GPA Midstream’s Research Committee monitors the availability and reliability of thermodynamic and physical property data needed to design and operate midstream facilities. The committee identifies gaps in data to address midstream design and operating issues and to define and manage research projects to measure the data. The group evaluates new correlations and new computer models for calculating thermodynamic and physical properties data for the midstream industry.
The committee consists of two subgroups to manage the volume of active research projects.
Subgroup 1 focuses on hydrocarbon solubility in amines, mercury solubility, hydrocarbon freezing, and other topics.
Subgroup 2 focuses on high pressure gas and liquids properties and equilibria, acid gas systems, water solubility in gas and liquids, and other topics.
This committee meets twice per year. View the Research Committee charter.
Chair: Chris Root, Consultant
Subgroup 1 Chair: Michael Hlavinka, Bryan Research & Engineering
Subgroup 2 Chair: Tim Cullinane, ExxonMobil
GPA Midstream Staff Liaison: Martin Erne
Research Committee positions are appointed. Committee member backgrounds range from plant operations and process design engineers to specialists with experience directing thermophysical property research.
GPA Midstream research projects over the years stimulated additional research by other organizations and companies, which means that benefits to the industry often surpass initial work of GPA Midstream's research program. GPA Midstream data stimulated advances in gas processing, such as advanced cryogenic LPG recovery, and the GPA Midstream research program has led to greatly improved predictive models in broad use throughout the industry. The extensive list of GPA Midstream research reports contains data that form the basis of most process simulators used in the gas processing industry. Committee members have a direct hand in, and can take credit for, all of the above.
To date, more than 200 Research Reports and more than 30 Technical Publications have been published and are available for free to GPA Midstream and GPSA members through the publications cloud. These resources are available for purchase by non-members. See the GPA Midstream Research Brochure for more information about GPA Midstream research and publications. The data produced by the research program are also used to update the industry standard GPSA Data Book. A session at the GPA Midstream Convention also highlights industry efforts in data development and use.
The committee works with university professors, members of commercial laboratories and commercial software groups who are capable of experimental measurements and/or development of predictive models related to thermodynamic and physical properties and process simulation. The committee also works with the Editorial Review Board of the GPSA Engineering Data Book to see that new data are included and that there is proper research focus to support the industry. The committee receives advice from the Technical Executive Committee on prioritizing its areas of study to provide the most benefit to GPA Midstream members. The committee solicits research ideas from the other GPA Midstream technical committees when appropriate.
ThermoFAST-GPA is a product of the Fluid Science & Resources group at the University of Western Australia, funded through the ARC Training Centre for LNG Futures. GPA Midstream did not fund or direct its development and does not claim ownership of the software. Individual members of the GPA Midstream Association Research Committee reviewed ThermoFAST-GPA during its development, providing testing and suggestions for the user interface. The Research Committee members who work with this software find it to be a useful predictive tool for use by the midstream industry.
Each person who uses or refers to ThermoFAST-GPA will need to make their own decisions based on consideration of their own internal best practices, recommendations, and engineering judgment. GPA Midstream and its members do not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or efficacy of this software. Use of the information provided in this software is voluntary, and reliance on it should only be undertaken after an independent review of its accuracy, completeness, and efficacy.
Although GPA Midstream makes no representation, warranty, or guarantee in connection with this software and hereby expressly disclaims any liability or responsibility for loss or damage resulting from its use, it can be downloaded here.
