The Art of Gas Processing

Natural Gas Properties

El Sayed Amer
00201065860658

Eng20072007@gmail.com

/elsayedameer

▪ Bachelor's degree of Petroleum & Natural Gas Engineering 2012.

▪ Currently Senior Petroleum Engineer at Petrogistix KSA since 2022.
▪ Well completion and intervention Engineer at Disouq Oil Co “Disouco” 2018.
▪ Senior Gas Process and Production Engineer at Suez Oil Co “SUCO” since 2014.
▪ Worked for Weatherford drilling international for 2 years as well drilling and completion engineer.
▪ Instructor for Oil & Gas Upstream and downstream courses at MTC Egypt, Egyptian syndicates of
engineers, OGS, SPE, AAPG & OPA.
▪ Member of SPE, AAPG, AACE, NACE, Environmental Geoscience.
▪ IWCF , HYSYS process modeling, Eclipse certified.
https://bit.ly/2UFSgpn
References
Gas Process Course
 01

Natural gas
Properties
 Pressure units

▪ All of these units are expressing pressure

1 atm = 101,325 pascals

1 atm = 760 mm Hg
1 atm = 14.70 psi
1 atm = 1.013 bar
1 atm = 760 torr
1 atm = 760 mm Hg
1 torr = 1 mm Hg

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 Molar weight

▪ Molecular mass is the mass of one molecule.

Methane (CH4), molecular mass can be calculated:

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 Apparent molecular weight

▪ The apparent molar mass 𝑀𝑎 of a gas mixture such as natural gas is equal to the sum
of the molar fraction 𝑦𝑖 times the molar mass 𝑀𝑖 of each component:

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 Physical Properties of Natural Gas

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 Physical Properties of Natural Gas

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 Boyle’s law

Gas pressure increases, then its volume will decrease proportionately

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 Charles’ law

Varying the volume of a gas at constant pressure will vary its temperature

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 Molar Volume

One Mole of any gas at STP equals 22.414 liters

Standard Temperature and Pressure

T : 273.15 K (0 °C, 32 °F)

P : 105 Pa (100 kPa, 1 bar)

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 General Has Low

Ideal Gas Real Gas

𝑃𝑉=𝑛𝑅𝑇 𝑃𝑉=𝑍𝑛𝑅𝑇
P : Absolute Gas pressure P : Absolute Gas pressure
V : Gas volume V : Gas volume
n : Number of moles n : Number of moles
R : Universal gas constant R : Universal gas constant
T : Absolute temperature T : Absolute temperature
Z: Compressibility factor

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 Equation of state for ideal gases

By combining both Boyle’s and Charles’ laws and denoting the constant as R, we arrive at the
equation of state (EOS) for ideal gases:

PV=RT
where R is the characteristic gas constant for a specific gas.

The units of R are derived as follows

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 Compressibility factors

▪ All gases that exist in nature are known as real gases.

▪ The relationship between the properties of a real gas approaches those of an ideal gas
only at certain conditions of pressure and temperature.
▪ However, for real gases, EOS can be modified in the following manner:

VReal
Z= Z = 1 for Ideal GaS
VI𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑙

where “Z” is called the compressibility factor.

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 Equation of state for Real Gases

𝑃𝑉=𝑍𝑛𝑅𝑇
P : Gas pressure
▪ Four factors affecting gases:
V : Gas volume
I. Pressure (P)
n : Number of moles
II. Volume (V)
R : Universal gas constant
III. Temperature (T)
T : Absolute temperature
IV. # of moles (n) Z: Compressibility factor

The number of moles in the gas as follows

𝑚 m = weight of gas, lb
𝑛= M = molecular weight, lb/lb-mol
𝑀
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 Equation of state

𝑃𝑉=𝑍𝑛𝑅𝑇

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 Equation of state

UNIVERSAL GAS CONSTANTS

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 RECAP
Natural gas Properties

GAS LAW DEFINITION DERIVED FORMULA

Boyle's Law V ∝ 1/ P P1V1=P2V2

Charles’ Law V∝ T V1/T1 = V2/T2

Gay-Lussac’s Law P ∝ T P1/T1 = P2/T2

Avogadro’s Law V∝ n V1/n1 = V2/n2

Combined Gas P1 V1/T1 = P2 V2/T2

Law

Ideal Gas Law PV = nRT PV = (g/MM) RT

d = g/V = P (MM)/ RT

Dalton’s Law of PT = Pa + Pb + Pc … PT = (na + nb + nc ) RT

Partial Pressure V

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 Gas Density

• Density is defined as mass per unit volume. Mass is a property and the SI unit for
density is [kg/m3].

