Ministry of Higher Education

Year: 4th year

and Scientific Research
Subject: Project Proposal
University of Zakho
Date: Dec 6th, 2021
College of Engineering
Petroleum Department

Project Title:
Simulation and optimization of natural gas sweetening by
using Aspen Hysys

A proposal submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the

Degree of Bachelor's in Petroleum Engineering Studies

Students Name:
1. Awam Abdullah
2. Bahast Faiq
3. Said Hasan
4. Sarmad Mohammed Salim
5. Sawsan Mathher
6. Thawry Sadeq

Supervisor:
Mr. Sarkar Mhedin

Date of Submission: December 6th, 2021

Contents
1 Background and introduction ................................................................................. 1
2 Literature review .................................................................................................... 2
3 Project Goals & Objectives .................................................................................... 4
4 Scope of the project ............................................................................................... 4
5 Proposed Methodology (or/ Material and Methods) .............................................. 5
5.1 Methodology ................................................................................................... 5
5.2 Selection of case study: ................................................................................... 5
5.3 Process description .......................................................................................... 6
5.4 Process design ................................................................................................. 6
5.4.1 Contactor information (Simple type of Absorber) ................................... 6
5.4.2 Equipment Information ............................................................................ 7
5.4.3 Regenerator information (Striper Tower) ................................................ 7
5.4.4 Make up water information ...................................................................... 8
5.4.5 Results ...................................................................................................... 8
6 Gantt Chart ............................................................................................................. 9
7 References ............................................................................................................ 10

List of Abbreviation
Abbreviation Explanation
H2S Hydrogen Sulfide
MEA Monoethanolamine
DEA Diethanolamine
MDEA Methyl-di-ethanolamine
CO2 Carbon dioxide
LO-CAT Sulfur Recovery Solution

Table of Figures
Figure 1 Simulation of the process ................................................................................ 6
Figure 2 Relationship between amine rate and H2S (ppm) in sweet gas stream for
various amine types and blends ..................................................................................... 8

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1 Background and introduction
We have a project about natural gas sweetening, and our principle is that we have
natural gas and this gas contains a lot of impurities and the impurities here are acid
gases which we have a lot of specific the acid gases which they cause a lot of problems
in pipe specification or transportation. So, by this project, we will try to confine this
problem or make it nearly zero, so it could be used for the pipes or transportations.

Because natural gas is the cleanest burning fossil fuel, it is playing an increasing role
in helping to attain national goals of a cleaner environment, energy security, and a more
competitive economy. And also, if we demonstrate the development history of natural
gas it shows that it has been known and used in different places since ancient times
especially commercially use is relatively recent such as the first commercialized natural
gas occurred in Britain. Around 1785, the British used natural gas produced from coal
to lighthouses and streets. In 1816, Baltimore, Maryland used this type of manufactured
natural gas to become the first city in the United States to light its streets with gas. And
once effective pipelines began to be built in the 20th century, the use of natural gas
expanded to home heating and cooking, appliances such as water heaters and oven
ranges, manufacturing and processing plants, and boilers to generate electricity. To
make natural gas suitable and environmentally safe to use, it is crucial to purify it from
all contaminants that can affect its utilization and optimal energy capacity. CO2 and
H2S are acid components present in natural gas recovered from wells in underground.
If not removed from the gas they are a cause of corrosion in equipment. H2S is
poisonous and if leakage occurs, people in the surroundings can be harmed and die.
(Dave Shryver, n.d.)

After a lot of searching and readings relative to our topic, it has been clear that they get
to a good result of reducing an appreciable amount of acid gases (H2S and CO2) by
using different types of amines close to the standard range that can be used safely and
commercially for trading or as a feedstock to the power station or to sell it to the global
market.

The presence of high carbon dioxide content in natural gas reduces the heating value of
the mixture when compared with purely natural gas. This leads to a reduction in the
burning velocity which ultimately affects the engine output and thermal efficiency.
(Journal of Applied Science, n.d.) There are different methods for gas sweetening.
Some of the most used are adsorption and absorption. For gas sweetening offshore
absorption columns, where the gas is reacting with a liquid stream containing a
sweetening agent, are the most used. Liquid solutions of an amine mixed with water are
the commonly used sweetening agent. The amine is capable of reacting with both CO2
and H2S to form compounds that are more soluble in the liquid phase than in the gas.
In this way, undesired acid components are removed from the gas stream. (Hansen,
n.d.)

