Oil & Gas Plant

The average gas flow rate at the plant is 700,000 SCFD. At certain points during operation, e.g. when new wells are opened, flow rates increase to 900,000 SCFD. At H2S levels of 4%, 700,000 SCFD and 900,000 SCFD are equivalent to 1.1 tpd and 1.4 tpd of sulphur respectively (approaching the 1.5 tpd design value). THIOPAQO&G plant H2S emission levels range from 0 to 2 ppmv. No changes in performance were noted when the Imhoff sulphur solution levels were reduced from 1% to < 0.5%. Even after power outages, the THI0PAQ O&G plant achieved optimal gas treatment performance immediately following start-up.

Biological Sour Gas Treatment with Minimal Operator Attendance

• Company: Citation Oil & Gas Corporation
• Location: Salem, Illinois – USA
• Commissioned: June 2006

Feed Gas

• Gas Type: Sour Associated Gas
• Gas Flow: 0.7−0.9 MMSCFD – full availability (design value: 1.0 MMSCFD)
• Pressure: 45 psig (max. 60 psig)
• H2S: 4 vol.%
• Sulphur: 1.1−1.4 LTPD – full availability (design value: 1.5 LTPD)

Treated Gas

• Guarantee: < 10 ppmv H2S
• Actual: 0−2 ppmv H2S

General

• Manning: 66% unmanned operation 2 × dayshift operators (Wed−Mon)
• 3 × dayshift operators (Tue)
• 0 × nightshift operators (inc. facility’s entire operation – compression, liquid recovery, THIOPAQ O&G) caustic utilization 0.1−0.2 lb
• dry NaOH/lb S removed
• Availability: > 99%

The Citation THIOPAQO&G plant has been running without any extended shutdown periods since being commissioned in June 2006. The plant was shut down for approximately eight days to clean packing. No other operating issues have required any plant shutdowns. The stream factor has been calculated to be (1 8/1300) × 100 = 99.4%.

Manpower
After running for several weeks, confidence in operations was such that the intended, unmanned operation schedule was implemented, i.e. eight hours of daytime operator attendance and sixteen hours of night-time unattended operation. During the day, the entire facility – a liquid hydrocarbon recovery system, gas compression system and the THIOPAQO&G plant – is run by two operators. On Tuesdays, a third man is on hand for sundry tasks.

Foaming
Foaming is very rare in the Citation THIOPAQO&G plant. Occasionally, some foaming is seen when temperatures inside the bioreactor drop below operating thresholds or exceed 114 ˚F (46 ˚C). On such occasions, anti-foam is used for a day or so, perhaps once every three to four months.

Corrosion
Materials used in the facility have not shown any signs of corrosion.

Biology
Since commissioning the THIOPAQO&G plant in 2006, the biology has not yet needed re-seeding, not even when the plant has reached temperatures of 46 ˚C.

Daily Rounds
The daily routine at the plant is as follows:

• Check inlet water filters
• Check seal flushes, etc.
• Run Imhoff to check sulphur concentration in Shell-Paques solution
• Check solution pH value and conductivity to verify online probes
• Examine Redox probe trends, take action if required
• Do rounds, i.e. drain regulators, non-automated filter boots, etc.
• Check compressors, bleed air traps, etc.