Associated gas: profitable use

2024 Author: Howard Calhoun | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 10:16

Associated gas is considered a by-product produced during oil production. It is a mixture of inorganic and hydrocarbon compounds that "black gold" emits. The main difficulties with its use are caused by the lack of processing and transport infrastructure in the mining areas, as well as large local consumers. In this regard, until recently, associated gas, as a rule, was flared, polluting the environment.

Moreover, due to the fact that it contains ethane, propane, methane, butane, isobutane and non-hydrocarbon gases, hydrogen, helium, nitrogen, argon, hydrogen sulfide, hard rock dust, its combustion products are the cause of a number of heavy diseases. However, the tightening of laws in the countries of the former USSR has put the extractive industry in a practically uncontested situation - the utilization of associated gas must take place with the mandatory generation of electricity or with additional purification and supply to the main networks. From an economic point of view, the first option is the most acceptable, the second makes sense if consumers are located at a relatively short distance.

Associated gas can also be used inas fuel for internal combustion engines. However, in this case there are certain limiting factors. In particular, associated gas requires certain preparation for use, since it contains hydrocarbons with a low methane number, which are the cause of detonation. In addition, it contains aggressive sulfur-containing substances that cause corrosion and rapid oil oxidation.

Natural and associated gas are competitors today, but not in terms of demand from consumers, but in terms of access to a single gas transmission system. Due to its heavy workload and monopoly on infrastructure, oil companies have limited access to it. All this practically nullifies all the economic advantages that associated gas has, which, in particular, include the established zero MET rate and the cost of production. With all this, the price of this gas is low, depending mainly on its composition. When determining it, storage and transportation costs are practically not taken into account.

The use of gas as a fuel for generating heat and electricity at the production site in such a situation becomes almost the only way to use it. For this purpose, the following set of equipment is required:

- gas treatment plant (may be one stationary for the entire facility, consisting of modules, the number of which will depend on the number of electrical units);

- gas piston electrical installation;

- engine heat recovery unit andexhaust gases;

- liquid fraction terminal.

Design of equipment for gas treatment is carried out depending on its specific composition. The electric generator and auxiliary installations can be produced both in a block (container) design and in an open one. Also, the equipment can be located on trailers for use as a backup mobile or permanent source of electrical power.