Sour gas
Sour gas (also treat gas called, engl. " Sour gas ") is the designation for unpurified gas (raw gas) which contains a significant hydrogen sulfide has content, but may also have other acidic gases and may contain other ingredients. However, the only relevant factor for classification as sour gas is the hydrogen sulfide content. Sour gas is therefore a gas mixture .
Sour gas is either promoted directly for the subsequent generation of usable natural gas or it occurs as an undesirable accompanying gas in oil production if it cannot be used economically.
The term sour (in the sense of sour , fermented , spoiled , tart , bitter ) alludes to the typical smell of hydrogen sulfide, which is reminiscent of rotting eggs. Hydrogen sulfide is a gas that is also corrosive , caustic , highly flammable and toxic even in low concentrations . Because of this, the hydrogen sulfide content is removed or reduced from the raw gas as early as possible during natural gas extraction (directly at the borehole) using gas scrubbing processes .
Natural gas processing plants
Natural gas processing plants are used for the further processing and purification of sour gas . In Germany, this happens in the Großenkneten natural gas processing plant . Up until a few years ago, NEAG had a second natural gas processing plant in Voigtei , which ceased operations in 2014.
In Austria , natural gas purification takes place in the Aderklaa natural gas processing plant , which is operated by OMV .
Sour gas cleaning - process engineering
In order to free acid gas from hydrogen sulfide, there are various process engineering methods for gas desulfurization .
Sour gas accidents
In addition to the fact that acid gas is flammable and explosive due to the high proportion of hydrocarbons ( methane , ethane , propane, etc.), the hydrogen sulfide content in particular is the cause of many fatal acid gas accidents.
In 1975 9 people died in Denver City, Texas as a result of an acid gas accident in an oil well. In 2011, a worker in Alberta died of a gas leak during maintenance work. In 2003, 191 people died in the explosion and release of acid gas in China. Calves died from gas leaks from oil wells in the Saskatchewan region, Canada.
Sour gas flaring
The sour gas that occurs in oil production and is often not economically usable is burned by flaring . The hydrogen sulfide is converted into comparatively harmless sulfur dioxide . The method of flaring is also used to let the toxic acid gas out of the system parts for the purpose of maintaining pipes or systems.
Sweet gas
In contrast to sour gas, natural gas without hydrogen sulfide is called fresh gas or sweet natural gas . In English, the process of cleaning of natural gas and the removal of hydrogen sulphide is also called sweetening (translated: sweet ), respectively.
See also
Web links
Individual evidence
- ↑ Overview of the natural gas processing process (Wintershall)
- ↑ Grossenkneten natural gas processing plant
- ↑ Article on natural gas purification and sulfur production in Großenkneten
- ↑ NEAG natural gas processing plant closes after 50 years of operation
- ↑ Natural gas processing plant in Voigtei closes
- ↑ OMV increases natural gas production in Austria (article from 2008)
- ^ Deadly gas on the rise in oil fields
- ↑ Worker killed in Alberta sour gas leak
- ↑ Gas well explosion and fumes kill 191 in china
- ^ Sour gas from oil wells a deadly problem in southeast saskatchewan
- ↑ Article about the Grossenkneten natural gas cleaning system
- ↑ Sour gas sweetening