System and method for collecting and increasing the pressure of seal leak gas

1. A system for collecting seal leak gas and increasing the pressure of the seal leak gas, the system comprising:

a) at least one source of seal leak gas having a gas inlet ( 14 ) at a first pressure and a pressurized gas outlet at a second pressure and including at least one seal having seal gas leak;

b) a cover positioned to collect seal leak gas from at least one seal gas leak from the source and having a seal leak gas outlet;

c) a venturi having a pressurized gas inlet at a third pressure, a mixed gas outlet at a fourth pressure and a seal leak gas inlet;

d) the source being in fluid communication with the pressurized gas inlet and the mixed gas outlet and a third line in fluid communication with the venturi mixed gas outlet and the gas inlet; and,

e) a second line in fluid communication with the at least one gas leak and the seal leak gas inlet to the venturi produce a mixed gas through the mixed gas outlet at the fourth pressure, the fourth pressure being greater than the first pressure.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the source is a gas compressor.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the cover sealingly covers the gas leak.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the first line includes a valve to control the amount of gas passed from the gas outlet to the pressurized gas inlet.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein a line is positioned from the cover to an inlet to a separator vessel and wherein a line is positioned from an outlet from the separator vessel to the seal leak gas inlet.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the mixed gas is passed through a line from the mixed gas outlet to further treatment.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the source is a pump.

8. A method for collecting seal leak gas from leaks at seals in compression equipment and increasing the pressure of the seal leak gas, the method comprising:

a) compressing an inlet gas stream at a first pressure in the compressor equipment to produce a compressed gas stream at a second pressure;

b) collecting seal leak gas from seals in the compressor equipment;

c) passing an amount of the compressed gas stream necessary to produce the required suction through a venturi to create a reduced pressure inlet into the venturi; and,

d) passing the seal leak gas to the reduced pressure inlet to produce a mixed gas stream at a third pressure, the third pressure being greater than the first pressure.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the mixed gas stream is passed to further treatment.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the mixed gas stream is passed to combination with the inlet gas stream.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the inlet gas is a refrigerant for a cooling process.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the inlet gas is a single component refrigerant.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the cooling process is a process for liquefying a natural gas stream.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein the seal leak gas is passed to a separator for the separation of liquids or solids from the seal leak gas prior to passing the seal leak gas to the reduced pressure inlet.

15. The method of claim 8 wherein the inlet gas is natural gas.

16. The method of claim 8 wherein the seal leak gas is collected from a plurality of compressor units.

17. The method of claim 8 wherein the inlet gas is a multi-component refrigerant.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the refrigerant is used in a cascade natural gas liquefaction process.

19. The method of claim 17 wherein the refrigerant is used in a multi-component refrigerant natural gas liquefaction process.