Advanced Gas Processing & NGL Recovery Course

Overview Objectives Audience Methodology Contents Certificate FAQ's

Course Overview

Advanced gas processing and NGL recovery are essential for converting variable raw gas streams into pipeline-quality gas and valuable liquid products. Effective plant performance depends on understanding phase behaviour, contaminant removal, dehydration, refrigeration, cryogenic separation, fractionation and residue gas compression as one integrated system. For process and operations professionals, strong technical knowledge supports higher hydrocarbon recovery, stable product quality, energy efficiency, safe low-temperature operation and reliable response to changes in feed composition, market requirements and plant constraints.

This course provides participants with an advanced, practical understanding of gas treatment, NGL recovery and fractionation workflows. Enrolled professionals will enhance processing facility economics within our oil and gas training courses portfolio or optimize mechanical plant setups alongside our mechanical engineering training courses. Participants will learn to evaluate feed gas, compare recovery technologies, manage ethane recovery or rejection, optimise demethaniser and fractionation performance, and troubleshoot common operating problems. The programme also develops their ability to interpret simulation and plant data, assess energy and recovery trade-offs, maintain product specifications and recommend improvements that increase plant reliability, operational flexibility and overall economic value.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

Explain gas-processing and NGL-recovery process integration.
Evaluate the impact of feed gas composition and phase behaviour on design.
Compare and select processing configurations for optimal hydrocarbon recovery.
Trouble-shoot gas treating, dehydration and cryogenic separation units.
Optimise demethaniser performance and manage ethane recovery or rejection modes.
Maintain strict NGL product specifications across the fractionation train.
Assess energy use and balance recovery efficiency with compression costs.
Recommend plant improvements that support reliability, safety and economic value.

Target Audience

This course is designed for process engineers, production engineers, chemical engineers, plant operations supervisors, asset managers, and technical specialists working in gas processing facilities, cryogenic NGL recovery units, or fractionation facilities.

It is also highly beneficial for facilities engineers, design personnel, project engineers, technical managers, commercial analysts, and corporate engineers responsible for evaluating, optimizing, or auditing gas treatment and liquid recovery assets across the upstream and midstream sectors.

Training Methodology

The training will be delivered through instructor-led technical presentations, interactive process walk-throughs, plant case studies, data analysis exercises, and group troubleshooting workshops. Participants will examine detailed process flow diagrams (PFDs), fluid phase envelopes, column operating logs, and equipment performance metrics from real-world processing assets.

The curriculum also features step-by-step refrigeration calculation examples, fractionator reflux tuning scenarios, contaminant breakthrough reviews, and plant optimization workshops. This practical approach ensures that engineering and operational principles are immediately linked with everyday production monitoring and commercial asset decisions.

Course Contents

Module 1: Gas Processing Foundations and Phase Behaviour

Key Topics

Fluid characterisation: natural gas components, properties and classification
Phase envelope interpretation: cricondentherm, cricondenbar and retrograde condensation
Hydrocarbon dew point control and pipeline transmission requirements
Impact of feed gas variations on downstream plant capacity and hydraulics
Natural gas liquid (NGL), liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and condensate markets
Process simulation fundamentals: using thermodynamic models for gas systems
Developing the overarching gas plant design basis and operating philosophy

Module 2: Gas Treating, Dehydration and Contaminant Management

Key Topics

Acid gas removal: amine solvent selection, loading and column kinetics
Trace contaminant control: mercury removal beds, molecular sieves and sulphur control
Gas dehydration: glycol systems, solid desiccant adsorption and regeneration cycles
Hydrate formation mechanics, prevention methods and low-temperature operating risks
Operational issues: corrosion tracking, solvent foaming, degradation and chemical loss
Troubleshooting treating, dehydration and contaminant bed breakthrough scenarios
Establishing integrity boundaries for high-pressure and corrosive gas environments

Module 3: NGL Recovery and Cryogenic Processing

Key Topics

Hydrocarbon separation methods: Joule-Thomson expansion and mechanical refrigeration loops
Turboexpander processes: cryogenic expander thermodynamics and operating principles
High-efficiency heat exchangers, cold box design rules and low-temperature separation vessels
Demethaniser column operation, tray/packing performance and residue gas recompression
Operational flexibility: switching between ethane recovery and ethane rejection modes
Energy balance tracking: balancing recovery efficiency against residue compression costs
Safe operating procedures: cooldown sequences, thermal stress management and transient handling

Module 4: NGL Fractionation and Product Management

Key Topics

Raw NGL feed compositions, stabilization requirements and storage setups
The fractionation train: deethaniser, depropaniser and debutaniser column configurations
Internal hardware: reboilers, condensers, reflux accumulators and pressure control systems
Column efficiency parameters: managing reflux ratios, temperature profiles and flooding
Meeting product quality targets: vapour pressure, composition limits and contaminant thresholds
Handling, metering, storage and distribution infrastructure for LPG and natural gasoline
Troubleshooting column issues: off-spec production, tray damage, fouling and cycling

Module 5: Plant Optimisation, Reliability and Corporate Safety

Key Topics

Systems engineering: integrating treatment, cryogenic recovery and fractionation trains
Handling turndown, operational constraints, relief systems and flare capacities
Energy conservation: pinch analysis, heat integration and compressor optimization pathways
Advanced process control options, online analytics and performance monitoring setups
Process safety management: identifying hazardous areas, toxic risks and low-temperature material embrittlement
Asset integrity priorities: equipment inspection schedules and preventive maintenance
Practical capstone project: optimizing an integrated NGL recovery and fractionation plant model

Classroom Session

Dubai

23 - 27 Nov 2026

$5,600

Cape Town

14 - 18 Dec 2026

$5,600

Dubai

29 Mar - 02 Apr 2027

$5,600

Dubai

14 - 18 Jun 2027

$5,600

Miami

23 - 27 Aug 2027

$6,950

Lagos

27 Sep - 01 Oct 2027

$5,600

Dubai

29 Nov - 03 Dec 2027

$5,600

Cape Town

13 - 17 Dec 2027

$5,600

More Schedules

Online Session

Duration: 2 Hrs X 8 Days

Starting Date

20-Oct-2026

$3,000

Starting Date

01-Dec-2026

$3,000

Starting Date

11-May-2027

$3,500

Starting Date

23-Aug-2027

$3,500

Starting Date

05-Oct-2027

$3,500

Starting Date

20-Dec-2027

$3,500

More Schedules

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Certificate

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will receive a PROMISE Certificate of Completion.

Certificate

Upon successful completion of this training, participants will receive a PROMISE Certificate of Completion.

This Program has been approved for 25.00 HR (General) recertification credit hours toward aPHR , aPHRi , PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi and SPHRi recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®)

testimonials

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An exceptional learning experience. This stands out as one of the most comprehensive and well-structured courses I have encountered in my career.