23-04-2012

Karan milestone reached

Saudi Aramco’s Karan Gas Program passed another milestone with the successful start-up of its gas processing facilities at Khursaniyah, seven weeks ahead of schedule. With one gas-treating train and one sulfur recovery train now fully functional at the Khursaniyah Gas Plant (KGP), Phase II of the Karan Gas Program is almost complete. The facility is now able to process one billion standard cubic feet per day (scfd) of non-associated gas produced from the Karan offshore field. 

By the second quarter of 2012, two additional gas trains will be operational, bringing the Karan gas processing capabilities at KGP to 1.8 billion scfd.

The completion of the first gas-processing train is another success story for the Karan program. Last year, Phase I of the program was completed, bringing on-line 500 million scfd of Karan gas. That gas however, was processed at KGP’s existing associated gas processing facilities.

The new gas trains are dedicated solely to process non-associated gas extracted from the Karan gas field.
 
 At the Karan offshore field, one tie-in platform and three production platform complexes are now complete, with a fifth platform scheduled to be operational in the third quarter of 2012.

The platforms are remotely operated and controlled from Khursaniyah. From the tie-in platform, the gas is sent, via an underwater trunk line, to the onshore processing facilities at Khursaniyah. Hydrogen sulfide, carbon dioxide and water are removed from the feed gas stream in the gas-treating trains.

The treated gas is now ready for use. The hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are directed to the sulfur recovery unit where the hydrogen sulfide is converted to elemental sulfur.

Despite the size of the program and its importance to the Kingdom’s energy needs, Saudi Aramco played special attention to ensuring young employees were involved in every aspect , from project execution to operating the new Karan facilities.

“It was great opportunity for young engineers to develop,” said Muhammad Al-Saad, manager of Karan Projects Department.

“Some joined us as fresh graduates on the Professional Development Program, and they got to see the full workings of a mega-project.  This is an experience that will benefit them throughout their careers.”

One of those young employees is Hasan Al-Sharif.

“It’s a great feeling to be part of the team — especially a team that was dedicated to executing the first Saudi Aramco offshore non-associated gas project,” commented Al-Sharif.

“The Karan Program offers a lot of opportunities to grow professionally and I am really honored that my fingerprints are on this successful story that has become a benchmark in project management globally.”