Economic Analysis · GPSA · Campbell
Deep dive into process optimization techniques, simulation tools, constraint analysis, and economic optimization methods.
For a given NGL recovery process, feed composition, recovery target, and prices, it evaluates GPM, NGL production, residue-gas shrinkage, cooling/compression load, and net margin (NGL revenue − operating cost − gas shrinkage). It evaluates the operating point you enter; it does not run a numerical optimizer.
Single-point NGL recovery economics: product revenue, gas-shrinkage (frac-spread) cost, energy cost, net margin per MMscf, and an ethane-rejection breakeven price by process type.
It is designed for gas processing facilities including NGL recovery plants, evaluating overall plant efficiency and economics.
The calculator compares turboexpander (85-98% C2 recovery), JT valve (20-50% C2, low CAPEX), refrigeration (40-80% C2), and enhanced processes (90-99% C2, maximum recovery). Each has different capital and operating cost profiles.
The calculator performs breakeven analysis comparing ethane recovery revenue against gas shrinkage cost. When ethane prices are low, rejecting ethane into the residue gas stream and recovering only propane and heavier components maximizes profitability.
The calculator uses Mont Belvieu purity product prices as the reference. Typical ranges are ethane at $0.15-0.50/gal and propane at $0.70-1.20/gal. The frac spread between NGL value and gas shrinkage drives the optimal recovery level.