optimization of a liquefied natural gas plant for utilizing associated natural gas streams

The liquefaction of associated natural gas resources (ang) is a promising option which enables utilizing them as an energy carrier and reduces environmental impacts which is resulted by burning ang# however, such processes are highly energy intensive and the optimal design and operation of these processes is of high importance# moreover, ang is usually produced in oilfields and the associated gas in one oil filed may exhaust in a few years# consequently, the liquefaction process may be used to liquefy another feed gas stream# therefore, the process must be flexible enough to cope with the new feed conditions# the present research optimized a single-stage mixed-refrigerant process for the liquefaction of an ang stream# also, a sensitivity analysis was performed to determine the feasible design alternatives which can liquefy both feed streams# the results showed that the optimal design obtained for the first ang, cannot fully liquefy the second ang# however, the designs for the second ang can liquefy the first stream as well#