Process Principle

Ifpexol™ uses refrigerated methanol for the complete treatment (dehydration, NGL recovery and sweetening) of natural gas. The Ifpexol™ process is based on two independent steps:

• Ifpex-1 for simultaneous water and hydrocarbon dew pointing
• Ifpex-2 for acid gas removal

Methanol is used as hydrate inhibitor in a cold process for NGL extraction. The mixture of methanol and water recovered at the low temperature separator is regenerated by simple stripping with a fraction of the feed gas and pure water is produced.

Process Scheme

Performances

• Over 99.9 % stripping effectiveness with raw gases at pressures as high as 100 bar.
• Water dew point as low as -80°C.
• Adequate mass transfer contact between methanol-water liquid stream and stripping vapor stream.
• No hydrate formation or icing concerns (Methanol is recirculated as a hydrate inhibitor and antifreeze agent)
• No venting
• No need for external heat
• No dangerous waste streams

Key Benefits

Ifpex-1

• Minimized CAPEX if cold process is available
• MeOH recovery from NGL’s by water wash (optional)
• 16 industrial references with capacities up to 350 MMSCFD

Ifpex-2

• Proven on industrial pilot plant
• Can achieve pipeline gas specifications
• Total removal of organic sulfur species
• Bulk acid gases removal
• Solvent partially / totally regenerated by flash
• Acid gases recovered dry and under pressure (# 10 bara)
• HC losses in acid gas # 10%