(67c) Offshore Gas Treatment Technology for Natural Gas

Offshore liquefaction of natural gas is expected to be the next technological breakthrough for capitalizing stranded natural gas resources. There are several technology options that can be used for acid gas removal or pretreatment of FLNG (Floating Liquified Natural Gas) plants.  The traditional amine absorption processes have been widely used for the treatment of feed gas for onshore LNG plants. Due to limited space available on the offshore facility, the gas treatment units on FLNG plants have to be designed with smaller weight and footprint. 

A hybrid system is a combination of membranes for bulk CO₂ removal and amine units as polishing systems. Membranes have been proven in multiple offshore applications and suitable for offshore environment due to their compactness, minimal weight, footprint and insensitivity to sea motion. These hybrid systems can reduce the size and weight of the total pretreatment unit, minimize the effect of sea motion on the amine column performance and offer a cost effective solution.