Comparison of the Mehra Process(SM) for nitrogen rejection to a cryogenic process for nitrogen rejection from subquality natural gas. Topical report, June 1990-April 1991

Technical Report · Mon Apr 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5363689

Ma, J J.L.

The objective of the study was to compare the technical merits and process economics of the Mehra Process for nitrogen rejection to a cryogenic process for nitrogen rejection from subquality natural gas. The Mehra technology is a solvent absorption process, while a cryogenic process employs low temperature partial condensation and fractionation to separate gases. The study consisted of preparing a complete nitrogen rejection process design for each technology, complete with a flow diagram, material and energy balances, equipment sizes, and utility consumptions. These data were inputted into a proprietary computer cost estimating program to calculate the total fixed capital investment and production costs for each process. For a 20 million scfd capacity nitrogen rejection system and at the same performance requirements for both processes, the Mehra technology was estimated to require 12% less total fixed capital investment than a state-of-the-art cryogenic process. The corresponding production cost savings by the Mehra technology were estimated to be equal to about 3 cent/million Btu of upgraded natural gas. Besides its favorable economics, the Mehra technology has many intangible technical attributes.

• Research Organization: SRI International, Menlo Park, CA (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5363689
• Report Number(s): PB-91-222067/XAB; CNN: GRI-5090-222-2000
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
ABSORPTION
CAPITALIZED COST
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
COST ESTIMATION
CRYOGENICS
DIAGRAMS
ECONOMICS
ELEMENTS
ENERGY BALANCE
ENERGY SOURCES
EVALUATION
EXTRACTION
FLOWSHEETS
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FRACTIONATION
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
MATERIAL BALANCE
NATURAL GAS
NITROGEN
NONMETALS
OPERATING COST
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
VAPOR CONDENSATION