ne76c830d uri icon

abstract

  • In this work we present a novel solution strategy for the development of processing facilities
    for shale natural gas fields that is more sustainable and cost effective. The foundation
    of our methodology is to utilize flexible facilities that are comprised of transportable modular
    processing units as opposed to fixed capacity permanent facilities. These processing
    units can be purchased for and reallocated between facilities at points within a discretized
    finite planning horizon. This in turn allows the capacity of each facility the ability to adapt
    through either expansion or contraction with respect to the uncertain and dynamic influent
    flow-rate. We illustrate that our methodology as applied to a random set of test cases with
    three or more facilities is at worst identical to utilizing permanent facilities and on average
    at least 12% more cost effective.