Mercaptan Iso-Containers a New Substitute to Barrels Filling System for the First Time in Egyptian Gas Plants

By

 Magdy Galal El-Din Badr¹

(1) Western Desert Gas Complex - GASCO, Alexandria, Egypt

 For the first time in the Egyptian gas plants, Iso-Containers were used in W.D.G.C. to make-up the Plant Ethyl Mercaptan storage tank The new filling system is done without any mercaptan contact with the atmosphere, one hose is connected between the plant storage vessel and the Iso-Container and another hose is connected between plant fuel gas and the Iso-Container. Make-up gas pressure is applied to the Iso-Container, forcing the liquid Ethyl Mercaptan to flow through the liquid hose to the storage vessel. The barrels system requires more costs for washing every single barrel with soda ash as well as the spilled pump, floor and connections, also cost for dumping the empty barrels (Dumped by burial). Losses of Ethyl Mercaptan are a common practice during barrel evacuation (1%) due to evaporation, spills and residual amounts in every barrel. From our previous experience, make-up with 50 bbls from barrels took one working day, meanwhile, make-up with 200 bbls from Iso-Containers lasted for 1Ú2 working day only. That is about 8 times. Handling 2 Containers annually is much more easier and more safe than handling 200 barrels. The closed transfer system caused no fumes evolution to Environment compared to the barrel open transfer system, which irritated both plant personnel and community. No storage space is needed for Mercaptan barrels, Mercaptan is a flammable material requiring special storage conditions.