Robert F. Ray, Jr., Parkersburg Rig and Reel Co.
Vapor-phase water in low-enough concentrations is relatively harmless in a natural-gas gathering and transporting system. It is the liquid-phase water which causes all of the difficulties experienced. The usual trouble caused by liquid water is the formation of gas hydrates; everyone is familiar with the so-called freezing of gas lines and equipment in cold weather. Another trouble which is somewhat more obscure than hydrate formation is internal corrosion of the pipe. Elimination of liquid water from a gas-handling system effectively prevents the formation of hydrates and corrosion. Extensive Laboratory research and field testing have resulted in the development of a new, small, short-cycle, dry-desiccant adsorption unit for gas wellhead applications. A fully automatic, self-contained and skid-mounted unit may be used to dehydrate the gas. No external source of energy, other than the gas stream which is to be dehydrated, nor external cooling medium, such as water or gas, is needed.