Skid-mounted rotating thermal separator efficiently recovers NGL from associated gas

A significant portion of the LPG fraction of the associated gas from a small field can be economically recovered even in remote locations. An example is the Breme field, for which Elf Gabon is the operator. Situated 50 miles from Port Gentil, the field is located on a narrow strip of land between the sea and a lagoon, with access only by plane or boat. A prefabricated, skid-mounted, turnkey plant is now efficiently recovering gas condensate from the field flare. At the full rated 14 MMscfd gas flow (55 psia), the recovered LPG can add as much as 650 b/d to the 12,000 b/d crude oil production rate, 6 vol %. The plant includes a compact plate heat exchanger and a rotating thermal separator (RTS) that requires little maintenance, minimal control, and no outside energy.