Liquefied Natural Gas production

The design objectives for the SMDS process were developed to exploit small or remote gas fields where the cost of liquefied natural gas production or a gas pipeline system is not warranted. In many of the present GTL applications this is not... 

Plate-fin exchangers provide a very large heat transfer surface per unit volume and are relatively inexpensive per unit area. They are not mechanically cleanable and are ordinarily used only with very clean fluids. This combination of properties fits them very well for a wide variety of cryogenic applications, such as air separation helium separation, purification, and liquefaction liquefied natural gas production and separation of light hydrocarbons. They are also used in higher-temperature gas-to-gas services. 

U.S. 6,347,532 (Air Products) describes a process for liquefying natural gas and gives several possible process embodiments. Which of these is the cheapest for the given gas composition If the gas initially contains 3000 ppmw CO2, 1250 ppmw H2S, and 28 ppmw COS, and the cost of producing the natural gas feed is 0.5/MMBtu, what is the cost of production of the liquefied natural gas product ... 

Keywords Liquefied Natural Gas production. Gas turbine. Megawatt Variable... 

NFPA Standard 59A, Standard for the Production, Storage, and Handhng of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)... 

Other energy sector concerns are methane emissions from unburned fuel, and from natural gas leaks at various stages of natural gas production, transmission and distribution. The curtailment of venting and flaring stranded gas (remotely located natural gas sources that are not economical to produce liquefied natural gas or methanol), and more efficient use of natural gas have significantly reduced atmospheric release. But growth in natural gas production and consumption may reverse this trend. Methane has... 

Remote and relatively small gas fields cannot justify the high investment cost associated with liquefied natural gas (LNG) production or a gas pipeline system. Conversion of the natural gas from such gas fields to liquids by a gas-to-liquids facility allows these gas fields to be exploited. 

Commercial liquefied natural gas (NGL) is composed of at least 99% methane that has been cooled to approximately -160 °C (-256 °F), at atmospheric pressure. At this temperature is occupies only 1/600 of its original volume. LNG is less than half as dense as water, is colorless, odorless, non-toxic and sulfur free. It is vaporized as needed for use as a high quality fuel. In atmospheric burning no smoke production normally occurs. 

Gas-to-liquids plants are generally located close to natural gas fields, as the transport costs for liquid fuels are less than those for gaseous fuels. The production of GTL is considered to be an alternative to liquefied natural gas (LNG), specifically when focusing on the end-product vehicle fuel and not the long distance transport of energy. In 1993, a first large-scale GTL plant was erected by Shell in Bintulu, Sarawak in Malaysia, based on Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. The plant s total thermal process efficiency is about 63% (Shell, 1995) (see Table 7.11) a second plant is under construction in Qatar, with production expected to begin in 2010. 

Logistic fuels, such as jet and diesel fuels, are readily available, but a compact and effective way to remove sulfur from these fuels is needed for portable hydrogen production. Consequently, for most portable applications, it is likely that sulfur-free fuels, such as methanol, will be used. An additional advantage of methanol is that it is easier to activate at low temperatures than other hydrocarbons. Therefore, a portable hydrogen production unit based on methanol steam reforming would be simpler and less costly than other alternatives. Methanol can also be considered an energy carrier as an alternative to liquefied natural gas... 

Liquefied natural gas plants for peak shaving and vehicle fuel production are generally similar in the pre-treatment and liquefaction areas. However, these plants differ substantially in terms of storage and send-out facilities as shown in Table 2. Indeed, these discrete differences make a huge impact on the capital cost ... 

LNG (liquefied natural gas)-natural gas that has been liquefied at extremely low temperature. It is stored or transported in insulated tanks capable of sustaining the high pressure developed by the product at normal ambient temperatures. 

The demand for liquefied petroleum gas (LPG consisting of propanes and butanes) is projected to increase rapidly in future years.(1) World consumption is dominated by the United States and Japan. Processing of natural gas accounts for the bulk of domestic LPG however, natural gas production has leveled off forcing the LPG industry to examine other feedstock sources. Japan must look to other countries for future LPG supplies due to environmental and space limitations. An allied problem, especially in the United States, is the continuing need for isobutane to produce valuable alkylates for the gasoline pool. 

New business models are also emerging. The launch of giant liquefied natural gas (LNG) and gas-to-liquids (GTL) projects in the Middle East is increasing ethane availability from incremental natural gas production. Also under evaluation is the production of a range of chemicals based on giant methanol plants sourced with low-cost stranded natural gas. 

Taking a different course than Algeria with its liquefied natural gas, the Gulf States have thus upgraded their natural resources and already account for 10 percent, 5 percent, and 4 percent of world production of methanol, ethylene, and polyethylene respectively. 

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