Rising nitrogen levels in associated gas — particularly from shale plays like the Permian Basin — are putting pipeline and LNG specifications at risk. Pipeline gas typically must contain less than 3 mol% inert components, while LNG production demands an even tighter threshold of less than 1 mol%. Our Nitrogen Rejection Units (NRUs) use cryogenic distillation to bring feed gas into compliance, combining compression, distillation, and multi-pass heat exchangers to deliver reliable separation without sacrificing capital efficiency.
Single Column Cryogenic Distillation Features
Want a deeper comparison? Read Single Column vs. Dual Column NRU Systems: Which to Choose for a full breakdown of when each configuration makes the most sense.
Dual Column Cryogenic Distillation Features
Specifications to Suit Your Needs
Our Nitrogen Recovery Units come in a range of sizes and capacities to meet diverse operational needs:
- Small Capacity <5MMSCFD
- Modular Designs for up to 300MMSCFD
- Process Design Packages for large scale projects >300MMSCFD
Key Features that Set Us Apart
What nitrogen content requires an NRU?
Pipeline sales gas specifications typically require nitrogen and other inert components to stay below 3 mol%, while LNG production requires an even stricter threshold of less than 1 mol%. If your feed gas exceeds these levels, an NRU is generally necessary to bring the stream into compliance.
Should I choose a single column or dual column NRU?
It depends primarily on your feed gas nitrogen content. Streams above 25 mol% nitrogen typically favor a single column design for its simplicity and lower upfront cost. Streams below that threshold often justify a dual column system, since the added complexity is offset by reduced compression requirements and long-term power savings.
Why choose cryogenic distillation over membrane separation or PSA?
Cryogenic distillation consumes significantly less power per unit of gas processed and is the only technically and commercially viable solution for moderate to high nitrogen content. Membrane separation and PSA both carry higher methane losses and struggle to polish nitrogen down to low levels, making cryogenic distillation the preferred choice for most NRU applications.
What capacity range do your NRUs cover?
Our NRUs are available from small-capacity units under 5 MMSCFD up to modular designs supporting up to 300 MMSCFD, with process design packages available for large-scale projects exceeding 300 MMSCFD.
Can an NRU also recover liquid hydrocarbons?
Yes. Our NRUs are customizable for liquid hydrocarbon recovery, allowing you to capture additional value from the feed stream while still meeting nitrogen rejection requirements.
Get Started with Our Nitrogen Rejection Units!
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Our Projects
250 MMSCFD Nitrogen Rejection Unit for Permian Basin Project
Two 400 GPM Amine Treaters, Two 2.5 MMBtu_Hr. TEG Dehydrators, One 5,000 BBL_D Condensate Stabilizer
3 MMBtu_h TEG Regenerator
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