𝑚𝑎𝑠𝑠
𝜌=
𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒

where
ρ = density [kg/m3]
m = mass [kg]
V = volume [m3]
ν = specific volume [m3/kg]

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 Gas Density

• Natural gas is lighter than air : density of air is 1.293 kg/Sm3, density of natural gas is
0.68 kg/Sm3

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 Specific Gravity (Relative Density) - SG

The relative density d (specific gravity) of a gas is:

• The ratio of gas density to the density of air at standard conditions
• The ratio of gas weight to air weight = 28.96

𝜌𝑔𝑎𝑠 𝑀 𝑀
𝑆. 𝐺 = 𝛾𝑔 = = =
𝜌𝑎𝑖𝑟 𝑀𝑎𝑖𝑟 28.963

where
SG = specific gravity of gas
ρgas = density of gas [kg/m3]
ρair = density of air (normally at NTP - 1.204 [kg/m3])

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Gas Density

Gas Process
The density of the gas depends upon the pressure at which it is
confined.
At 750 psi
gas have a density of 2.25 Ib/cu ft.

However, for the same gas,

At atmospheric pressure
the density only be 0.1 Ib/cu ft.

The relationship between the volumes of gas and oil produced from a reservoir is known as the
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Gas Oil Ratio (G.O.R(
The usual oilfield units for this ratio are scf/bbl

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Gas Density

Gas Process
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Gas Density

Gas Process
Calculate the specific gravity of a natural gas with the following composition.

Solution:

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 Critical Temperature and Pressure

o The critical pressure of a substance is the pressure that must be applied in

order to liquefy that substance at its critical temperature.

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 Critical Temperature and Pressure

o Properties of gases can be correlated if they are compared at

‘‘corresponding’’ values of absolute temperature and pressure.
o The critical state of a gas is used as reference point, and so-called reduced
values are obtained.

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Compressibility of Real Gases

Gas Process
o At the higher pressure the attractive
or repulsive forces between gas
molecules become important.
o The assumptions for ideal-gas
behavior are then no longer valid.
o Compressibility factors for natural
gases are determined by laboratory
measurements, & correlations, or
calculated by equations of state.

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 Gas Compressibility factor

o Compressibility factor for lean,

sweet natural gas. (After Katz
et al.)

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Gas Specific volume

Gas Process
the volume occupied by a unit mass of the gas. For an ideal gas,
this property can be calculated

𝑉 𝑅𝑇 1
𝑣= = =
𝑚 𝑃 𝑀𝑤 𝜌𝑔

𝑣 : specific volume, ft3/lb

𝜌𝑔 : gas density, lb/ft3 31

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Standard volume

Gas Process
volume occupied by 1 lb-mol of gas at a reference pressure and
temperature.

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Gas-Oil ratio, GOR

Gas Process
• A measurement of gas volume Vgas to a certain volume of oil, Voil.

• The GOR could be described:

𝑉𝑔𝑎𝑠
𝐺𝑂𝑅 = SCF/STB
𝑉𝑂𝑖𝑙
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Gas viscosity

Gas Process
• The natural gas is a viscous fluid.
• Its viscosity is much lower than water or oil; hence, the unit used for it is µP.
• The viscosity of gas depends on its composition, temperature and pressure
conditions.

• viscosity increase with increase in temperature.

