石油炼制与化工 ›› 2025, Vol. 56 ›› Issue (1): 123-130.

• 加工工艺 • 上一篇    下一篇

天然气脱水工艺乙二醇损耗原因分析及应对措施

高海兰,姜东,刘汉广,景玉平,任星明,薛乾亮,杨宏宇   

  1. 中石油塔里木油田分公司克拉采油气管理区
  • 收稿日期:2024-01-16 修回日期:2024-04-11 出版日期:2025-01-12 发布日期:2024-12-27
  • 通讯作者: 高海兰 E-mail:gaomv12@163.com

CAUSES ANALYSIS OF ETHYLENE GLYCOL LOSS IN NATURAL GAS DEHYDRATION PROCESS AND COUNTERMEASURES

  • Received:2024-01-16 Revised:2024-04-11 Online:2025-01-12 Published:2024-12-27

摘要: 乙二醇是油气场站常见的水合物抑制剂,对天然气净化处理至关重要,但乙二醇损耗会造成重大经济损失,因此研究降低乙二醇损耗的方法尤为重要。采用假设-验证-结论的分析方法,从气相损失、液相损失和再生损失方面,结合工艺流程,深入分析造成乙二醇损失的原因。提出一套醇烃液三相分离器和富液缓冲罐的液位计算公式,量化计算有效降低液相分离损耗的最优液位。基于HYSYS软件,建立脱水脱烃区块和乙二醇再生区块的HYSYS模型,模拟原料气前冷却器进气温度对凝析水回流液量的影响。结果表明:醇烃液三相分离器醇腔液位控制在51%左右、富液缓冲罐醇腔液位设置在55%左右,可有效降低液相分离损耗;在工艺参数允许范围内,在注醇点前降低原料气温度,有利于凝析水分离,从而达到减少乙二醇损耗的目的。在不进行工艺管线和压力容器改造的前提下,控制乙二醇再生单元分离器液位和脱水脱烃单元注醇点前原料气温度,可大幅降低乙二醇损耗量。2023年乙二醇损耗量降低至6.9 mg/m3,减少乙二醇消耗31.51t,有效减少了处理站生产成本。

关键词: 乙二醇损耗, 脱水工艺, HYSYS软件, 天然气脱水

Abstract: Ethylene glycol is a common hydrate inhibitor in oil and gas field stations, playing a crucial role in the purification of natural gas. However, the consumption of ethylene glycol can result in significant economic losses. Therefore, finding the methods to reduce ethylene glycol consumption is of paramount importance. Employing a hypothesis-verification-conclusion analytical approach, the causes of ethylene glycol loss are analyzed, considering gas-phase losses, liquid-phase losses, and regeneration losses in conjunction with the process flow. A set of formulas for calculating the liquid levels in alcohol-hydrocarbon liquid three-phase separators and rich liquid buffer tanks is proposed, enabling the quantification of the optimal liquid levels for effectively reducing liquid-phase separation losses. Using HYSYS software, models for the dehydration and dehydrocarbonization blocks and the ethylene glycol regeneration block are established to simulate the impact of the pre-cooler inlet gas temperature on the reflux liquid amount of condensed water. The results indicate that maintaining the alcohol chamber liquid level control at around 51% for the alcohol-hydrocarbon liquid three-phase separator and setting the alcohol chamber liquid level at approximately 55% for the rich liquid buffer tank can effectively reduce liquid-phase separation losses. Within the allowable range of process parameters, lowering the inlet gas temperature before the alcohol injection point is beneficial for the separation of condensed water, thereby achieving the goal of reducing ethylene glycol consumption. Without modifying the process pipelines and pressure vessels, controlling the liquid levels of the ethylene glycol regeneration unit separator and the pre-cooler inlet gas temperature before the alcohol injection point can significantly reduce ethylene glycol consumption. In 2023, ethylene glycol consumption decreased to 6.9 mg/m3, resulting in a reduction of 31.51 t of ethylene glycol consumption and effectively reducing production costs at the processing station.

Key words: ethylene glycol loss, dehydration process, HYSYS, natural gas dehydration