Natural Gas Dehydration

Revolutionizing Natural Gas Processing with Clean, Chemical-Free Technology

Operators face a critical challenge when drilling for natural gas: extracted gas contains water, oil, and other impurities that must be removed before the gas can enter pipelines. Traditional dehydration methods rely on toxic glycol-based systems that pose environmental and operational risks. Amerada R&D has developed a solution that eliminates these concerns while delivering superior natural gas separation.

The Challenges

Natural gas extracted from wells arrives as a mixture containing:

Water vapor that can freeze in pipelines at low temperatures
Oil and heavy hydrocarbons that reduce gas quality
Other impurities that affect processing efficiency

Industry standards require achieving a dew point of -20°F to prevent water formation in pipelines. However, current glycol dehydration systems are:

Highly toxic to workers and the environment, with harmful emissions of benzene, toluene, and xylene emissions
Complex to operate, requiring extensive chemical handling
Expensive to maintain with ongoing chemical replacement costs

Amerada's Innovative Solution

Our Gas-Fired Dehydrator (GFD) technology is a significant advancement in natural gas processing. This system achieves a remarkable -60°F dew point using only compressed air, which exceeds industry requirements while eliminating chemical dependencies entirely.

How Our Natural Gas Dehydration System Works

The GFD combines proven physical processes in an innovative configuration.

Expansion Technology

Gas expansion creates optimal conditions for water separation

Cyclonic Separation

High-velocity rotation efficiently removes liquids from gas streams

Patented Pressure Differential Process

Pressure differential technology maximizes separation efficiency

Supersonic Velocity Processing

Condensation and separation occur at supersonic speeds for maximum effectiveness

All these processes occur within a compact, tubular device with residence time measured in milliseconds to prevent hydrate formation without requiring chemical inhibitors.

Key

Advantages

Environmental Benefits

Zero toxic chemicals, such as glycol and associated hazardous materials
Prevents the release of benzene, toluene, and xylene
Compact design minimizes land use and your environmental footprint

Operational Excellence

No rotating parts means higher reliability and lower maintenance
Unmanned operation capability makes it ideal for remote and offshore installations
Simple, robust system ensures consistent performance
Proven performance in harsh environments and conditions

Economic Value

Compact design and simplified systems reduce capital costs
No chemical purchases or regeneration systems mean lower operating expenses
Debottleneck existing platforms with space optimization
Weight reduction is critical for offshore and mobile applications

Proven Performance

The GFD technology achieved a major milestone in 2019 with its first commercial test application in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. This successful deployment using compressed air gas demonstrates the technical maturity and commercial viability of the system, marking a significant step toward widespread industry adoption.

The Future of Gas Processing

As the energy industry continues to prioritize environmental responsibility and operational efficiency, Amerada's dehydration technology represents the future of natural gas processing. We're helping operators meet today's challenges while preparing for tomorrow's standards.

Learn more about how Amerada's natural gas dehydration technology can benefit your operations. Contact our team to discuss the advantages of chemical-free gas processing.