Theoretical Thermodynamic Study of Crude Extraction by Isentropic Relaxation of Natural Gas

Abstract

The process of crude extraction consists of removing the heavy hydrocarbons from natural gas resulting from the layers. The extraction is carried out by the cooling process of the gas phase, to reach the heavy hydrocarbons points of condensation and allow their extraction from the gas phase. This operation is also undertaken using the paraffin oils physicochemical property of heavy molecules absorption.

The study of a process based on the cooling of natural gas carried out by using a turbo expander ensuring isentropic relaxation, appears conclusive. This process converts the energy of relaxation into energy of compression. The cycle of the treatment proposed permits to confer the physical characteristics to the gas which modify its chemical composition returning it by the same time purified from heavy hydrocarbons. This process has the advantage of being definitely less expensive in energy; 22 KwH instead of 427 KwH for crude extraction from the same gas phase by the cooling process.