An Innovative Hybrid Process for the Economical Upgrading of Raw Natural Gas to Pipeline Quality

40295 November 6, 1996 ENDESCO Services, Inc. There is strong industrial demand for a cost-effective, environmentally benign technology to upgrade raw subquality natural gas. In particular, the economical removal of nitrogen is important in several regions of the U. S. The development of a more economic process for removing nitrogen from subquality natural gas would stimulate the production of these reserves. This project will demonstrate the feasibility of an innovative, hybrid process for upgrading raw subquality natural gas to pipeline quality. The hybrid process does not use expensive or exotic equipment or materials and can tolerate variations in the composition of raw natural gas. In addition, the process is not energy-intensive-the only energy required is that supplied by the subquality natural gas itself. Anticipated Results/Potential Commercial Applications as described by the awardee: The hybrid process to be demonstrated by this project offers four clear and distinct advantages: 1) resource conservation through improved economics of upgrading high-nitrogen-content subquality natural gas, 2) environmental beneficiation through the reduction in methane and other greenhouse gas releases during raw gas processing, 3) energy efficiency through the use of subquality natural gas to power the hybrid process, and 4) simplicity of operation through the use of equipment and procedures typically employed at the wellhead.