Gas-Gas Ejector Recovery for Low-Pressure GOSP Rejected Gas
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Solution Overview
Problem
Gas flow pressure fluctuations in Gas Oil Separation Plants (GOSPs) lead to inefficient operation of high-pressure gas compressors, resulting in rejected gas that is typically flared, wasting energy and reducing the volume of gas that can be processed at central gas plants.
Innovation Solution
A gas-gas ejector system is implemented, fluidically coupled to the gas flow pathways, using high-pressure gas from a reservoir as a motive gas to drive the flow of low-pressure gas from GOSPs to the central gas plant, optimized by a controller that monitors and adjusts flow pressures to prevent flaring and enhance energy efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If high-pressure gas compressors are used to maintain gas flow pressure, then gas can be transported to the central gas plant, but pressure fluctuations cause inefficient operation and rejected gas that must be flared
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts the operating parameters of the gas-gas ejector based on real-time pressure conditions. When compressor pressure drops below threshold, the ejector activates to supplement flow, maintaining adequate pressure at the central gas plant and preventing flaring of rejected gas.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas-gas ejector serves as an intermediary device between the compressor and the central gas plant. It uses high-pressure motive gas to entrain and accelerate low-pressure process gas, providing pressure supplementation without requiring additional compression equipment.
2Loss of substance
If gas-gas ejector is activated to supplement low-pressure gas flow, then rejected gas can be recovered and transported, but additional power is required to operate the ejector
Solution Approach 1:
The gas-gas ejector is designed to operate autonomously based on pressure differential. When the compressor cannot maintain adequate pressure, the ejector automatically activates using the available high-pressure motive gas from the system, recovering rejected gas without requiring external power input or manual intervention.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of flaring rejected gas when compressor pressure is insufficient, the system recovers this gas using the gas-gas ejector. The ejector captures the low-pressure rejected gas and transports it to the central gas plant where it can be processed and utilized, converting what would be waste into a valuable resource.
3Reliability
If multiple gas flow pathways are used (compressor and ejector), then gas flow reliability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs dynamic switching between single and dual flow pathways based on operational conditions. The controller monitors compressor performance and automatically activates or deactivates the gas-gas ejector, allowing the system to adapt to varying pressure requirements and maintain reliability without permanent complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The gas-gas ejector is integrated into the existing gas flow system with multi-functional capability. It can operate independently when needed, work in conjunction with the compressor, and seamlessly transition between active and standby states, providing reliability enhancement without requiring separate dedicated systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system minimizes rejected gas, increases the volume of gas processed at the central gas plant, and optimizes power usage by leveraging available energy, thereby improving the operational efficiency of GOSPs.
Implementation Method 1
A gas-gas ejector is fluidically coupled to the first gas flow pathway and the second gas flow pathway. The gas-gas ejector is configured to drive gas flow using the gas from the gas reservoir as a motive gas.
Data Source
AI summary
Rejected gas recovery in gas-oil separation plants (GOSPs) is implemented. A gas phase is flowed from a GOSP to a central gas plant through a first gas flow pathway at a first flow pressure. Gas from a gas reservoir is flowed through a second gas flow pathway at a second flow pressure. The first gas flow pathway is separate from the second gas flow pathway. While flowing the gas phase through the first gas flow pathway, a decrease in the first flow pressure below a threshold flow pressure is determined. In response, a gas-gas ejector, which is fluidically coupled to the first gas flow pathway and the second gas flow pathway, is operated to drive a flow of the gas phase to the central gas plant using gas from the gas reservoir as a motive gas.