Topic 8. «Natural gas processing»

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I can add; I’d like to say that; as a matter of fact; broadly speaking; as far as I know; to my mind; in my opinion; I’d like to say some words about; it’s important to say that; it should be pointed; as is known; it should be noted that.

1. Natural gas processing is a complex industrial process.

2. It is used to clean raw natural gas by separating impurities and various non-methane hydrocarbons and fluids to produce a pipeline quality dry natural gas.

3. Natural gas processing includes four main processes: oil and condensate removal; water removal; separation of natural gas liquids; sulphur and carbon dioxide removal.

4. Natural gas processing begins at the well head.

5. The extracted natural gas is transported to processing plants through a network of gathering pipelines.

6. Natural gas processing plants are used to purify the raw natural gas.

7. Before natural gas can be used as a fuel, it must undergo processing to remove almost all materials other than methane.

8. There are several ways in which liquefiable components may be removed from natural gas: absorption, refrigeration and combinations of these.

9. It includes technological processes of physical, physicochemical and chemical transformation of natural gas into products of gas processing.

10. Natural gas processing is very important for oil and gas industry.

Words and word combinations to the text:

industrial process – производственный процесс

raw – сырой

extract – извлекать, откачивать (газ)

impurities – примеси

carbon dioxide – углекислый газ

purify – очищать

absorption – абсорбция

refrigeration – низкотемпературная конденсация

undergo – подвергаться

remove – удалить

transformation – преобразование

well head – устье скважины

separate - разделять

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Text 8: «Natural gas processing».

Natural gas, as it is used by consumers, is much different from the natural gas that is brought from underground up to the wellhead. Although the processing of natural gas is in many respects less complicated than the processing and refining of crude oil, it is equally as necessary before its use by end users.

Natural gas processing consists of separating all of the various hydrocarbons and fluids from the pure natural gas, to produce what is known as 'pipeline quality' dry natural gas. Major transportation pipelines usually impose restrictions on the make-up of the natural gas that is allowed into the pipeline. That means that before the natural gas can be transported it must be purified. While the ethane, propane, butane, and pentanes must be removed from natural gas, this does not mean that they are all 'waste products'. In fact, associated hydrocarbons, known as 'natural gas liquids' (NGLs) can be very valuable by-products of natural gas processing. NGLs include ethane, propane, butane, iso-butane, and natural gasoline. These NGLs are sold separately and have a variety of different uses; including enhancing oil recovery in oil wells, providing raw materials for oil refineries or petrochemical plants, and as sources of energy.

While some of the needed processing can be accomplished at or near the wellhead (field processing), the complete processing of natural gas takes place at a processing plant, usually located in a natural gas producing region. The extracted natural gas is transported to these processing plants through a network of gathering pipelines, which are small-diameter, low pressure pipes. In addition to processing done at the wellhead and at centralized processing plants, some final processing is also sometimes accomplished at 'straddle extraction plants'. These plants are located on major pipeline systems. Although the natural gas that arrives at these straddle extraction plants is already of pipeline quality, in certain instances there still exist small quantities of NGLs, which are extracted at the straddle plants.

The actual practice of processing natural gas to pipeline dry gas quality levels can be quite complex, but usually involves four main processes to remove the various impurities: Oil and Condensate Removal, Water Removal, Separation of Natural Gas Liquids, Sulfur and Carbon Dioxide Removal. In addition to the four processes above, heaters and scrubbers are installed, usually at or near the wellhead. The scrubbers serve primarily to remove sand and other large-particle impurities. The heaters ensure that the temperature of the gas does not drop too low. With natural gas that contains even low quantities of water, natural gas hydrates have a tendency to form when temperatures drop. These hydrates are solid or semi-solid compounds, resembling ice like crystals. Should these hydrates accumulate, they can impede the passage of natural gas through valves and gathering systems. To reduce the occurrence of hydrates, small natural gas-fired heating units are typically installed along the gathering pipe wherever it is likely that hydrates may form.

Topic 9. «Uses of natural gas»

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I can add; I’d like to say that; as a matter of fact; broadly speaking; as far as I know; to my mind; in my opinion; I’d like to say some words about; it’s important to say that; it should be pointed; as is known; it should be noted that.

