New H₂S Treatment Achieves 99% Removal in Permian Trial
A Permian Basin field trial demonstrated a new hydrogen sulfide treatment process capable of removing more than 99% of H₂S while addressing operational challenges associated with sour gas production and processing.
(P&GJ) — Merichem Technologies said a month-long field trial in the Permian Basin demonstrated a new hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) treatment process capable of removing more than 99% of H₂S from natural gas streams while avoiding the solid waste generated by some conventional treatment methods.
The trial was conducted in the Delaware Basin using gas from producing wells with hydrogen sulfide concentrations of up to 2%. According to the company, the technology converts H₂S into thiosulfate through a liquid-phase catalytic process, eliminating the need for solid media and reducing operational issues associated with waste handling and equipment plugging.
Merichem said the system successfully treated gas streams containing more than 14,000 parts per million of H₂S, exceeding the unit's original design capacity. The company reported sustained removal performance throughout the trial under varying operating conditions.
The testing program also evaluated the use of produced water as part of the treatment process. According to the company, the produced water generated from the same wells provided sufficient chemistry to support treatment of the associated gas stream, potentially reducing the need for additional reagents and water handling requirements.
Hydrogen sulfide management has become an increasing challenge across portions of the Permian Basin as operators encounter more sour gas production from deeper formations. The region currently produces more than 21 billion cubic feet per day of natural gas, creating continued demand for gas treatment infrastructure and processing technologies.
"The industry continues to look for ways to reduce the cost and complexity of hydrogen sulfide removal," Jeff Gomach, senior vice president at Merichem Technologies, said in a statement. He said the field trial met its objectives and demonstrated the technology's ability to support corrosion prevention, environmental compliance and gas quality requirements.
Merichem said it plans to move the technology from pilot testing into commercial deployment.