Natural Gas Liquids (NGL) Recovery

Oil and Gas Technology October 25, 2025
Enquire About This Course

Introduction

This advanced course provides a technical deep-dive into the processes and economics of extracting valuable Natural Gas Liquids (NGLs)—such as ethane, propane, and butane—from raw natural gas. Participants will explore and compare key recovery technologies, including the lean oil absorption process, refrigerated absorption, and the industry-standard cryogenic turboexpander process. The training covers the design, optimization, and control of fractionation columns to separate the NGL mix into purity products. The central theme is balancing market demand for NGLs with residue gas specifications, ensuring maximum economic recovery.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, participants will be able to:

  • Explain the economic drivers and market value of various NGL products (ethane, propane, butane).
  • Detail the operating principles and flow schemes of lean oil absorption and refrigerated absorption plants.
  • Design and troubleshoot the industry-standard cryogenic turboexpander process for maximum recovery.
  • Understand and apply the thermodynamics of low-temperature separation and chilling.
  • Describe the process control and optimization of NGL fractionation trains (de-ethanizer, de-propanizer, etc.).
  • Analyze the impact of NGL recovery on the sales gas heating value (BTU) and pipeline specifications.
  • Calculate NGL recovery efficiency and key performance indicators (KPIs).

Target Audience

  • Gas Plant Process and Facilities Engineers.
  • Midstream Commercial Analysts and Economists.
  • Operations Supervisors and Technicians in NGL recovery plants.
  • Design Engineers involved in cryogenic or fractionation projects.
  • Technical Sales Professionals for NGL processing equipment.
  • Personnel managing gas contracts and BTU specifications.

Methodology

  • Case Studies: Comparing the economics and recovery efficiency of different NGL plant types.
  • Group Activities: Designing the sequence and operating pressures for an NGL fractionation train.
  • Individual Exercises: Calculating the cooling load and turboexpander duty for a cryogenic plant.
  • Discussions on the commercial trade-offs between NGL recovery and sales gas BTU value.
  • Simulations: Using process simulation to model the effect of residue gas pressure on recovery.

Personal Impact

  • Gain high-value expertise in complex cryogenic and fractionation processes.
  • Enhance ability to make process decisions with a direct and measurable financial impact.
  • Develop strong troubleshooting skills for high-pressure, low-temperature systems.
  • Increase personal marketability in the growing midstream and petrochemical sectors.
  • Master the link between process parameters, product purity, and profitability.
  • Achieve the competence to lead optimization projects in NGL facilities.

Organizational Impact

  • Significantly increased revenue generation by maximizing the recovery of valuable NGLs.
  • Optimal balancing of gas processing to meet both sales gas and NGL market demands.
  • Reduced energy consumption and operating costs through efficient cryogenic and fractionation control.
  • Enhanced safety through a detailed understanding of low-temperature hazards and systems.
  • Improved asset utilization and reliability of the NGL processing plant.
  • Standardization of best practices for operation and troubleshooting of complex units.

Course Outline

Unit 1: NGL Market Value and Process Fundamentals

Section 1.1: Economics and Specifications
  • The definition and commercial value of NGL components (C2, C3, C4, C5+).
  • The necessity of NGL recovery for BTU control and liquid drop-out prevention in pipelines.
  • Overview of the main NGL recovery technologies and their economic trade-offs.
  • Review of vapor-liquid equilibrium (VLE) and thermodynamics at cryogenic temperatures.

Unit 2: Traditional NGL Recovery Technologies

Section 2.1: Absorption Methods
  • Design and operating principles of the lean oil absorption process.
  • The function of the refrigerated absorption process and its energy requirements.
  • Limitations and applications of adsorption (molecular sieve) for NGL recovery.
  • Control and regeneration systems for absorption unit stability.

Unit 3: Cryogenic Turboexpander Process

Section 3.1: Cryogenic Technology
  • Detailed flow scheme and design of the industry-standard turboexpander plant.
  • The role of the turboexpander in generating cold energy and its performance optimization.
  • Control and anti-surge systems for the turboexpander and residue gas compressor.
  • Heat integration, plate-fin exchangers, and cold box design considerations.

Unit 4: NGL Fractionation and Purity Products

Section 4.1: Separation Trains
  • Design and control principles of distillation columns (de-ethanizer, de-propanizer, de-butanizer).
  • Optimizing reflux ratio, reboiler duty, and tray efficiency for purity products.
  • Modeling and simulating fractionation trains (link to Aspen HYSYS).
  • Storage, handling, and transportation logistics for NGL purity products.

Unit 5: Process Optimization and Troubleshooting

Section 5.1: Efficiency and Control
  • Strategies for maximizing ethane recovery (deep-cut operation) based on market price.
  • Troubleshooting common problems: Off-spec products, column flooding, and cold-side fouling.
  • Energy optimization and heat integration across the entire NGL facility.
  • The impact of inlet gas composition variability on process performance and control.

Ready to Learn More?

Have questions about this course? Get in touch with our training consultants.

Submit Your Enquiry