• viscosity of natural gas under high pressure tends to increase with the
increase in pressure, decrease with the increase in temperature, and
increase with the increase in molecular weight.
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Gas viscosity

Gas Process
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Gas boiling point

Gas Process
• Temperature at which a substance changes its state from liquid to gas
Number of
Molecular Boiling Point
Alkane Phase at STP Structural
Formula (°C)
Isomers
Methane CH4 –161.5 gas 1
Ethane C2H6 –88.6 gas 1
Propane C3H8 –42.1 gas 1
Butane C4H10 –0.5 gas 2
Pentane C5H12 36.1 liquid 3
Hexane C6H14 68.7 liquid 5
Heptane C7H16 98.4 liquid 9 36

Octane C8H18 125.7 liquid 18

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Nonane C9H20 150.8 liquid 35
decane C10H22 174.0 liquid 75
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Heating value

Gas Process
1. Net heating value - lower heating value

• Heat released by combustion of gas sample with water vapor as a

combustion product;
• also known as the lower heating value (LHV).

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Heating value

Gas Process
2. Gross heating value, higher calorific value

• Heat released by combusting of gas sample with liquid water as a

combustion product; also known as the higher
• (HHV) - measure of the energy generated by combustion (including the
heat that turns the water created into steam).
• Higher heating value (HHV).

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Note: HHV is the standard measure used for commercial transactions

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Heating value

Gas Process
Gross Heating Value Net Heating Value
Gas
(Btu/Scf) (Btu/Scf)
Methane 1012 911
Ethane 1783 1631
Propane 2557 2353
isobutane 3354 3094
n-butane 3369 3101
isopentane 4001 3698
n-pentane 4009 3709
Neopentane 3987 3685
n-hexane 4755.9 4403.8
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2-Methylpentane 4747.3 4395.2

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3-Methylpentane 4750.3 4398.2
Neohexane 4736.2 4384

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British Thermal Unit

Gas Process
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Gas Process
02

Sales Gas
Contracts
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Gas Quality

Gas Process
Scientific field dealing with the compositions, the physical properties and the
specifications of natural gas

Specifications for “sales (dry) gas” transport

❖ Water Content / Water Dew point

❖ Hydrocarbon Dew point
❖ H2S Content
❖ Total Sulphur content
❖ Calorific Value
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❖ Inert content

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❖ Other contaminants

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Gas Quality

Gas Process
Specifications for “sales (dry) gas” transport Onshore processes

Designation and unit Specification

Hydrocarbon dew point (°C at 50 barg) ˂-10
Water dew point (°C at 69 barg) -18
Maximum carbon dioxide (mole%) 2.50

Sales (dry) gas

Maximum oxygen (ppmv) 2
Maximum hydrogen sulphide incl. COS (mg/Nm3) 5
Maximum mercaptans (mg/Nm3) 6.0
Maximum sulphur (mg/Nm3) 30
Gross Calorific Value (MJ/Sm3) 38.1 – 43.7
Gross Calorific Value (MJ/Nm3) 40.2 – 46.0 Receiving terminals
Gross Calorific Value (kWh/Nm3) 11.17 – 12.78
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Wobbe Index (MJ/Sm3) 48.3 – 52.8
Wobbe Index (MJ/Nm3) 51.0 – 55.7

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Wobbe Index (kWh/Nm3) 14.17 – 15.47

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Water Content of natural gas

Gas Process
All gases have the capacity to hold water in the vapor state.
Gas can hold water molecules.
1. The warmer the air is, the more molecules it contains.
2. The colder it is, the less water it can hold.
The water contents of NG depend on:
I. Pressure: The water content decreases with the increase in pressure.
II. Temperature: The water content increases with the increase in temperature.
III. Salt Content: The water content decrees with an increase in water salt content (salinity).
IV. Gas Composition (The specific gravity) : Higher gravity gas has low water content.

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Water Content
Pressure

temperature

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salinity

gravity

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Water Content of natural gas

Gas Process
Water Content calculation
▪ McKetta-Wehe correlation for water content in
natural gas.
▪ Dew point of natural gas.

wwater is in kilograms of water per 106 m3 of NG

tG is temperature of NG in °C,
PG is pressure of NG in MPa

Sales Gas accepted water content:

a) 4 : 7 lb./MM SCF
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b) 60 : 110 mg/m3

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 H2O CONTENT OF MOISTURE SATURATED GASES 46
Water Content of natural gas

Gas Process
(Correlation of BUKACEK)

1 - Given a feed gas temperature of 35°C,

and pressure of 70 bar.a, what is the
moisture content of the feed gas? 46

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≈ 830
………. mg/Sm3

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 Water Content of natural gas 47

Gas Process
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Water dew point

Gas Process
▪ Dew point is another variable measure of humidity used as quality parameter.
▪ When the gas absorbed its limit of water holding capacity at a specific pressure and
temperature, it is said to be saturated or at its dew point.

