Natural gas processing is necessary to refine gas into a usable and safe product, but it comes with safety and environmental risks. Different types of wells require different processing methods, and valuable by-products can be extracted. Processing facilities are regulated for pollution management.
Natural gas processing refers to the steps required to bring natural gas from its extracted state to a usable and safe product for the consumer. Not all gas is created equal in chemical composition, which means that multiple separate processes may be required to refine the gas into a pipeline-ready product. Processing natural gas is essential to producing usable gas, but it does come with some safety and environmental risks.
The extraction of natural gas occurs through three types of wells, which can influence the type of processing of the natural gas necessary to create a finished product. Gas from oil wells must be processed to separate the gas from crude oil, while gas from condensation wells must be processed to remove water and hydrocarbons. Real natural gas wells produce a product called non-associated gas, which may require less processing before being fed into pipelines.
Once the initial separation is complete, the treatment of the natural gas will depend on the chemicals present in the extracted gas. One of the most common steps is “sweetening” the gas with high levels of hydrogen sulphide. While some natural gas is naturally low in this compound, it must be processed from some source as it is highly flammable and explosive. Softening is generally carried out by processing the gas with a substance, typically an amine solution, which absorbs the hydrogen sulphide until it reaches safe levels.
Many steps in natural gas processing are done less to create safer gas and more to extract valuable by-products from the starting substance. Butane, propane and ethane can all be extracted from some natural gas sources and are profitable products in their own right. The softening process also allows the collection of the extremely precious sulphur. Other substances removed from the gas during processing are rejected for a variety of reasons and using different methods. Water, for example, is typically dehydrated from the gas, while radon, which is radioactive, must be removed and disposed of as a biohazard.
Natural gas processing occurs through a natural gas plant, which is an interconnected system of wells and processing chambers. These large plants consist of pipelines through which the gas can be directed for specific processing treatments. At each stage, tests may be performed to ensure the product meets industry or government standards for purity and composition. Processing facilities are typically located at or near the well site, although large natural gas systems may have additional checkpoint facilities strategically placed along the pipeline.
Since natural gas processing involves the removal of polluting and often hazardous materials from the gas, the issue of pollution management is critical to the future of the industry. The way toxic substances, such as sulfur, butane and toluene, are removed, handled, released and stored is closely regulated by many governments. In some regions, processing plants are subject to emission limits, with penalties and fines for violations.
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