Oil and Gas
Oil and Gas | Facilities Engineering
Sour Gas Treating
This one-day course is designed for engineers, technologists, plant supervisors, and plant operators wanting to broaden their understanding of sour gas treating. The session includes a review of the evolution of sour gas sweetening solvents, and the problems associated with the operation of sour gas treating, such as corrosion and foaming. Design and operational considerations for the process train equipment are presented. Scavenger methods of treating sour gas are also discussed. A comprehensive set of notes is provided.
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Schedule
Duration and Training Method
One classroom day providing .8 CEU (Continuing Education Credits) or 8 PDH (Professional Development Hours)
Course Overview
Learning Outcomes
Participants will learn to:
• Describe the typical process equipment in a sweetening train
• Appreciate the function of each piece of equipment in a sweetening train
• Select the appropriate sweetening solvent for a sour gas mixture
• Calculate mole loading of acid gas-to-solvent for a circulation rate
• Select the appropriate operating range for solvent concentration
• Describe the basic process equipment design considerations
• Reduce the potential causes of foaming
• Select scavenger sweetening chemical
Course Content
Course Agenda
• Review of types of sulphur-containing compounds in sour natural gas
• Occurrence of sour gas in the world
• Typical process equipment in a sweetening train
• Regenerative chemical sweetening solvents
• Proprietary solvents
• Physical solvents
• Mixed solvents
• Selective removal of H2S
• Design considerations for components of sweetening train
• Types of operating problems and solutions
• Causes of corrosion
• Scavenger chemical sweetening process
A case review of solvent change from MEA to DEA to MDEA is presented.
Who Should Attend and Prerequisites
This course is intended for engineers and technologists responsible for the selection and design of sweetening processes and for foremen and operators responsible for plant operations.
Instructors
Ed Wichert
Background
Edward Wichert has an extensive background in the oil and gas industry. This includes experience at the technical level as well as in management in drilling, oil and gas production and processing, reservoir engineering and economic analysis. He gained this experience through employment in the oil and gas industry in Alberta, with small, intermediate, and large companies. He holds a B.Sc. degree in Petroleum Engineering and a Master's degree in Chemical Engineering. His research interests are mainly related to sour gas. He has published several articles dealing with determining the properties of sour gas and the application of technology in sour gas production and processing, as well as the disposal of acid gas by compression and injection.
He is an independent oil and gas industry consultant in Calgary and was an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Calgary from 1996 to 2005. He has presented courses in natural gas technology worldwide and is the recipient of the Award of Merit from the Canadian Gas Processors Association, in 1994, the Lifetime Achievement in Hydrocarbon Measurement award from the Canadian Institute of Hydrocarbon Measurement, in 2003, and the Project, Facilities, and Construction Award from the Society of Petroleum Engineers, in 2008.
His experience as a lecturer dates back many years. From 1971 to 1973 he was coordinator of the Petroleum Industry Training Service (PITS) course in Natural Gas Processing, in which he participated as a lecturer as well. Between 1988 and 1996 he provided lectures annually in Colombia for Ecopetrol as well as the Petroleum University in Bucaramanga in natural gas processing and operations. He also coordinated the gas processing evening course in the Chemical and Petroleum Engineering Department at the University of Calgary in 1997 and presented lectures in this course as well. Edward has presented courses in gas technology throughout the world. In 2018, he wrote “The Sour Gas, Sulfur and Acid Gas Book”, a comprehensive book on the technology of sour gas production, gathering, treating, and the different methods of acid gas disposal.
Affiliations and Accreditation
B.Sc. University of Alberta - Petroleum Engineering
M.Eng. University of Calgary - Chemical Engineering
University of Calgary - Adjunct Professor, 1996-2005
Gas Processing Association Canada - Member
APEGA - Member
SPE - Life Member
Courses Taught
N632 - Sour Gas Treating
N634 - Acid Gas Compression and Injection
N635 - Metering of Natural Gas and Associated Liquids