(145f) Process Simulator for Operator Training and Control Studies at Al-Khaleej Gas Project

Al-Khaleej Gas, a joint venture project, is operated by Rasgas Company Limited (Rasgas) in the State of Qatar. Al-Khaleej Gas has been developed into two phases, AKG-1 and AKG-2, to process a total of 2000 MMSCFD of sour natural gas. Up to 800 MMSCFD of this demand is ?uninterruptable?, so the AKG plants are integrated with RasGas' LNG facilities to provide emergency gas supplies. During AKG-1, a dynamic process simulator was employed for operator training as well as for control check-up. This process model was later updated and significantly expanded for a study aimed at improving the sales gas header controls study. Those controls were revamped on the basis of experience and the study results. During the second phase of the project, a detailed, multi-unit, AKG-2 model was developed and connected to the existing sales gas header model. The combined AKG-1, AKG-2 and sales has header model was integrated with the actual plant controls and plant protection logic system. The combined model was made available for plant operator training for conducting plant startup and emergency shutdown scenarios. Final Control Studies were carried with the plant control database to test response of sales gas header controls. The paper will discuss the size of the model(s), some of the problems which they were used to solve, and some of the difficulties encountered. This work might be considered as an example of a life-cycle model for the AKG facility.