The measurement of moisture content in natural.DOCVIP

MOSITURE MEASUREMENT IN NATURAL GAS Rolf Kolass, Michell Instruments GmbH, Friedrichsdorf, Germany Chris Parker, Michell Instruments Ltd, Cambridge, UK ABSTRACT The measurement of moisture content in natural gas is extremely important, from a technical perspective and in order to ensure conformance to contractual specifications. Typically, this measurement is one of the most difficult to perform successfully - natural gas sources are generally dirty, corrosive, heavily moisture laden and at high pressure. Moisture removal is a key stage of natural gas processing prior to sale and its efficiency is important in order to satisfy fiscal contractual obligations, to ensure that the gas is safe to transport and has the right properties for subsequent use. This paper discusses the technology of natural gas processing and the demands it puts on the humidity measurement industry, both technically and commercially. This paper also describes the methods that may be employed to effect a measurement in natural gas and to ensure integrity and longevity. Actual case histories are referred to within the paper as examples of good and bad practice. INTRODUCTION Natural gas extracted from underground sources is saturated with liquid water and heavier molecular weight hydrocarbon components. In order to meet the requirements for a clean, dry, wholly gaseous fuel suitable for transmission through pipelines and distribution for burning by end users, the gas must go through several stages of processing, including the removal of entrained liquids from the gas, followed by drying to reduce water vapour content. The dehydration of natural gas is critical to the successful operation of the production facility and the whole distribution train through to the end user. The presence of water vapour in concentrations above a few 10s of parts per million has potentially disastrous consequences. The lifetime of a pipeline is governed by the rate at which corrosion occurs whic