Sulfur Removal and Recovery
CrystaTech is a leading expert in the field of sulfur removal and recovery. For over twenty years, CrystaTech has partnered with the U.S. Department of Energy, Gas Technology Institute, Electric Power Research Institute, National Energy Technology Laboratory, and the energy sector worldwide to develop solutions for complex sour gas production, processing, and treating issues.
Downhole Sulfur Recovery
Total and CrystaTech have jointly developed Downhole Sulfur Recovery ("DSR"), a regenerable solvent-based process to prevent and manage sulphur deposition during production in natural gas well bores and surface facilities. While producing gas from certain formations, free sulphur may appear as a liquid or a solid phase in the well or in surface facilities. Solid sulphur deposits on the well tubing cause gas production to diminish and ultimately stop, resulting in production losses and increased operating expenditures. In addition, if not removed from the process gas stream beforehand, the elemental sulphur can also have a detrimental effect on the downstream treating units.
Most existing technologies require injection of non-regenerable solvents on a batch or continuous basis. For large sour gas fields, the required amounts of solvent is not practical due to the large volumes. The DSR technology is a regenerable solvent based process that was originally developed to mitigate large sulphur deposits in wells. The solvent dissolves the sulphur down hole and the sulphur rich solvent is separated from the gas in surface equipment. The solvent is then regenerated by cooling and elemental sulphur is recovered by crystallization and filtration, while the regenerated solvent is pumped back down into the well.
The DSR technology is also well suited for surface type applications where sulphur deposition occurs in gas flow lines, surface equipment, or even transportation pipelines. The DSR Development Program covered a large range of operating conditions that represent almost any desired application: well or surface type or both combined.
A DSR Pilot Unit was successfully designed and operated in Texas during 2009. The DSR test program provided valuable design, operational, HSE and scale-up information that translate well to a large-scale field demonstration and commercial applications. This testing validated the DSR technology. Total has submitted a DSR Proposal to the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company ("ADNOC") for deployment of DSR in the Bab Field. Once ADNOC approval is granted, Total will proceed with the demonstrated in the DSR technology in the Bab Field.
For more information regarding DSR, please review the attached technical papers:
