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Overview

A natural gas exploration company in the middle east extracts gas offshore, which is then piped onshore where it is prepared for transportation and further processing.

As the natural gas is extracted from the wellhead, it expands and thus its temperature strongly drops. In order to prevent the formation of ice and avoid frozen fittings, it must be heated. For this purpose, an 80% monoethylene glycol mixture (MEG) is warmed up to 285 °F onshore and then pumped out to the gas extraction fields offshore. Here it is mixed into the extracted gas streams to elevate the temperature and to simultaneously dehydrate the gas.

The MEG and the natural gas are then piped back, as a mixture, towards the mainland. Onshore, the MEG is regenerated and stored in a reservoir tank. It is then ready to be fed back into the cycle.

In order to properly control the regeneration process, the MEG concentration has to be determined in real-time. The measurement of the monoethylene glycol-water mixture takes place after the MEG has passed the evaporator. To determine the exact concentration of the MEG, a PIOX R Process refractometer is used. Because of the potentially hazardous area the PIOX R measuring system is used in, it is enclosed in an explosion and flame proof Ex d enclosure and is ATEX Zone 1 certified.

Advantages

  • Determination of the MEG concentration in real-time (ATEX Zone 1)
  • Drift-free, reliable and precise measurement
  • Only minimal maintenance efforts necessary