Conversion of lean oil absorption process to extraction process for conditioning natural gas
In an absorption process for the removal of C/sub 2/+ hydrocarbons from a natural gas stream by absorbing the C/sub 2/+ hydrocarbons with a lean oil to produce a residue gas stream of pipeline quality and a rich oil from which the C/sub 2/+ hydrocarbons are recovered, this patent describes the improvement which comprises providing the capability, of selectively extracting the C/sub 2/+ hydrocarbons from the gas stream with a lean preferential physical solvent according to the maximum recoveries and to the selected degrees of (a) ethane in amounts ranging up to 95%, (b) propane in amounts ranging up to 100%, (c) butane in amounts ranging up to 100%, or (d) pentanes and higher molecular weight hydrocarbons in amounts ranging up to 100% by: A. selecting an absorber plant, which is used for recovering maximum quantities of the C/sub 2/+ hydrocarbons from the gas stream while using lean oils as solvent for the C/sub 2/+ hydrocarbons; B. selecting a preferential physical solvent which is selective for ethane and heavier hydrocarbon components of the gas stream ; C. replacing the oils in the selected absorber plant with a selected volume of the selected preferential physical solvent; and D. while using the equipment in extraction mode, contacting the gas stream with the lean preferential physical solvent at a selected flow rate within the range of 0.001-0.5 gallon of lean solvent per standard cubic foot of the gas stream to produce a residue gas stream of pipeline specifications and a rich solvent stream containing the ethane and heavier hydrocarbon components.
- Assignee:
- Advanced Extraction Technologies, Inc., Houston, TX
- Patent Number(s):
- US 4696688
- OSTI ID:
- 5835284
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Process for extractive-stripping of lean hydrocarbon gas streams at high pressure with a preferential physical solvent
Extractive stripping of inert-rich hydrocarbon gases with a preferential physical solvent
Related Subjects
030300* -- Natural Gas-- Drilling
Production
& Processing
032000 -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
ABSORPTION
ADSORBENTS
ALKANES
BUTANE
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
DISPERSIONS
ENERGY SOURCES
ETHANE
EXTRACTION
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
MIXTURES
NATURAL GAS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PENTANE
PROCESS SOLUTIONS
PROCESSING
PROPANE
RECOVERY
REMOVAL
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SOLUBILITY
SOLUTIONS
SOLVENT EXTRACTION
SOLVENTS
SORPTIVE PROPERTIES
SURFACE PROPERTIES
TRANSPORT