Oil, Gas & Mining
Gas Treating Solutions
Removal and Recovery of Natural Gas Liquids Using
UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents
UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents | February 2015
Recover More from Your
Natural Gas Operations
Natural gas streams often contain varying levels of natural
gas liquids (NGLs), which can hold significant value for
operators – sometimes outweighing the value of methane to
be recovered. Previously, if the goal was to generate a separate
NGL stream or simply exclude NGLs from contaminating a
process, a large scale, high-cost cryogenic, refrigeration or
other low-temperature unit was required to separate out NGLs.
Dow offers operators a lower-cost, value-added option,
particularly for small-scale gas treatment: UCARSORB™ NGL
Adsorbents. This highly selective system is designed to allow
water, CO2 and NGLs of lesser value to slip through the bed,
removing and capturing only targeted NGLs.
Advantages of UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents
-- Tunable for targeted NGLs, allowing other components to
slip through
-- Ease of use, with minimal operator intervention required
-- Low pressure drop across the system
-- Small footprint, often less than 6' x 6'
-- Low capital and operating expense
--Ability to handle varying gas inlet conditions
-- Minimal electrical demand
-- No waste stream to manage
Common Natural Gas Liquids
Component
Chemical Formula
Shorthand
Classification
Methane
CH4
C1
Natural Gas
Ethane
C2H6
C2
NGL
Propane
C3H8
C3
NGL
Butane
C4H10
C4
NGL
Pentane
C5H12
C5
NGL
Natural gas contains many hydrocarbon components, some in trace quantities.
pg 2
UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents | February 2015
Example 1: Recovery of NGLs from Flared Gas
For some remote oil wells there is little to no infrastructure to recover the natural gas produced with the oil from these wells.
In such situations, the natural gas with large amounts of NGLs is flared.
UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents can capture the valuable NGL products from these gas streams, thus allowing mainly low-value
methane and ethane to be flared.
Inlet Gas to Pipeline Conditions
50 psi, 1 MMSCFD
54% C1, 20% C2, 13% C3, 6.7% C4+,
balance N2, CO2
Outlet Natural Gas to Flare or
Pipeline
58% C1, 23% C2, 11% C3, <1% C4+,
balance CO2, N2
Can remove more or less C2 depending on
combustion systems
NGLs Produced
<4% C1&C2, >30% C3, >50% C4+, some
CO2, trace other components
Hydrocarbons to trucking at 200 psi
C1, C2, C3
Gas to Flare
or Pipeline
45 psi
0.9 MMSCFD
58% C1
23% C2
11% C3
<1% C4+
Gas from
Pipeline
UCARSORB™
Treatment Unit*
50 psi
1 MMSCFD
54% C1
20% C2
13% C3
6.7% C4+
Gas or Liquid
Product
C3, C4+
200 psi
2 gpm
<4% C1&C2
>30% C3
>50% C4+
*Typical performance - design dependent
pg 3
UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents | February 2015
Example 2: Protecting Compressors or Engines from NGLs
The challenge for combustion operators is that rich inlet gas (NGL-containing gas) modifies their combustion zone sufficiently to
negatively impact emissions from the plant, often exhibited as NOx, CO and volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Plants
may change operating conditions to reduce the total emissions, but the net power output or efficiency of the combustion engine
is reduced.
UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents remove NGLs from the inlet gas stream instead of installing post-combustion solutions such as
catalysts. The UCARSORB system is a selective and effective means to remove and recover NGLs, reducing emissions without
sacrificing combustion engine power and efficiency.
Inlet Gas to Pipeline Conditions
500 psi, 0.6 MMSCFD
91% C1, 6% C2, 0.85% C3+, balance N2, CO2
Gas to
Engine
Outlet Natural Gas to Engine
Conditions
92% C1, 5% C2, trace C3+, balance CO2, N2
Gas Returned to Pipeline Conditions
<40% C1, >50% C2, >10% C3+, balance N2,
CO2, trace other components
Can remove more or less C2 depending on
combustion systems
Rejected hydrocarbons returned to
pipeline at 500 psi
C1, C2
C2, C3+
450 psi
0.57 MMSCFD
92% C1
5% C2
Trace C3+
Gas from
Pipeline
Gas to
Pipeline
500 psi
0.03 MMSCFD
<40% C1
>50% C2
>10% C3+
UCARSORB™
Treatment Unit
500 psi
0.6 MMSCFD
91% C1
6% C2
0.85% C3+
*Typical performance - design dependent
pg 4
UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents | February 2015
Example 3: Concentrating NGLs in Pipelines
Some natural gas pipelines are running over capacity. These pipeline operators must flare the natural gas that cannot be put
through the pipelines.
UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents can be used to recover the valuable NGLs from the gas that is being flared, and return the valuable
hydrocarbons to the pipeline, thus allowing volume shrinkage with little value loss.
Inlet Gas to Pipeline Conditions
500 psi, 10 MMSCFD
65% C1, 19% C2, 8% C3, 2% C4+,
balance N2, CO2
Outlet Dry Gas
>70% C1, >15% C2, <5% C3+, balance N2,
CO2, trace other components
Rich gas returned to pipeline for
maximum value
Gas Returned to Pipeline Conditions
<10% C1&C2, >90% C3+, some N2, CO2
Can remove more or less C2 or C3
depending on customer requests
C1, C2
Dry Gas
to Flare
490 psi
9 MMSCFD
>70% C1
>15% C2
<5% C3+
Gas from
Pipeline
UCARSORB™
Treatment Unit
500 psi
10 MMSCFD
65% C1
19% C2
8% C3
2% C4+
Rich Gas
to Pipeline
C3, C4+
500 psi
20 gpm
<10% C1&C2
>90% C3+
*Typical performance - design dependent
pg 5
UCARSORB™ NGL Adsorbents | February 2015
Experience You Can Trust
Dow has been at the forefront of gas treating technology for more than 65 years. From computer simulations to hands-on
operations support and analytical evaluations, our team is with you every step of the way to meet your everyday gas treating
challenges. Backed by more than 1,000 global references in gas treating, the Dow technical service team can help to customize
a solution based on individual needs, and our advanced simulator is continually and consistently refined through the
incorporation of real customer plant data.
Providing Comprehensive
Solutions for Market Needs
Dow is committed to the success of our customers through chemistry and continuous innovation. To learn more about our
products, innovations, technologies or other Dow services, please speak with your local Dow representative or visit
www.dowoilandgas.com.
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