An overview of gas processing capability in Alberta

The natural gas processing industry begun in Alberta with the discovery, development and recognition of important fields like Turner Valley and Bow Island in the 1920s. A central database and compendium relating specifically to the operation of gas plants did not arrive on the scene until 1992. The directory includes all major gas processing and gas compression facilities, location, size, sour gas plants, condensate and liquid recovery and utilization. The latest edition of the directory identifies 683 plants of which 223 are classified as sour gas plants, and 440 sweet gas facilities. There are 65 major gas compression facilities. Geographically, the major concentrations of gas processing plants are along the northwest-southeast trend of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin along the mountains. Nearly two-thirds of the plants have refrigeration as one component of their processing scheme. Many different amines and other specialty chemicals are used for removal of acid and sour gas components, for dehydration, and for selective removal of other contaminants from the natural gas stream. Condensate is extracted from the inlet gas using a number of processing techniques such as single stage refrigeration, lean oil absorption and gas expansion through a Joule-Thompson valve or turbo expander. Cascade refrigeration, deep-cut turbo-expansion is used to recover lighter components such as ethane, propane and butane. Information on plant utilization, and gas processing in other parts of Canada were also reviewed