2.4.3 Gas Processing 



Offshore gas is obtained through a series of activities which 

 include: (1) the drilling and completion of wells; (2) separating and 

 dehydrating the raw natural gas into its constituent parts; (3) removing 

 hydrogen sulfide if present; (4) recovering sulfur from the gas; and (5) 

 storing and distributing the various forms of natural gas. These activities 

 vary according to the composition of the well stream, the size of the 

 producing reservoir, the proximity of the well to the shore and transmission 

 lines, and other factors. 



Processing plants are required to treat and process natural gas by 

 separating methane out from the higher molecular weight compounds that 

 are associated with natural gas (See Figure 41). Methane is the valuable 

 component of natural gas. After separation, the gas goes through another 

 process to take out carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and other unwanted 

 consitutents. It is then transshipped to gas transmission pipelines for 

 distribution to local utilities or to other companies for further processing. 



Figure 41. Gas processing, project implementation schedule 



INVESTMENT COMMITMENTS: 



Site Purchase 



Site Option(s) Taken 



Start of 

 Construction 



YEARS ••• 



Acquisition of Use and 

 Location Permits 



Begin 

 O Processing 

 Operations 



Operating Permits 



PERMIT ACQUISITIONS: 



Preconstruction Permits 

 (Includes EIS) 



204 



