The focus of the project was to design an amine sweetening unit using methyl diethanolamine (MDEA) and a mechanical refrigeration unit with propane as the refrigerant. They were used to remove acidic impurities and hydrocarbon fractions with higher boiling points, respectively. As the gas entering the refrigeration cycle is fully saturated with water, a Triethylene Glycol Dehydration system was designed. Lastly, a cogeneration unit was also designed to produce six megawatts of electricity, which was used as a power source for the plant. The design then employed the use of pinch analysis to integrate heat between different processes to minimize the overall heat loss.

The project deliverables included mass and energy balances, process flow diagrams, detailed selection and specification of all equipment, safety, environmental, and risk analyses, a project management schedule, and execution strategy, extensive economic analysis, and a plot plan of the plant.

Economic analysis including a discounted cash flow analysis was performed for the project’s 25-year lifespan. The total capital cost was $58.6 million, the operating cost was $56 million, and an annual revenue of $83 million was generated. The discounted payback period was found to be 2 years, the calculated IRR was found to be 61%, and the net present value was evaluated to be $361 million. From the sensitivity analysis, it was concluded that natural gas prices have the greatest impact on the IRR.