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2 Literature review
A lot of experiments have been conducted to purify the sour gas of contaminants. For
example, Muataz Mohammed Sulaiman, Falah K. Matloub, and Zaid Nidhal Shareef
researched the simulation and optimization of the natural gas sweetening process from
the impurities such as hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and carbon dioxide (CO2) which are
unwanted components and may cause corrosion and environmental pollution and this
research has been done in the Gulf of Mexico area which is one of the biggest fossil
fuel markets around the world. It encourages more investments to recover and process
natural gas. The Gulf of Mexico natural gas contains high quantities of CO2 about
(1.47%) and barely low amounts of H2S. Therefore, this study endeavors to simulate
and optimize the prospective gas sweetening process by using the Aspen HYSYS V.8.4
program. Moreover, the simulation study was adopted the amine sweetening technique
by utilizing the MDEA solution activated by Piperazine and it has achieved high CO2
removal, for example, the CO2 gas concentration in the sweet gas stream was about 40
ppm at (800 m3/h) circulation rate. In addition, gas sweetening process optimization is
also achieved by employing different amine types and amine mixes such as
MEA(Monomethylamine) and DEA (Dimethylamine). Further amine process
parameters are examined for all amine types, for example, circulation rate, amine
concentration, and other operating conditions. However, the optimization step from
their process recognized that the use of (30 wt.% MDEA (Methyl diethanolamine)
+2.5wt.% PZ(Piperazine)) amine is the most efficient and recommended amine
technique for removing high quantities of CO2. (Muataz Mohammed Sulaiman et al.,
2018)

Another study was undertaken by (Jasim Mohammed Khanjar and Elham Omid bakhsh
Amiri), with the Missan oil field in Iraq as the case study. Simulation and parametric
studies of the natural gas processing plant of Missan Oil Company/Buzurgan Oil Field
of Natural Gas Processing Plant (in Iraq) were taken into account in their work. The
influence of feed temperature, flow rate, and solvent content was considered after the
simulation and validation of this plant. ASPEN HYSYS V10 was used for the
simulation. The therapy approach will be based on tertiary amines, notably MDEA (45
percent wt.). Three types of solvents were considered: single chemical solvent
(MDEA), chemical solvent blend (MDEA–MEA), and physical-chemical solvent blend
(Sulfolane–MDEA). Their findings reveal that increasing the input temperature and
flow rate increases the amount of H2S and CO2 in the sweet gas stream. As a result, the
performance of CO2 and H2S gas removal reduces. Their modeling results demonstrate
that employing a combination solvent can minimize the solvent price, reboiler duty,
and cooling duty. These solvents, however, can have an effect on the amount of H2S
and CO2 in the sweet gas. A system using a chemical mixture solvent can outperform
other solvents.(Jassim Mohammed Khanjar Alkaabi & Elham Omidbakhsh Amiri,
2021)

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Three researchers (Firas Alnili, Paul James, and Ahmed Barifcani) studied natural gas
sweetening utilizing low temperature distillation. And their research idea was The
separation of CO2 from a natural gas stream using a low-temperature distillation
process is hampered not only by the presence of ethane (C2) and CO2 azeotrope, but
also by the freezing of CO2. For the separation of sour gases, a modified technique
based on an existing Ryan–Holmes process in the form of a low temperature distillation
is provided here. Furthermore, solvents were used to prevent CO2 freezing and the
development of the C2-CO2 azeotrope. Their simulation computations were performed
on a natural gas stream comprising CO2 and H2S. Aspen HYSYS 9 was used to design
and simulate the process. Finally, they discovered a low temperature procedure for the
separation of an input stream including up to 30 mole percent CO2 and 2.5 mole percent
H2S, which reduced the quantities of these gases to within 50 and 4 ppm, respectively.
These values are in accordance with liquefied natural gas requirements. The product
stream compositions, needed solvent circulation flow rates, and overall energy
requirements were estimated. At a pressure of 25.0 bar and a temperature of 13°C, the
reported process successfully separated H2S and generated CO2, indicating its
feasibility for use in enhanced oil recovery. This technique also produced the needed
natural gas product at 35 bar and 90°C, ready for liquefaction and additional cooling.
(Firas Alnili, Paul James & Ahmed Barifcani, 2020)

R. K. Abdulrahman & I. M. Sebastine conducted their research on the field where case
study in Kurdistan-Iraq khurmala field, The aim of their research to simulate the
prospective Khurmala gas sweetening process by using the latest version of the Aspen
HYSYS V. 7.3 program. The simulation work is based on the gas sweetening process
using DEA solution and it has achieved high acid gas removal. (Abdulrahman &
Sebastine, 2013)

