Process Simulation and Evaluation of Carbon Separation Technology from High-CO2 Gas Wells in Indonesia Using a Solvent and Adsorbent

Background With the global shift towards cleaner energy, natural gas demand is rising due to its lower environmental impact compared to oil. The gas reserves of Indonesia, notably in fields, such as Masela, Jambaran Tiung Biru (JTB), and Natuna, often have high CO 2 content. Effective CO 2 separation is vital to meet commercial gas standards while minimizing energy consumption. Methods This study evaluates the energy efficiency of two established CO 2 separation technologies: absorption using MEA solution and adsorption with a carbon molecular sieve. Both methods were simulated in Aspen software to assess energy requirements across different gas fields. Results Adsorption showed superior energy efficiency in all fields. For Masela (93% recovery), adsorption required 3.63E+03 GJ, significantly lower than absorption’s 2.46E+04 GJ. In JTB (95% recovery), adsorption consumed 1.43E+03 GJ, outperforming absorption’s 2.75E+04 GJ. For Natuna (93% recovery), adsorption used 1.37E+04 GJ versus absorption’s 3.49E+05 GJ. CO 2 concentration emerged as a key factor in separation efficiency; adsorption was most effective at moderate CO 2 levels, such as JTB’s 35%. However, low CO 2 levels (10%) in Masela reduced adsorption efficiency due to incomplete saturation, while high levels (71%) in Natuna led to rapid adsorbent saturation. Conclusion Adsorption demonstrated greater energy efficiency across varying CO 2 concentrations, though it performed best at medium levels. Absorption efficiency declined at higher CO 2 concentrations, limiting its suitability for gas fields with high CO 2 content. These findings highlight the potential of adsorption for more energy-efficient CO 2 separation in the gas fields of Indonesia.