Application Note: Verax Analyzer

Condensate RVP and TVP

Introduction
Condensate has been coming in from gathering
systems for years and has been handled in different
ways. However, the industrys focus on liquids-rich
resource plays has elevated the focus on condensates
and how they should be handled. Numerous factors
varying from economical to environmental drivers
have contributed to this change in priorities, but U.S.
condensate production has increased in step with
activity in shale plays.
Condensate is lighter than crude oil, but heavier than
natural gas liquids. The issue with condensate in
its natural form is that the lighter hydrocarbons can
make it dangerous to store and transport. Therefore,
stabilizing is required to allow the condensate to meet
specifications. Often, the condensate is pumped
to a sales storage tank, where it will flash off its
lighter hydrocarbon components. These are usually
captured through vapor recovery compression in
order to prevent venting to the atmosphere, which
results in lost revenues and potential emission issues.
In many cases, however, liquids pricing makes it
advantageous to further process the demethanized
condensate to produce a saleable condensate
product with a target Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) or
True Vapor Pressure (TVP). To accomplish this, a
second stabilizer is placed in the process immediately
downstream of the first. The demethanized liquids are
sent to another liquid/liquid exchanger to be warmed,
and are then fed to the top tray of the RVP control
stabilizer. (Fig1)

at 100F (for RVP), which is well below the condensing

point of the paraffin present in the typical condensate
stream. This will cause plugging of sample lines and
measurement cells in a traditional RVP analyzer which
will cause failure of the device.
Solutions
The JP3 Verax analyzer utilizes NIR spectroscopy
to identify the components in the condensate that
will directly determine the RVP or TVP and model
the actual RVP of the stabilized condensate. The
Verax also has the ability to report the actual hydrocarbon composition along with the vapor pressure
information, making a significantly more powerful tool
for midstream process control.
The Verax has two optical probes that are in contact
with the process and will usually have a heater blanket
on them to prevent them from being the heat sink
for the paraffin that is typically in these condensate
streams. The optical probes can be mounted directly
on the stabilizer outlet while the process is still at the
higher temperatures which will keep the paraffin in a
liquid phase.

Measuring the RVP of stabilized condensate in the

midstream gathering and stabilization facilities of the
more recent shale oil fields has proven to be a very
difficult analysis due to the amount of paraffin in the
condensate stream. Conventional ASTM methods
have proven mostly unsuccessful.
Measurement Problems
Making this analysis with a conventional ASTM
method requires the sample stream to be measured

Fig.1 Typical Stabilizer

Application Note: Verax Analyzer

Condensate Vapor Pressure

NGL (Y-Grade) Stream

The Verax can speciate the C2-C3 hydrocarbon split and also monitor the
potential C1 contaminant.
9 psi RVP Stabilized Condensate
The Verax is successfully measuring stabilized condensate RVP in both the
Eagle Ford and the Marcellus shale fields.
Vapor Recovery Unit
The Verax can report composition of the hydrocarbon stream and report C6+
and BTU of the recovered gases.

Verax 75 Analyzer

SPECIFICATIONS
Fluid Streams (Max 8 per Analyzer) Type: natural gas, NGLs, LPG, condensate, crude oil; Phase: liquid or gas
Composition & Property Analyses C1-C6+ Mol% 0.5% repeatability ; RVP & TVP 0.5 psi ; API Gravity or BTU 0.5% repeatability
Moisture(H2O) >1%
Carbondioxide (CO2) >1%
Sample System None
Calibration Gas None
Verification Fluid Varies by application
Line Pressure 0-1500 psig
Line Temperature -10to 150F
Line Flow Rate 1.0 gpm minimum; no maximum
Response Time 10-30 seconds per analysis point
Detection Method NIR spectroscopy with inline optical probes
ELECTRICAL
Input Power 3.5A @ 24VDC standard; 100-240 VAC optional
Communications TCP/IP, MODBUS TCP and Serial (others available upon request)
Outputs 8 solid state relays for process control; 2 analog 4-20 mA /0-10 VDC outputs standard;
configurable alarms/controls
PHYSICAL
Enclosures NEMA 4X IP 67 powder coated aluminum
Dimensions Top Control Panel: 24W x 30H x 10D; Bottom Control Panel: 24W x 24H x 10D
Weight Combined Top & Bottom Control Panels:90 lbs.; Probe Assembly: 5 lbs.
Ambient -20to 50C (-4to 122F). No environmental control required; sunshade required if >90F
Classification Control Panel with Z-Purge: Class 1 Div2; Control Panel without Purge: General Purpose;
Probe Assembly: Intrinsically Safe /Class 1 Div1

4109 Todd Lane, Suite 200

Austin, Texas 78744
www.jp3measurement.com
For more information:
512.537.8450
sales@jp3measurement.com