Nasir M. A. Al-Lagtaha, Sultan Al-Habsi, and Sagheer A. Onaizia, their research has
reviewed the current operation of an existing plant (Lekhwair plant, Oman) considered
the main operating parameters (lean amine circulation flow rate, temperature and
concentration) and proposed some modifications to the existing plant to increase its
profitability and sustainability. The simulation and sensitivity analysis has carried out
using Aspen HYSYS V7.3. (al Lagtah & Al, 2015)

Abolghasem Kazemi, Mojtaba Malayeri, Abolfazl Gharibi kharaji,Ahmad Shariati

conducted their research on one of the Iranian field, considering the natural gas
produced from one of Iranian gas fields, a suitable alkanolamine solution is selected for
the sweetening of this gas. the alkanolamine process is simulated with Aspen hysys
simulator and economically evaluated with Aspen economic analyzer. Sulfinol-M
process, LO-CAT process and shell process for natural gas sweetening are also
simulated and economically evaluated with the use of Aspen process economic analyzer
in order to remove H2S and CO2 from the natural gas produced in this field to meet the
pipeline specifications. With regard to the two aspects, (the LO-CAT and the mixed
amine process), the LO-CAT is the best process when capital and operating costs along
with acid gas loading are taken into account. (Kazemi et al., 2014)

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3 Project Goals & Objectives
The main goal of the project is:

1. To purify natural gas from unwanted impurities that make the natural gas
undesirable.
2. And not to be wasted by flaring the natural gas so that to get benefits from the
purified gas environmentally and commercially to the global market or as a
feedstock for the field.

And the objective of the project is:

1. To achieve the purified gas by using different types of amines and,

2. To simulating the process by using ASPEN HYSYS V.11 from gathered data
from one of the Kurdistan fields and,
3. To get the desired results so that the purified gas can be used environmentally
and commercially.

4 Scope of the project

As known that in Kurdistan there is a natural gas at high ratio which is about 100-200
trillion cubic feet, but this natural gas is a sour gas and it is being burned during a long
time until this day because it is an impure gas which had a bad impacts whether
commercially and economically, so they wasting it by flaring it into the air which is not
good, even we knew that this process would be somehow costly but it is better than to
be wasted and instead of that using it and get benefits from it in our life either using it
as a source of energy even in our life also for the field, and also the Minster of Natural
Resources gave a permission for only one year to all company in Kurdistan to stop
wasting natural gas, so this process would be a good step for us in the future after this
year to be considered, but to obtain sweet natural gas from impure gases (especially
H2S and CO2) instead of wasting it through flaring and to get benefit out of it whether
as a feedstock to the field or sell it in global market.

It needs to go through some ways to obtain the sweetened gas and it is by collecting
data from one of Kurdistan's fields:

✓ To simulate and optimize by the aid of ASPEN HYSYS V.11

✓ And, trying to estimate the cost of amine units and agents (MDEA, DEA, and
MEA). And estimating the effective amount of amine agent to show which type
of amine is the best one for our natural gas, also less cost of the amine to be
used and achieving the best results.
✓ Presenting the design of the natural gas sweetening process in detail.

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5 Proposed Methodology (or/ Material and Methods)

Project work:

Selection of case study

Process description

Aspen HYSYS simulation

Process Design

Results

5.1 Methodology
After getting and gathering the data from the field, we will use Aspen Hysys V.11 to
simulate the process and applying types of amines (MEA, DEA, and MDEA), and many
experiments will perform in order to select the best type of amine commercially and
effectively.

5.2 Selection of case study:

In Kurdistan’s fields we have natural gas producing, and as its known this gas contains
undesired contents (H2S, CO2), so the case study of this project is on one of the
Kurdistan’s field.

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5.3 Process description

Figure 1 Simulation of the process

5.4 Process design

5.4.1 Contactor information (Simple type of Absorber)

No of Stages 20
Top Pressure 6860 Kpa
Bottom Pressure 6895 Kpa
Top stage temp. estimate 100 °F
Bottom stage temp. estimate 160 °F
Column Absorber Info.
Internal Type Packed
Packing Type Raschig
Packing Vender Raschig
Packing Material Ceramic
Packing Dimension 35 mm
Section Packing Height 40 ft
Diameter 4 ft

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5.4.2 Equipment Information

Scrubber
Valve DP 90 Psi
Flash separator
Shell and Tube heat exchanger Between lean amine with rich amine
DP of Ex in Shell side 10 Psi
DP of Ex in Tube side 10 Psi
Outlet Temp. of rich amine (Tube Side) 93°C

