Cost-effective, modular technologies for butane, propane and NGL treating

Hydrocarbon processing plants often encounter challenges with feedstocks containing high levels of mercaptans, which concentrate in hydrocarbon condensates and NGL when the mercaptans are not removed upstream by the acid gas removal unit (AGRU) or molecular sieve unit. While hydrogen sulfide (H2S), as well as carbon dioxide (CO2), are removed by amine treating units, most will remove little to no mercaptans. Only when physical solvents are used is removal possible.1,2 When NGL or condensates recovered in gas processing contain high levels of mercaptans, off-spec fractionated products can occur, the hydrocarbon can have negative odors and the value of the hydrocarbon can be decreased, result