Definitions of words and terms used in the gas processing industry.
For questions regarding incorrect/outdated entries or suggestion for adding additional terms, please contact Martin Erne
A system of vessels wherein the liquid portion of the total wellstream is segregated from the gas portion.
The first stage separator vapors are routed to the high-pressure header.
Cylindrical glass elements of a portable gas detection system filled with a chemical designed to have a colorimetric change when exposed to specific contaminants.
When the stain tube measurement indicated the gas was not within specification, a sample was obtained of the gas in question for subsequent laboratory analysis.
A term used to relate a volume of vapor at specified conditions in U.S. customary units.
The contract defines the standard cubic foot for gas measurement as one cubic foot at a pressure of 14.73 psia and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
A term used to relate a volume of vapor at specified conditions in metric units.
The contract defines the standard cubic meter for gas measurement as one cubic meter at a pressure of 101.325 kPa and 20 degrees Celsius.
One of the names given to a boiler and all of its associated equipment.
The steam plant produces 1000 tons per day of steam.
Steam at a temperature above its saturation point containing no liquid water.
The dry steam with 20 degrees of superheat is used to heat the inlet stream.
Steam that exists at its boiling point.
The saturated steam was sent through a steam trap to remove the entrained liquid.
An apparatus used to separate liquid mixture products through the process of boiling and then condensing the vapor.
The simplest standard distillation apparatus is commonly known as a pot still, consisting of a single heated chamber and a vessel to collect purified alcohol.
A vessel in which liquid products are stored for sale, use, and/or for retention.
Storage tanks, often referred to as stock tanks, provide a point for product retention while specifications are verified.
A facility which processes gas being transported through a transmission pipeline.
The operator of a straddle plant is typically different from the operator of the transmission pipeline and must make up the volume or energy content removed from the pipeline.
The process of calibrating tank capacity in increments of depth.
The tank strapping was always done by a pair of operators for safety.
A chart that correlates tank volume to increments of depth.
The operator determined the indicated volume of the liquid in the tank by looking up the depth on the strapping table.
A column where absorbed constituents are removed from the absorption oil.
A stripper can be used to remove NGLs from absorption oil.
An expression used to quantify the efficiency of desorption in an absorption plant.
Mathematically, the stripping factor is KV/L where K = the equilibrium constant for a component, V = the vapor mole fraction of the component, and L = the liquid mole fraction. The stripping factor increases as the flow rate of gas into the stripping column is increased.
A pale yellow, non-metallic chemical element. In its elemental state, called "free sulfur," it has a crystalline or amorphous form. In many gas streams, sulfur may be found as volatile sulfur compounds, i.e., hydrogen sulfide, sulfur oxides, mercaptans, carbonyl sulfide. Reduction of their concentration levels is necessary for corrosion control and, in many cases, necessary for health and safety reasons.
The sulfur produced at the Claus plant was sold by train as molten sulfur.
A heavy, colorless, suffocating gas that is, chemically, an oxide of sulfur. Conversion of the gaseous sulfur oxides to sulfur is necessary for corrosion control, for health and safety reasons, and for complying with governmental standards.
The sulfur dioxide emissions were carefully monitored to prevent the formation of "acid rain."
A plant that makes sulfur from the hydrogen sulfide extracted from natural gas. One-third of the hydrogen sulfide is burned to sulfur dioxide, which is reacted with the remaining hydrogen sulfide in the presence of a catalyst to make sulfur and water.
The Claus unit and associated sulfur handling equipment is often referred to as the sulfur plant.
Specific values for components in a gas mixture that can be used in a simplified method for calculation of compressibility.
The compressibility from the summation factor method agreed with GERG within equation uncertainty.
The square root of the ratio of the compressibility factor of the gas at a base condition to the compressibility factor of the same gas. In the US, the base conditions are generally 60 degrees Fahrenheit and 14.73 psia.
This is an outdated term and has since been updated to utilize the AGA 8/GERG calculation.
A sudden increase in liquid flow rate above the normal flow rate.
The surge volume in the accumulator was 10 bbls.
A vessel used to protect downstream equipment from excessive increase in liquid flow rate.
The surge drum was placed between the production separator and the production pump.
A fluid where the concentration of sulfur compounds is less than a specified limit.
The production reservoir contained no sulfur contaminants, thereby producing sweet gas and sweet oil.
A fuel gas that can be produced from fossil fuels such as lignite coal, oil shale, or biofuels.
Synthetic gas is sometimes referred to as "substitute natural gas".
Methane and components produced by processes other than at a wellhead.
SNG is commonly recovered from the gases produced in a landfill.
The sour gas not removed in a sweetening unit.
Tail gas is often treated through additional treatment methods after the sweetening unit.
