“Mercury Removal from Natural Gas in Egypt”
by
Dr. Hamed Korkor Chairman assistant for Studies and Research, EGAS
Chem. Ashraf Al-Alf y Quality General Manager, EGAS
Eng. Sahar El-Behairy Research and Studies Depart. , EGAS
ABSTRACT
Worldwide natural gas is forecasted to be the fastest growing primary
energy source. In Egypt, natural gas is recently playing a key role as one of the
major energy sources. This is supported by adequate gas reserves, booming gas
industry, and unique geographical location. Egypt’s current proven gas reserves
accounted for about 62 TCF, in addition to about 100 TCF as probable gas
reserves. As a result, it was decided to enter the gas exporting market, where
gas is transported through pipelines as in the Arab Gas pipelines project and as
a liquid through the liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects in Damietta, and Idku.
With the start up of these currently implemented LNG projects that are
dealing with the very low temperatures (down to -162 °C), the gas has to be
subjected to a regular analysis in order to check the compliance with the
required specifications.
Mercury is a trace component of all fossil fuels including natural gas,
condensates, crude oil, coal, tar sands, and other bitumens. The use of fossil
hydrocarbons as fuels provides the main opportunity for emissions of mercury
they contain to the atmospheric environment; while other traces exist in
production, transportation and processing systems.(1)