Water type Phase Separation Depend on

Free water Liquid 3 phase separator Reservoir performance

Saturation water vapor Gas Treatment Gas P & T

▪ Dew point measures the temperature at which liquid moisture will start to condense.
▪ This specification is necessary to prevent the condensation of water in gas transportation
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and distribution systems.

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▪ The water dew point is achieved by means of dehydration processes

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 Water dew point 49

Gas Process
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Water dew point

Gas Process
▪ There are many options available to operators to measure dew point in industrial processes

▪ Moisture analyzer
▪ Humidity sensor
▪ Dew-point meter
▪ Dew-point monitor
▪ Moisture detector.

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Hydrocarbon dew point

Gas Process
▪ To meet these specifications, the removal of both water and C6+ hydrocarbon fraction that
contribute most to hydrocarbon dew point is required.
▪ Several technologies are available to control gas dew points.
▪ HCDP prevents hydrocarbon condensation at cold conditions.
▪ hydrocarbon dew point is achieved by means of gas cooling

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Typical pressure temperature phase diagram for a multicomponent
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system.

Gas Process
Liquid

Gas
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Phase envelope of NG

Gas Process
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Multi-component Phase Behavior

Gas Process
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Phase envelope of NG

Gas Process
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Water dew point

Gas Process
▪ Depending on market specifications, the typical natural gas dew points range:
A. from -5 °C to -20 °C as a water dew point
B. from 0°C to -5 °C as a hydrocarbon dew point
C. while lower values can be required for subsea pipeline transportation.

• When the gas temperature falls below the

hydrocarbon dew point it begins to “rain”
hydrocarbons in the pipeline. Highly dependent 56

on C6+ concentration

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H2S Content

Gas Process
H2S must be removed from the gas to very low concentrations due to its toxicity.

▪ The removal of acid gases (H2S and CO2) can be achieved with various technologies (gas
sweetening).

▪ Typical Specifications:
A. H2S: less than :
i. 4 ppm
ii. 0.25 and 0.3 grains / 100 SCF
iii. 6 to 7 mg/m3
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B. Total Sulfur:
i. less than 20 g/100 SCF

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ii. (115 : 460 mg/m3)

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Calorific Value

Gas Process
▪ The Gas offered at the Delivery Point shall have a Gross Heating Value in a gaseous state in the
range of 950: 1150 BTU/SCF
▪ Heating value is usually expressed as:
a. Gross or higher heating value
b. 35 : 41 MJ/m3 or BTU/scf

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Inert and Other contaminants

Gas Process
Nitrogen:
• Typically limited to 2-3%,
Carbon Dioxide:
• Typically limited to 2-3%,
Helium:
• Not typically addressed in the gas contracts. May be extracted from the gas if economically
viable. Sales prices can range from $1000-$1500 per sm3.
Oxygen:
• Typically limited to 0.1%.
• Not usually present in natural gas unless vacuum conditions are experienced in the production
system
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Contract Specs

Gas Process
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Contract Specs

Gas Process
Components (Mol%) Minimum Maximum
Methane 75 –
Ethane – 10
Propane – 5
Butanes – 2
Pentanes plus – 0.5
Trace Components
Nitrogen and other inerts – 3–4
Carbon dioxide 3–4
Hydrogen sulfide – > 4 ppm
Mercaptan sulfur – 0.25–1.0 gr/100 SCF
Total sulfur – 5–20 gr/100 SCF
Water vapor – 7.0 lbs/mmcf
Oxygen – 0.2–1.0 ppmv 61
Heating Value
Heating value, Btu/SCF gross 950 1150

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Note Liquids: free of liquid water and hydrocarbons at delivery P & T
solids: free of solids

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