OTD-09-0001

Literature Review for
“Elemental Sulfur”
Deposits in Natural Gas
Transmission Pipelines
Prepared by:
Gas Technology Institute
Des Plaines, Illinois
August 2007
Operations Technology Development (OTD) Project# 2.7.h.
‘Elemental Sulfur’ Deposit in Transmission Pipelines: FINAL REPORT
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND FORENSIC
CHEMISTRY CENTER
Project No. OTD 2.7.h (GTI 20505)
Literature Review for ‘Elemental
Sulfur’ Deposits in Natural Gas
Transmission Pipelines
August 24, 2007
Prepared for:
Operations Technology Development
Prepared By:
Xiangyang Zhu and Diane Saber
Environmental Science and Forensic Chemistry
Gas Technology Institute
1700 South Mount Prospect Rd.
Des Plaines, IL 60018
U.S.A.
Gas Technology Institute
1700 S. Mount Prospect Rd.
Des Plaines, Illinois 60018
www.gastechnology.org
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Final Report
Operations Technology Development (OTD) Project# 2.7.h.
‘Elemental Sulfur’ Deposit in Transmission Pipelines: FINAL REPORT
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1.0 INTRODUCTION
2.0 EFFECT OF ELEMENTAL SULFUR ON PIPELINE SYSTEMS AND EQUIPMENT
3.0 SULFUR, SULFUR COMPOUNDS, AND NATURAL GAS
3.1 Properties of Sulfur
3.2 Sulfur Compounds in Natural Gas
3.3 Natural Gas Composition
3.4 Natural Gas Processing and Transportation
3.5 Pipeline Quality Gas
3.6 Monitoring Sulfur Compounds and Gas Quality
4.0 COMPOSITION OF ELEMENTAL SULFUR DEPOSITS
4.1 Sample Analysis Report from SWGas
4.2 Sample Analysis Reports from Literatures
5.0 ‘BLACK POWDER’ AND SULFUR DEPOSITS
6.0 FORMATION OF ELEMENTAL SULFUR IN NATURAL GAS PIPELINES
6.1 Sulfur Desublimation Mechanism
6.2 Pipeline Particle Formation Process
7.0 FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE FORMATION OF ELEMENTAL SULFUR IN
TRANSMISSION PIPELINES
7.1 Natural Gas Processing and Sulfur Formation
7.1.1 Natural gas production
7.1.2 Natural gas dehydration processes
7.1.2.1 Solid desiccants
7.1.2.2 Liquid desiccants
7.1.3 Natural Gas sweetening processes
7.2 The Role of Hydrogen Sulfide
7.3 Corrosion, Odorants, Iron Sulfide and Variations
7.4 The Role of Additives
7.5 Contribution from Lubricants and Other Hydrocarbon Based Fluids
7.6 Hydrocarbon Dew Point
7.7 Pipeline System Design & Operating Conditions
7.7.1 Pipeline section liquid hold-up profile
7.7.2 Dynamics associated with fluid mixing at pipeline ‘T’ junctions’
7.8 Other Reactions Assisting Sulfur Formation
8.0 CONCLUSION FROM FIELD OBSERVATION OF SULFUR DEPOSITION
9.0 CONCLUSION & RECOMMENDATIONS
9.1 Conclusion
9.2 Recommendations for Current Pipeline Operations to Minimize Elemental Sulfur
Deposition
10.0 PATENT DEALING WITH ELEMENTAL SULFUR ISSUE IN NATURAL GAS
INSUSTRY
11.0 REFERENCES
APPENDIX I
Sulfur Deposition Control Method and Related Control Algorithm (US 7,055,395 B2)
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Final Report