The surge in natural gas production from unconventional sources has led to a renewed and ongoing interest in gas-treating facilities, introducing a range of topics under discussion at the recently held Gas Processors Association's annual forum on facilities design.

Jorge Foglietta, a co-chair of the Gas Processors Association's Facilities Design Forum, said he has participated in the forum for at least 10 years, and has noticed it has become more popular in recent years as the growing amount of production from unconventional sources has posed unique challenges for gas-treatment facilities.

"With the development of the new reservoirs in unconventional gas, there is a growing interest in addressing topics that deal with these gas treatments," he said. The development of shale gas has posed some unique challenges for operators of gas treatment plants. "There are a lot more considerations for unconventional gas than normal reservoirs," he said.