Dr. James G. Speight has doctorate degrees in Chemistry, Geological Sciences, and Petroleum Engineering and is the author of more than 75 books in petroleum science, petroleum engineering, and environmental sciences.

Dr. Speight has fifty years of experience in areas associated with (i) the properties, recovery, and refining of reservoir fluids, conventional petroleum, heavy oil, and tar sand bitumen, (ii) the properties and refining of natural gas, gaseous fuels, (iii) the production and properties of petrochemicals, (iv) the properties and refining of biomass, biofuels, biogas, and the generation of bioenergy, and (v) the environmental and toxicological effects of fuels. His work has also focused on safety issues, environmental effects, remediation, and safety issues as well as reactors associated with the production and use of fuels and biofuels. He is the author of more than 70 books in petroleum science, petroleum engineering, biomass and biofuels, environmental sciences.

Although he has always worked in private industry which focused on contract-based work, he has served as Adjunct Professor in the Department of Chemical and Fuels Engineering at the University of Utah and in the Departments of Chemistry and Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Wyoming. In addition, he was a Visiting Professor in the College of Science, University of Mosul, Iraq and has also been a Visiting Professor in Chemical Engineering at the following universities: University of Missouri-Columbia, the Technical University of Denmark, and the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

In 1996, Dr. Speight was elected to the Russian Academy of Sciences and awarded the Gold Medal of Honor that same year for outstanding contributions to the field of petroleum sciences. In 2001, he received the Scientists without Borders Medal of Honor of the Russian Academy of Sciences and was also awarded Dr. Speight the Einstein Medal for outstanding contributions and service in the field of Geological Sciences. In 2005, the Academy awarded Dr. Speight the Gold Medal - Scientists without Frontiers, Russian Academy of Sciences, in recognition of Continuous Encouragement of Scientists to Work Together Across International Borders. In 2007 Dr. Speight received the Methanex Distinguished Professor award at the University of Trinidad and Tobago in recognition of excellence in research.

Contents

Preface..............................................................................................................................................xv

About the Author............................................................................................................................xvii

Chapter 1 The Petrochemical Industry..........................................................................................1

1.1 Introduction........................................................................................................1

1.2 Historical Aspects and Overview..................................................................... 10

1.3 The Petrochemical Industry............................................................................. 11

1.4 Petrochemicals.................................................................................................. 17

1.4.1 Primary Petrochemicals...................................................................... 19

1.4.2 Products and End Use......................................................................... 19

1.5 Production of Petrochemicals...........................................................................20

1.6 The Future........................................................................................................24

References...................................................................................................................29

Chapter 2 Feedstock Composition and Properties....................................................................... 31

2.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 31

2.2 Natural Gas....................................................................................................... 31

2.2.1 Composition and Properties................................................................ 33

2.2.2 Natural Gas Liquids............................................................................ 42

2.2.3 Gas Condensate................................................................................... 43

2.2.4 Gas Hydrates.......................................................................................44

2.2.5 Other Types of Gases..........................................................................46

2.2.5.1 Biogas.................................................................................. 47

2.2.5.2 Coalbed Methane.................................................................48

2.2.5.3 Coal Gas..............................................................................49

2.2.5.4 Geopressurized Gas............................................................. 51

2.2.5.5 Landfill Gas......................................................................... 51

2.2.5.6 Refinery Gas........................................................................ 53

2.2.5.7 Synthesis Gas....................................................................... 57

2.2.5.8 Tight Gas............................................................................. 58

2.3 Petroleum.......................................................................................................... 59

2.3.1 Composition and Properties................................................................ 59

2.3.1.1 Opportunity Crude Oil........................................................ 61

2.3.1.2 High Acid Crude Oil........................................................... 61

2.3.1.3 Foamy Oil............................................................................ 62

2.3.1.4 Tight Oil............................................................................... 62

2.3.2 Other Petroleum-Derived Feedstocks.................................................63

2.3.2.1 Naphtha................................................................................63

2.3.2.2 Kerosene..............................................................................64

2.3.2.3 Fuel Oil................................................................................65

2.3.2.4 Gas Oil................................................................................. 67

2.3.2.5 Residua................................................................................. 67

2.3.2.6 Used Lubricating Oil...........................................................68

2.4 Heavy Oil, Extra Heavy Oil, and Tar Sand Bitumen.......................................68

2.4.1 Heavy Oil............................................................................................69

2.4.2 Extra Heavy Oil...................................................................................69

2.4.3 Tar sand Bitumen................................................................................ 71

References................................................................................................................... 74

Chapter 3 Other Feedstocks-Coal, Oil Shale, and Biomass..................................................... 79

3.1 Introduction...................................................................................................... 79

3.2 Coal.................................................................................................................. 81

3.2.1 Coal Feedstocks..................................................................................82

3.2.2 Properties and Composition................................................................83

3.2.3 Conversion...........................................................................................83

3.2.4 Coal Tar Chemicals.............................................................................85

3.3 Oil Shale...........................................................................................................90

3.3.1 Shale Oil Production...........................................................................90

3.3.2 Shale Oil Properties............................................................................ 91

3.3.2.1 Hydrocarbon Products.........................................................92

3.3.2.2 Nitrogen-Containing Compounds.......................................93

3.3.2.3 Oxygen-Containing Compounds.........................................94

3.3.2.4 Sulfur-Containing Compounds...........................................94

3.4 Biomass............................................................................................................94

3.4.1 Biomass Feedstocks............................................................................97

3.4.1.1 Carbohydrates......................................................................99

3.4.1.2 Vegetable Oils......................................................................99

3.4.1.3 Plant Fibers..........................................................................99

3.4.2 Biorefining......................................................................................... 100

3.4.2.1 Pyrolysis............................................................................ 103

3.4.2.2 Gasification........................................................................ 103

3.4.2.3 Anaerobic Digestion.......................................................... 107

3.4.2.4 Fermentation...................................................................... 110

3.4.3 Chemicals from Biomass.................................................................. 111

3.4.3.1 Gaseous Products............................................................... 111

3.4.3.2 Liquid Products.................................................................. 112

3.4.3.3 Solid Products.................................................................... 114

3.5 Waste.............................................................................................................. 114

References................................................................................................................. 115

Chapter 4 Feedstock Preparation............................................................................................... 119

4.1 Introduction.................................................................................................... 119

4.2 Gas Streams.................................................................................................... 120

4.2.1 Sources.............................................................................................. 121

4.2.1.1 Gas Streams from Natural Gas.......................................... 121

4.2.1.2 Natural Gas Liquids and Liquefied Petroleum Gas........... 123

4.2.1.3 Gas Streams from Crude Oil.............................................124

4.2.2 Gas Processing.................................................................................. 127

4.2.2.1 Acid Gas Removal............................................................. 128

4.2.2.2 Recovery of Condensable Hydrocarbon Derivatives......... 137

4.2.2.3 Water Removal.................................................................. 142

4.2.2.4 Nitrogen Removal.............................................................. 145

4.2.2.5 The Claus Process.............................................................. 145

4.3 Petroleum Streams.......................................................................................... 147

4.3.1 Refinery...