摘要 |
A method and apparatus are disclosed for sweetening of natural gas at the well head or at a common collection point from a number of wells, where, in the usual collection system for natural gas, the gas from one or more wells is collected through a collection line or manifold and often subjected to conventional treatments for dehydration and/or separation of petroleum condensates. A storage tank for sweetening liquid, comprising a solution of a low molecular weight aldehyde or ketone and water, methanol, isopropanol, and an amine buffer or inhibitor may be added. The resulting solution is connected by a conduit to a pump which is connected to an injector/atomizer extending laterally into the pipe at a point or points from the well head to sales line. The injector/atomizer sprays the sweetening liquid into the flowing stream of gas in an amount sufficient to react with the hydrogen sulfide to convert it into a hydroxymethyl (or other lower molecular weight hydroxyalkyl) mercaptan and other sulfur bearing compounds. The sweetening reaction takes place in-line without the need for a holding tank or reaction vessel. The reaction is complete and effective to completely sweeten a sour gas system.
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