Reduce gas plant costs and shutdowns with appropriate antifoam substitutes

N. A. Al-Qahtani and N. K. Al-Subaei, Saudi Aramco, Haradh, Saudi Arabia A frequent problem in gas plants is foaming, which occurs during the gas sweetening process. This problem is usually the result of contaminants entering the process and improper operating conditions. The first mitigation action is normally the addition of a chemical antifoaming agent. The second is to find the cause and eliminate it. However, antifoaming agents can be an effective interim—or even long-term—cure if elimination of the cause is not possible. Antifoaming agents have a wide range of applications in industry. Many formulations are not suitable for gas treating uses and can actually aggravate the situation.