Flue Gas Generation Problems, Solutions and Cost - Block 31 Field

Discussion of this paper is invited. Three copies of any discussion should be sent to the Society of Petroleum Engineers office. Such discussion may be presented at the above meeting and, with the paper, may be considered for publication in one of the two SPE magazines. This paper outlines the physical equipment and flow of the Atlantic Richfield et al 54 MMCF/D Flue Gas Plant located in the Block 31 Field, Crane County, Texas. Conservation of resources; water, natural gas and energy was incorporated in the initial design. Corrosion has been of primary concern to the operator. The results of a program evaluating ammonia and filming amines to control corrosion are reported. Operating information is submitted on staffing, mechanical and fouling problem, factors governing the manufacture of flue gas as a ratio to input fuel gas and dehydration. A method to be utilized in estimating cost of any size flue gas plant is suggested. Introduction The world's largest flue gas operation is being conducted in the Block 31 Field, Crane County, Texas. This multi-pay field was initially discovered by The Atlantic Refining Company, now Atlantic Richfield Company, in November, 1945. Early in the field's life, the industry's first miscible displacement program was started in the Devonian reservoir. At the time the 54 MMCF/D flue gas plant started operations on March 8, 1966, the miscible program had been conducted for approximately seventeen years. Prior to construction of the flue gas plant, a conventional gasoline plant and injection facilities were in operation. By taking a portion of the absorber residue gas and burning in a controlled atmosphere the volume can be increased nine to eleven times. The economic attractiveness of such a procedure was the discontinuation of purchasing 30 to 40 MMCF/D of natural gas, release for sale of 20 to 30 MMCF/D of produced gas and the assurance of a continuing source of displacement medium for the reservoir. In addition, the flue gas plant will increase oil recovery from the field through an extension of the economic life of the injection program. PROCESS DISCUSSION A diagram of the overall processing scheme of the Block 31 facilities is shown in Figure 1. Feed stock for the flue gas plant is absorber residue gas and air. Incorporated in the flue gas plant is a treating system for the absorber residue gas prior to its combustion in the flue gas generators. The processing objective of the treating plant is to reduce sulfur content to a minimum.