(645a) Modeling and Simulation for the Natural Gas Midstream Value Chain

The U.S. oil and gas midstream market will continue increasing significantly in the coming years, bringing tremendous business opportunities to the midstream industry. However, the industry is also facing enormous environmental challenges and renewable energy competitions in the current era of industrial decarbonization. To study the healthy and sustainable development of the industry, this paper has developed a digital twin a general natural-gas midstream value chain (NGMVC). It includes rigorous process models from raw gas compression, gas/liquid separation, mercury removal, sweetening, dehydration, NGL recovery, and NGL fraction to LNG liquefaction and helium recovery. Other critical industrial sectors such as sulfur recovery and LNG storage are also modeled. Based on the NGMVC model, potential opportunities for enhancing sustainability the NGMVC are ready to be investigated. The study will provide scientific knowledge, data, and valuable technical support for the long-term sustainable development of the natural gas midstream industry.