Demonstration%20of%20a%20Low%20Cost%202-Tower%20Micro%20Scale%20N2%20Rejection%20Plant%20to%20Upgrade%20Low-BTU%20Gas%20from%20Stripper%20Wells

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Demonstration of a Low Cost 2-Tower Micro Scale
N2 Rejection Plant to Upgrade Low-BTU Gas from
Stripper Wells

• Kansas Geological Survey
• American Energies Inc.

Project Update Oct 30, 2007 SWC Technology
Transfer Meeting, Wichita, KS
2
Problem Statement

• 32 tcf (17 of known reserves) low-BTU due to
  N2
• gt 5 N2
• lt 950 BTU/cu ft
• Significant portion low-BTU gas marginal fields
• KS 33 (of 1253 gas analyses) low-BTU
• gt 2 CO2 and/or gt 5 N2
• Available upgrading technologies economic at high
  feed volumes
• gt 0.5 mmscf/d
• Requires high upfront set up expenses
• High risk subject to production declines
  typical of small fields

3
Proposed Solution

• Design, build, and optimize a micro-scale N2
  rejection plant
• Economic at low feed volumes (lt 250 mcfd)
• Low cost use non-proprietary off-shelf
  components
• Scaleable, low maintenance, small environmental
  imprint

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2-Tower Micro-scale N2 Rejection Plant
Diam. 4 ft, Ht. 8 ft Feed 150 mcfd, 70 CH4,
25 N2, 3 HHC, 2 inert Sales 100 mcfd, lt4
N2, 975 BTU/cu ft Vent 5 CH4
Adsorbent Activated Carbon made from coconut
husks
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Vision

• VISION
• Mobilize currently unproducible (low-BTU)
  marginal gas
• HOW DO WE MEASURE SUCCESS?
• PUT GAS IN PIPE (mcf/SWCs )

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Strategy

• 3-Pronged Approach
• Incremental near-term production
• Optimize plant to maximize CH4 recovery
• Sustain incremental production
• Characterize resource base around plant
• Focus on Tecumseh sand low-BTU AEC acreage
• AEC brings additional low-BTU wells online
• Technology Transfer
• Regional (state wide) low-BTU distribution
• AAPG/OG Journal Pub, Workshops, Web-site
• Create ripple effect
• Encourage operators of low-BTU fields to
  similarly upgrade their production and add to the
  nations gas grid

AEC American Energies Corp
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Project Update SWC Plant Site Visit
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Project Update - Plant Site
4. Rate/Pr Meter - Inflow
3. De-hyd low BTU gas
2. De-hydrator
1. Low BTU Feed Gas
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Project Update - Plant Site
8. Pressure Equalizing Values
7. Instrument- gas Scrubber
Alternating Adsorption Desorption Towers
Manholes to unload spent beds
6. Valves controlling feed into towers
5. Low BTU dehydrated Feed
10
Project Update - Plant Site
Rear side of the Adsorption/Desorption Towers
Front side of the Adsorption/Desorption Towers
11. N2-rich effluent to flare
9. Solenoid values connected to vacuum for
desorption of methane from beds
10. Upgraded gas line
11
Project Update - Plant Site
13. Compressor powered by engine
16. Scrubbed upgraded gas to compressor
15. Gas Scrubber
14. Upgraded gas line
11. Low-BTU feed to engine
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Project Update - Plant Site
21. Sales Gas Meter
19. Surge tank 1 hr holding capacity
22. To Sales Pipeline
18. Condensate Removal Tower
17. Upgraded compressed gas line
20. Sales gas line
13
Project Update - Plant Site
Flare - to handle CH4 breakthrough
N2 rich effluent to flare
Loading tower with activated carbon
Granulated Activated Carbon
Each bag is 1100 lb. Each tower requires 2 bags
of charge. Cost of activated carbon 0.07/lb
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Plant Update Near Future Steps

• Pressure test plant
• 70 to 80 psi
• Pull vacuum on plant
• Initial optimization
• Connect to select wells ( )
• Feed flow rate (10-12 N2)
• Pressure drop across bed
• N2 in sales stream
• Cycle time
• CH4 breakthrough
• Flow rate
• Bed economics
• Final optimization
• Tecumseh sand wells
• 30-35 N2

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Project Update Local Resource Valuation
FANKHAUSER TRUST 'E' (32-19S-7E) TYPE LOG
Low BTU gas bearing strata - Upper Pennsylvanian
sandstones and carbonates
Gas Effect visible in Tecumseh Sand
Other sands need to be analyzed for presence of
gas
Perforated
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Project Update Local Resource Valuation
Elmdale Field on gravity anomaly map and inferred
deep-seated basement faults
Chase County Kansas
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Project Update Local Resource Valuation
Gross Isopach Map Techumseh Sandstone - southern
edge of Elmdale dome
Structure Top Techumseh (ft)
feet
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27
26
29
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32
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34
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FANKHAUSER TRUST 'E' 32-19S-7E
5
4
3
2
Elmdale Dome on crest of Nemaha Uplift- Chase
County
Coarsening upward sequence and wrapping around
the structural high on the basinward side is
suggestive of marine sand bar
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Project Update Local Resource Valuation
Stratigraphic Cross Section - Techumseh Sandstone
Interval Datum Top Techumseh Sandstone Yellow
interval gross sand
North
South
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Project Update Local Resource Valuation
Structural Cross Section Techumseh Sandstone
Interval Datum Sea level (yellow interval
gross sand)
North
South
2500 ft
50x vertical exaggeration
20
Project Update Local Resource Valuation
Measured water resistivity data
Palmer well produces dry. Tecumseh tested SIP
350 psi, FIP 270 psi, IP 750 mcfd Tecumseh
Log Analysis BVW in best zone 0.08
to 0.1 Sw in best zone 30 to 40
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Project Update Local Resource Valuation
When compared with Palmer, the BVW and Sw in
these wells appear higher. These wells will be
perforated in Tecumseh in the near future and
their production will be compared with respective
log signatures to gain a better understanding of
the sand.
22
Project Update Regional Low-BTU Distribution
Regional Gas Analyses from Elmdale and
neighboring fields
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Project Update Regional Low-BTU Distribution
HC wetness (or of heavier HCs such as C2 and
above) increase with depth. Lansing gas is
pipeline quality because of higher HC wetness.
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Project Update Regional Low-BTU Distribution
He is present in most of the sands in and around
Elmdale. The He concerntration varies with
production sand. The Lansing gas has about 12 N2.
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Project Update Technology Transfer

• Web link http//www.kgs.ku.edu/PRS/Microscale/ind
  ex.html
• Workshop Publications
• At end of project (May Jun 08)

• ESTIMATED PROJECT TIME LINE
• Initial Optimization early Nov 07
• Final Optimization mid to late Dec 07
• Plant Operation Learning Curve Jan to Jun 08