ExxonMobil has developed cMIST technology, which dehydrates natural gas using a patented absorption system inside pipes.
The company says the in-line technology can be used at both land-based and offshore natural gas production operations and replaces the need for conventional dehydration tower technology.
The new technology is claimed to more efficiently remove water vapor present during natural gas production. Removing water vapor through the use of dehydration technology, typically accomplished using large and expensive dehydration towers, is said to reduce corrosion and equipment interference, helping to ensure the safe and efficient transport of natural gas through the supply infrastructure and ultimately to consumers.
cMIST reduces the size, weight, and cost of dehydration, resulting in reductions of surface footprint by 70% and the overall dehydration system’s weight by half, which Exxon says has added benefits on offshore applications.
The technology relies on a proprietary droplet generator to break up conventional solvent into tiny droplets that become well dispersed in the gas flow, thereby increasing the surface area for the absorption of water from the gas. This is followed by an inline separator that coalesces the water-rich glycol droplets and moves them to the outside wall of the pipe for effective separation from the dehydrated natural gas.
The water-rich glycol is regenerated using a conventional system and is sent back to the droplet generator to be used again. The droplet generator uses the energy from the flowing natural gas to create droplets of the right size.
ExxonMobil has licensed cMIST technology to the Chemtech division of Sulzer to facilitate deployment across the oil and gas industry.
Torsten Wintergerste, president of the Chemtech division, said: “We look forward to servicing the oil and gas industry with this unique technology, allowing for much needed reductions in capex for both greenfield projects and existing facilities seeking brownfield debottlenecking opportunities.
“cMIST technology complements the Sulzer line of compact multi-phase separation technologies and will maximize benefits available to oil and gas operating companies around the world.”
