Figure 14.

6 Liquid Formed

These three examples illustrate the complexity of natural gas-water phase diagrams. The impor-
tance of the C6 + characterization when predicting phase behavior is reemphasized. An item of secondary
importance is that the C6 + characterization does not appear to have a significant effect on the predicted
water dew point. If this is true (and it probably is) it means that charts like Figure 14.7 can be used with
confidence for most natural gas streams not containing significant amounts of the acid gas consti·
tuents.
WATER CONTENT PREDICTION METHODS
Prediction of the water content of lean sweet natural gas by graphical methods can be done using any
one of a number of graphical correlations or the method of Sharma and Campbell. These basic methods have
been reviewed in Chapter 17, Volume 2. For convenience they will be overviewed here.
Figure 14.7 is typical of a series of such charts prepared over the past forty years. Such charts have been
prepared by Hammerschmidt; McCarthy, Boyd and Reid; McKetta and Wehe; AGA, etc. Such charts are based
on both laboratory and operating data. The bulk of the data are for sweet, lean gas suitable for burner fuel.
Since the correlation does not include composition as a variable and is truly empirical, applicability is limited.
Our evaluations indicate that at pressures less than about 500 psi a, charts like Figure 14.7 can be us-
ed to estimate the water content of about any natural gas including gases containing as much as 10%
C02 and/or H2S. At pressures above 500 psi a, significant deviations can be found even for small acid con·
cent rations (5% acid gas or less). The deviations generally increase with increasing pressure and temper·
ature.
The equation below was developed by Campbell based on operating data for sour gas systems con·
taining up to 40 mol % H2S in and/or up to about 50% C02. Charts for predicting all quantities are shown
in References 14·1 and 14·6.

14-8
 10000
8000 /
/ / / /
/ /
6000
'Y""
~Y
/ v /
/
4000 / / / /
3000 ._OJ~ / / / / /
2000
i/ v/
~<, /
/
/ / v/ /j:
~ ~~~
/ /
~

""'"' 1000
1-il~/ !__ /
rJl

,_"' 800 -"' ")

"'""''
/ / / / / / /
..,...... 600 I I / / / // / / /_
I I / / '-~"' / / // // // /
"'" 400 I J / "'~ / / / / / / / /
r:."' 300 I I I / / ,/~ ~"'~a"'·"'
"'/ // / / / /
0
0
"'... I I J
v v I I / /0~~~~"':;/ / /
200

~~~;%//
"'
VI ~
/
II
~

4-<

. ~ ~"'"'"'
"
~
rJl
VI / / / 'j
100
"'
,.c
..-<
. 80
I I I 1/"P../
// / / 1//
// // // /
/ / "
rJl
60 I I v // /
II // /
"'
'-' I I I I // /·/1 // / / /
..-<
40 I I I I J Ill /I ' / / / /
...
..."'::> II I IJ V/;, /// / / v
l I
I ;, ~ ~ ~ ' l
30
z"'
... 20 I 'I I
1//
Q)

~~~ ~
Q)

lj I;
:>
"'
4-<
0
... 10
..."
Q)
8 II I I I ' I l l 1///

1/ I
/
u"
0
6 I I I I. // r; I I
... I I ll/i II I, rvv / I

...
Q)
4 I Ill; 1/JVI
v
~
3
v I I I I '/Ill If~
2 1/ I V# (!~ f/j I

~J~~
I

1 . 'It ffj
40
1 '~ 0 40 120AO 160 200 24 0
I
~3P 0
Water Dewpo1nt, F
•

Figure 14.7 Water Content of Lean, Sweet Natural Gas

14-9