Cost and Energy Balance Comparison

To be truly competitive, the removal of the acid gas components H2S and CO2, be it trim or bulk, complete or partial, requires the optimum choice of an activator together with a carefully crafted know-how in solvent absorption/regeneration process design. The Elf Activated MDEA process developed by Total is probably the most cost-effective solution today to meet the widest range of applications from complete CO2 removal to bulk H2S and/or CO2 removal even for acid gas re-injection projects. The historical R D efforts of Elf Aquitaine coupled with current resources of Total allows this MDEA process to be credited with the most significant know-how back-up technology base on the market today. 

The upstream acid gas pre-extraction technique from IFF, called SFREX, offers a synergistic combination with the Elf Activated MDEA process in most applications for bulk H2S rich acid gas disposal projects. The substantial reduction of the acid gas removal and re-compression loads afforded by the SFREX step coupled with energy efficient flash procured Activated MDEA process achieves sour gas purification with bulk acid gas disposal very cost-effectively. 

1 Blanc, C., Elgue, J. and Lallemand, F. (1981) MDEA process selects H2S. Hydrocarb. Process, 60 (8), 111. 

2 Elgue, J., Peytavy, J.L. and Tournier-Lasserve, J. (1991) Recent industrial developments in natural gas sweetening by MDEA. Paper presented at the 18th World Gas Conference, Berlin. 

3 Elgue, J. and Lallemand, E. (1996) MDEA based solvents used at the Lacq processing plant. Paper presented at the Gas 

---