GPA Midstream’s Research Committee is responsible for monitoring the availability and reliability of thermodynamic and physical property data that are needed to design and operate midstream facilities. The primary role of the committee is to identify gaps in data to address midstream design and operating issues and to define and manage research projects to measure the data. The group occasionally evaluates new correlations and new computer models for calculation of thermodynamic and physical properties data for the midstream industry.
The committee consists of two subgroups for ease in managing the workload; the ample number of active research projects would be difficult for the entire committee to review individually.
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 2 times per year, most commonly at the GPA Midstream Convention in April and also in October. 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.
History has shown that GPA Midstream research projects have stimulated additional research by other organizations and companies, so that total benefits accruing to the industry go substantially beyond the results obtained from just the association’s efforts. GPA Midstream data have enabled the development of advances in gas processing, such as advanced cryogenic LPG recovery, and the GPA Midstream research program has led to greatly improved predictive models for all to use. The extensive list of GPA Midstream research reports contains data that are 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, 242 Research Reports and 31 Technical Publications have been published and are available for free to GPA Midstream and GPSA members through our publications cloud and are available for purchase to 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 material found in 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 nor 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 have worked 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.