1. For hundreds of years, natural gas has been known as a very useful substance.

2. Natural gas is widely used as a fuel in the home and as a raw material for the production of different products.

3. Natural gas is a source of electricity generation through the use of gas turbines and steam turbines.

4. Natural gas can be used to produce hydrogen which has many applications in the chemical industry.

5. It is also used as a raw material for the production of important by-products for organic synthesis.

6. Natural gas is also used in the production of fabrics, glass, steel, plastics, paint, and other products.

7. Natural gas is more economical type of home and other building heating and cooling.

8. The liquefied gas is used as a fuel for urban needs and for industrial purposes.

9. Natural gas is a feedstock for the production of ammonia for use in fertilizer production.

10. Today, the new uses of natural gas are discovered all the time.

Words and word combinations to the text:

gas turbine – газовая турбина

steam turbine – паровая турбина

by-products – побочные продукты

fabric – ткань

paint – краска, краситель

heat – тепло, нагрев

ammonia – аммиак

fertilizer – удобрение

raw material – сырьё

electricity generation – производство электроэнергии

application – применение

cooling – охлаждение

discover – открывать

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Text 9: «Uses of natural gas».

Natural gas, also known simply as gas, is a fossil fuel made up of several gases, of which methane is the most prominent. A very similar gas, known as biogas, is produced by swamps, sewage sludge and cattle manure. The gas we have come to know as a source of energy has gone through a series of processes by the time it reaches us. Before natural gas is usable for fuel, it must be extensively processed to remove all secondary components, such as propane and sulfur. The uses of natural gas are many and varied. Consumers, industries, and commerce can all benefit from its use. Here are just some examples of the many uses of natural gas.

Transportation Sector: Natural gas has long been considered an alternative fuel for the transportation sector. In fact, natural gas has been used to fuel vehicles since the 1930's! Uses of natural gas in transportation cover everything from cars and trucks to heavy-duty service vehicles. “Clean Air” natural gas buses are popular in Canada and some European countries, and more vehicles are now running on dual fuel, allowing owners to switch between gasoline or natural gas depending on needs and circumstances. The Russian corporation Tupolev is working on the design of an aircraft that would be able to fly on a combination of natural gas and hydrogen. Most natural gas vehicles operate using compressed natural gas (CNG). This compressed gas is stored in similar fashion to a car's gasoline tank, attached to the rear, top, or undercarriage of the vehicle in a tube shaped storage tank. A CNG tank can be filled in a similar manner, and in a similar amount of time, to a gasoline tank.

Residential Uses: Not only is natural gas a good value for the residential consumer, it also has a number of varied uses. The best known uses for natural gas around the home are natural gas heating and cooking. Cooking with a natural gas range or oven can provide many benefits, including easy temperature control, self ignition and self cleaning, as well as being approximately one-half the cost of cooking with an electric range. Many of the top chefs prefer natural gas ranges for their quick heating ability and temperature control. Newer generations of natural gas ranges allow for some of the most efficient, economical, and responsive cooking appliances in existence. Many home appliances run on natural gas, including furnaces, barbecues, fireplace logs, pool and spa heaters, and fire pits. Uses of natural gas at home also include residential heating. Natural gas air conditioning is not as popular as the electrical alternative, but it does exist.

Industry and Production: Natural gas has a multitude of industrial uses, including providing the base ingredients for such varied products as plastic, fertilizer, anti-freeze, and fabrics. In fact, industry is the largest consumer of natural gas, accounting for 43 percent of natural gas use across all sectors. Natural gas is the second most used energy source in industry, trailing only electricity. Lighting is the main use of energy in the industrial sector, which accounts for the tremendous electricity requirements of this sector. The graph below shows current as well as projected energy consumption by fuel in the industrial sector Uses of natural gas in the industrial sector are divided between production and energy. Natural gas is used in the making of anti-freeze and plastic. Food processing industries use basically only natural gas to power up their plants, but waste treatment and petroleum refining are also big consumers of natural gas. Because many gases can be extracted as a subproduct of natural gas, the uses of natural gas go beyond what the gas itself can provide.