Methane, Flaring, and LDAR Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   5. ○ 5.5 Future Trends: Hydrogen Blending, CCS, and Energy Transition Open this unit → ✓ ↻
   Open this module → Print certificate of completion