ExxonMobil reduces footprint of natural gas dehydration process
ExxonMobil has developed Compact Mass transfer and Inline Separation Technology (cMIST), a system that replaces traditional natural gas dehydration methods and reduces surface footprint by 70%. cMIST uses a proprietary droplet generator and an inline separator to move water-rich glycol droplets to the outside of pipes before being separated from the natural gas. The remaining water-rich glycol is then "regenerated using a conventional system" and used again. ExxonMobil has exclusively licensed cMIST to the Chemtech division of Sulzer, which will deploy the technology across the oil and gas industry.
The new technology, developed and extensively field-tested by ExxonMobil, more efficiently removes water vapor present during the production of natural gas. Removing water vapor through the use of dehydration technology, typically accomplished using large and expensive dehydration towers, reduces corrosion and equipment interference helping to ensure the safe and efficient transport of natural gas through the supply infrastructure and ultimately to consumers.

ExxonMobil has developed new technology for natural gas dehydration that employs a patented absorption system inside pipes and replaces the need for conventional dehydration tower technology. The “in-line” cMIST (Compact Mass transfer and Inline Separation Technology) could be deployed at both land-based and offshore natural gas production operations and represents a step-change in efficiency and a concomitant significant reduction in operational footprint.

cMIST reduces the size, weight and cost of dehydration, resulting in reductions of surface footprint by 70% and the overall dehydration system’s weight by half, which has significant added benefits on offshore applications.

By leveraging our industry-leading experience with upstream applications, our researchers were able to create this advanced natural gas dehydration technology, which represents a step-change in operational efficiency and a significant reduction in footprint. —Tom Schuessler, president of ExxonMobil Upstream Research Company

ExxonMobil’s cMIST technology relies on a proprietary droplet generator to break up conventional solvent into tiny droplets that become well dispersed in the gas flow thereby increasing the surface area for the absorption of water from the gas. This is followed by an inline separator that coalesces the water-rich glycol droplets and moves them to the outside wall of the pipe for effective separation from the dehydrated natural gas.

The water-rich glycol is regenerated using a conventional system and is sent back to the droplet generator to be used again. The droplet generator uses the energy from the flowing natural gas to create droplets of the right size.

ExxonMobil has licensed cMIST technology to the Chemtech division of Sulzer, a leading player in separation technologies, to facilitate deployment across the oil and gas industry.

We are proud to have been selected as worldwide exclusive licensee of the cMIST technology, which includes our patented compact HiPer inline separator. We look forward to servicing the oil and gas industry with this unique technology, allowing for much needed reductions in capital expenditures for both greenfield projects and existing facilities seeking brownfield debottlenecking opportunities. cMIST technology complements the Sulzer line of compact multi-phase separation technologies and will maximize benefits available to oil & gas operating companies around the world. —Torsten Wintergerste, president of Sulzer’s Chemtech division

ExxonMobil’s Houston-based Upstream Research Company and New Jersey-based ExxonMobil Research and Engineering division develop a range of innovative technologies aimed at producing energy more efficiently. The two organizations employ more than 1,000 PhD scientists and engineers.

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