PRE 103
Fundamental of Natural Gas Processing
COURSE SCHEDULE
| Code | Date | Location | price (€)* |
|---|---|---|---|
| PRE 103 | 7-9 Dec 2026 | Online | 3300 |
| PRE 103 | 9-13 Nov 2026 | Paris | 4400 |
* Prices are subject to VAT and local terms. Ph.D. students, groups (≥ 3 persons) and early bird registrants (8 weeks in advance) are entitled to a DISCOUNT!
COURSE OVERVIEW
This is a 5-day course designed to provide participants with a complete understanding of natural gas processing fundamentals and their practical application in onshore and offshore facilities.
The course begins with an introduction to natural gas processing, covering gas composition, phase behaviour, sales specifications, and an overview of typical plant configurations including dew point control, LPG recovery, and LNG production.
Day two focuses on gas-liquid separation systems, including separator types, sizing principles, mist eliminators, filters, and coalescers, along with troubleshooting common issues such as liquid carryover and foaming.
Day three covers mercury removal systems, hydrate problems, and introduces dehydration of natural gas. Topics include mercury sources, health and equipment risks, solid bed adsorbents, hydrate formation prediction and inhibition, and glycol dehydration basics.
Day four continues with dehydration of natural gas in depth (TEG regeneration, stripping gas, BTEX emissions, molecular sieve operation) and moves into NGL recovery, including turbo-expander plants, refrigeration cycles, and fractionation.
The final day concentrates on sweetening systems, including amine chemistry and processes (MEA, DEA, MDEA), troubleshooting foaming and degradation, amine reclaiming, and an introduction to Claus sulphur recovery and the SCOT tail gas treatment.
COURSE OUTLINE
5 days
Day 1: Natural Gas - Introduction
Natural Gas, NGL, LPG and LNG
o Natural Gas Sources, Composition & Physical Properties
o Associated, non-associated gas, and typical composition
o Natural Gas Liquid (NGL), Gas-to-Liquid (GTL), Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)
o Sales Gas & LNG Specifications
o Heating value (BTU) and its importance to its marketing
o Overview of Gas Processing Plant
o Workshop - Inlet Receiving & Slug Catchers
Day 2: Separation Systems
Gas-Liquid Separation Systems
o Separator Types & Selection
• Vertical, horizontal (two-phase and three-phase), spherical; selection criteria
• Internal Components
o Separation Principles
o Separator Sizing & Troubleshooting
o Instrumentation, control, and measurement of natural gas and gas liquids
o Field application of instruments
o Case Study - Foaming in a Production Separator
Day 3: Natural Gas Impurities
Impurities in Natural Gas
o Mercury Removal Systems
o Water content estimation
o Water dew point control
o Hydrate Formation Conditions
o Hydrate Prevention – Thermodynamic Inhibition
o Case Study - Mercury Sources, typical concentrations (0.01–200 µg/Nm³), health risks, equipment damage
Day 4: Dehydration and NGL Recovery
Introduction to Separation Processes
o Glycol Dehydration – TEG Process
o Solid Bed Dehydration (Molecular Sieves)
o Comparison of Dehydration Methods
o Introduction to NGL Recovery
o Turbo-Expander Plants
o Condensate stabilization -
o Case Study - TEG System Troubleshooting
Day 5: Natural Gas Sweetening, Specifications and Safety
Sweetening Systems
o Amine Chemistry & Processes
o Alternatives to Amines
• membrane system
• Physical processes
• Alkaline Carbonate Salt Processes
• Hybrid Processes
o Claus Sulphur Recovery & Tail Gas Treatment
o Case Study - Troubleshooting Process operations, heat stable salts, Corrosion and Foaming
Course Review & Open Forum Questions
INSTRUCTOR
Petro Teach Instructor
The Instructor holds BSc and PhD degrees from the UK and has over 30 years of experience in refinery technology, operations, and management with major oil companies. He currently works as a Senior Consultant at PetroTeach, specializing in oil and gas, process technology, safety, and environmental management.He is a Chartered Chemist and a member of the Royal Society of Chemistry (UK), as well as a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (USA). He previously served as an Approved Safety Inspector at Cyprus Petroleum Refinery Ltd. He holds honorary academic appointments at several European universities and is involved in research in vacuum distillation, gas recovery, and pyrolysis. He is a team member of the Energy Integration Lab at Huddersfield University and heads the Waste to Plastics effort at a major recycling facility in Cyprus. Since 1996, he has delivered more than 250 professional training courses.
DESIGNED FOR
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
o Characterize natural gas composition – Interpret gas analysis reports, identify contaminants (H₂S, CO₂, Hg, H₂O, N₂, heavy hydrocarbons), and understand pipeline and LNG specifications.
o Apply gas-liquid separation system design basics – Select appropriate separator types (vertical, horizontal, spherical), size vessels for liquid carryover and gas capacity, and troubleshoot foaming and mist extraction problems.
o Prevent hydrates and manage mercury – Predict hydrate formation conditions using temperature-pressure charts, apply inhibition methods (methanol, MEG), and understand mercury removal bed operation and safety.
o Apply dehydration technologies – Distinguish between glycol dehydration (TEG) and solid bed desiccant (molecular sieve) processes, optimize regeneration systems, and meet water dew point specifications.
o Understand NGL recovery processes – Explain turbo-expander plants, refrigeration systems, and fractionation trains (deethanizer, depropanizer, debutanizer) for recovering ethane, propane, butanes, and natural gasoline.
o Operate sweetening systems – Describe amine treating (MEA, DEA, MDEA), evaluate solution circulation rates, troubleshoot foaming and degradation, and understand sulphur recovery (Claus) and tail gas treatment
COURSE LEVEL
o Intermediate to Advance
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
After completing this course, participants will be able to:
o Explain the refining value chain—from crude oil receipt to finished products (gasoline, diesel, jet fuel, LPG)—including key terminology and unit abbreviations
o Identify major refining processes—distinguishing between separation (CDU/VDU), conversion (FCC, hydrocracking, coking, reforming), and treating (hydrodesulfurization, amine scrubbing)
o Recognize the impact of impurities—describing how sulfur, nitrogen, metals, naphthenic acids, and chlorides affect catalyst life, equipment corrosion, and product quality
o Understand refinery utilities—explaining hydrogen production via steam methane reforming, cooling water and boiler feedwater systems, and sour water treatment
o Apply refinery economics—calculating crack spreads (3:2:1), interpreting complex margin vs. netback pricing, determining breakeven utilization, and optimizing blending for improved profitability
o Communicate effectively across departments—using correct refining terminology when collaborating with operations, engineering, finance, procurement, and planning teams
REGISTER
Registration is now OPEN!
* Prices are subject to VAT and local terms. Ph.D. students, groups (≥ 3 persons) and early bird registrants (8 weeks in advance) are entitled to a DISCOUNT!
For more details and registration please send email to: register@petro-teach.com
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