Mixer
Pump (outlet Pressure) 6890 Kpa

Cooler (Outlet Pressure) 140.5 Kpa

Cooler (Outlet Temperature ) 35 °C

Set (Logical Operation) To dedicate temperature or Pressure with

Amin
Recycle

5.4.3 Regenerator information (Striper Tower)

No of Stages 18
Inlet Feed 9
Condenser type Full reflux
Top Pressure (Condenser pres.) 27.5 Psia
Condenser pressure drop (DP) 2.5 Psi
Bottom Pressure (Reboiler pres.) 31.5 Psia
Column Stripper Internal Info
Internal Type Tray
Tray Type Sieve
Tray Spacing 2 ft
Diameter 3 ft
Specifications
Reflux ratio 0.5 Molar
Vapor rate 2 MMSCFD
Column temperature (Reboiler) 125°C
Column temperature (Condenser) 82°C
Column Duty (Condenser Duty) 1.566e7 Btu/hr

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5.4.4 Make up water information
Flow rate 22 Kgmole/hr

Temperature 26 °C

Pressure 148.2 Kpa

5.4.5 Results
After caring out the experiments we got these results as the figure illustrates

0.00025 0.018

0.016

0.0002
0.014

CO2 in sweet gas stream

H2S in sweet gas stream

0.012
0.00015
0.01

0.008
0.0001
0.006

0.004
0.00005

0.002

0 0
40 43 46 49 52 55 58
Amine rate m3/hr
30% MDEA 10% DEA 20% MDEA 20% MEA DEA

Figure 2 Relationship between amine rate and H2S (ppm) in sweet gas stream for various amine
types and blends

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6 Gantt Chart

Project Name Project Duration Project Start Date Project End Date
Natural Gas Sweetening 273 01-Sep-21 01-Jun-22

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 7 References
Dave Shryver. (n.d.). A Brief History of Natural Gas. American Public Gas Association.
Retrieved December 4, 2021, from
https://www.apga.org/apgamainsite/aboutus/facts/history-of-natural-gas

Hansen, H. (n.d.). Amines as gas sweetening agents.

Jassim Mohammed Khanjar Alkaabi, & Elham Omidbakhsh Amiri. (2021). Simulation and
parametric analysis of natural gas sweetening process: a case study of Missan Oil Field in
Iraq. Oil & Gas Science and Technology, 76.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/353927634_Simulation_and_parametric_analy
sis_of_natural_gas_sweetening_process_a_case_study_of_Missan_Oil_Field_in_Iraq

Journal of Applied Science. (n.d.). Retrieved December 4, 2021, from

https://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=jas.2012.2346.2350

Muataz Mohammed Sulaiman, F.K. Matlub, & Zaid Shareef. (2018). Simulation and
optimization of natural gas sweetening process: A case study of Ng Sweeting unit
designed by CHEN group in the Gulf of Mexico. GREEN DESIGN AND
MANUFACTURE: ADVANCED AND EMERGING APPLICATIONS.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328895274_Simulation_and_optimization_of_
natural_gas_sweetening_process_A_case_study_of_Ng_sweeting_unit_designed_by_C
HEN_group_in_the_Gulf_of_Mexico

F. Alnili, P. James, and A. Barifcani, “Natural gas sweetening using low temperature
distillation: simulation and configuration,” Separation Science and Technology
(Philadelphia), vol. 55, no. 8, pp. 1569–1576, May 2020, doi:
10.1080/01496395.2019.1599018.

Abdulrahman, R. K., & Sebastine, I. M. (2013). Natural gas sweetening process simulation and
optimization: A case study of Khurmala field in Iraqi Kurdistan region. Journal of Natural
Gas Science and Engineering, 14, 116–120. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2013.06.005

al Lagtah, N., & Al, N. (2015). A Case Study on the Application of Aspen HYSYS to Optimise
the Performance of an Existing Gas Sweetening Process Plant Carbon capture and
storage View project A Case Study on the Application of Aspen HYSYS to Optimise the
Performance of an Existing Gas Sweetening Process Plant.
https://www.researchgate.net/publication/278329853

Kazemi, A., Malayeri, M., Gharibi kharaji, A., & Shariati, A. (2014). Feasibility study,
simulation and economical evaluation of natural gas sweetening processes - Part 1: A case
study on a low capacity plant in iran. Journal of Natural Gas Science and Engineering,
20, 16–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jngse.2014.06.001

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