Process simulation and performance improving of a gas plant in operation

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

1 Suez University, Faculty of Petroleum and Mining Engineering, Petroleum Refining and Petrochemical Engineering Department, Suez, Egypt.

2 El-Wastani Petroleum Company, Damietta, Egypt.

Abstract

In the first part of this study, the natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery enhancements techniques particularly by capacity increasing was studied to maximize the plant (El-Wastani Petroleum Company located in Egypt) productivity and profitability. The present work studies new NGL recover enhancements routes based on the recovery maximization of butane, propane, or ethane as a final product for sales. The selection of the best improvement route is based on an economical and technical study of these various routes of improvements. This selection is done using fuzzy logic as an intelligent system for the process of decision making. According to the results of fuzzy logic system, it is noted  that in spite of the capacity increasing mode have the highest return on investment (ROI), it is found that the maximization of propane recovery is the optimum route for the plant improvements.  This is because the choice of propane recovery mode does not rely only on ROI but takes in consideration various objectives such as feed stability, marketing availability and recovered NGL quantity. The results of this research wok is beneficial for improving the NGL recovery plants in operation as well as the newly ones which should take in consideration these improvements modes before the plant design.
 

Keywords

Main Subjects