DEVICES, SYSTEMS, AND METHODS FOR GAS LIFT GAS
Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed concerning gas lift gas recovery. A gas lift gas recovery system can include an inlet separator system, charge system, and sump system for facilitating recovery of gas lift gas. The inlet separator system can be configured to receive production fluid for separation of liquids therefrom to recover gas lift gas. The charge system can include a high pressure (HP) leg for holding an HP portion of fluid and a low pressure (LP) leg for holding an LP portion of fluid. The sump system can be configured for holding liquids from at least one of the inlet separator systems and the charge system.
1 . A method of operating a gas lift gas recovery system, the method comprising:
receiving, by a sump system, fluid from a charge system, wherein the charge system includes a high pressure (HP) leg and a low pressure (LP) leg, and
operating a control system to selectively communicate the sump system with the charge system via a vapor line to transfer vaporous release from the sump system to the charge system, including controlling a vapor control valve operable between a closed position to block against communication of vaporous release to the charge system and an open position to fluidly communicate the sump system with the charge system to transfer vaporous fluids to the charge system.
2 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising operating the control system for purging the sump system.
3 . The method of claim 2 , wherein operating the control system for purging the sump system includes controlling a sump outlet valve for purging liquids from the sump system.
4 . The method of claim 3 , wherein controlling the sump outlet valve includes opening the sump outlet valve in response to a threshold sump fluid level within a sump vessel to purge liquids from the sump vessel.
5 . The method of claim 2 , wherein operating the control system for purging the sump system includes controlling a charge gas valve for communicating pressurized charge gas to the sump system for purging liquids from the sump system.
6 . The method of claim 5 , wherein controlling the charge gas valve includes opening the charge gas valve in response to a threshold sump fluid level within a sump vessel to purge liquids from the sump vessel.
7 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the sump system, an LP liquid from a source other than the charge system.
8 . The method of claim 7 , wherein the source other than the charge system includes at least one of a fuel gas scrubber system, a suction scrubber, a first interstage scrubber, and a drain of a gas lift gas compressor system.
9 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving, by the charge system, an HP liquid from a source other than the charge system.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein the source other than the charge system includes at least one of a second interstage scrubber and a third interstage scrubber.
11 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising recovering hydrocarbon gas from at least one of the charge system and the sump system by a gas recovery system.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein recovering hydrocarbon gas includes compressing hydrocarbon gas in a gas recovery compressor of the gas recovery system for increasing pressure of recovered gas.
13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein recovering hydrocarbon gas includes heating the sump system for encouraging vaporization of liquids.
14 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, by the sump system, fluids from the charge system includes, operating the control system to maintain communication for liquids from the LP leg to the sump system outside of sump purging operations.
15 . The method of claim 1 , wherein receiving, by the sump system, fluids from the charge system includes, operating the control system to selectively communicate the sump system with the HP leg of the charge system to transfer liquids to the sump system in response to threshold liquid level within the HP leg.
16 . A method of operating a gas lift gas recovery system, the method comprising:
receiving, by a separator system of the gas lift gas system, production fluid for separation of liquids therefrom to recover gas lift gas, and
the method of claim 1 .
17 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising selectively communicating the separator system with the charge system to communicate liquids from the separator system to the charge system.
18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein selectively communicating the separator system with the charge system includes opening a separator outlet valve in response to threshold liquid level within the separator system.
19 . The method of claim 16 , further comprising selectively communicating the separator system with the sump system to communicate liquids from the separator system to the sump system in response to threshold liquid level within the separator system during dump cycle operation of the sump system for purging liquids from the sump vessel.