Process for extracting natural gas liquids from natural gas
View Patent ↗A process for extracting natural gas liquids (NGLs) from natural gas that involves contacting natural gas from one source with crude, or heavy, oil from a different source under conditions that promote enrichment of the crude or heavy oil with NGLs from the natural gas. Apart from functioning as an absorbent fluid, the crude or heavy oil also functions as the carrier medium for the absorbed. NGLs. When practicing the process, unlike conventional methods, there is no need to regenerate the absorbent fluid, in this case the crude and heavy oil, for recycling.
1. A process for extracting NGLs from natural gas into an absorbent fluid, comprising the steps of:
contacting a predominantly non-associated natural gas from a first processing train, from which said NGLs are to be extracted, with an absorbent fluid, that is a crude or heavy oil, from a second processing train in at least one contactor column for promoting absorption of said NGLs from said natural gas into said absorbent fluid for generating a NGL-rich fluid; and,
displacing light hydrocarbons from said absorbent fluid into said natural gas for generating NGL-lean gas.
2. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 1 , wherein said NGL-rich fluid is an NGL-rich, unstabilized fluid that is routed to a stabilizer column for stabilizing said NGL-rich fluid to atmospheric pressure.
3. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 2 , wherein said NGL-rich, unstabilized fluid is routed to a de-propanizer prior to delivery to said stabilizer column.
4. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 1 , wherein said NGLs include LPG.
5. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 4 , wherein said LPG is comprises butane.
6. A process for extracting NGLs from natural gas into an absorbent fluid, comprising the steps of:
condensing in a dewpoint control system a predominately non-associated natural gas from a first processing train, from which NGLs are to be extracted, for forming a NGL-rich, unstablized condensate;
contacting said NGL-rich unstablized condensate with an absorbent fluid from a second processing train, said absorbent fluid being a crude or heavy oil, in a column for promoting absorption of said NGLs from said NGL-rich, unstablized condensate into said absorbent fluid for generating a NGL-rich fluid and condensate; and,
displacing light hydrocarbons from said absorbent fluid and said NGL-rich unstablized condensate into a generated vapor stream of said column.
7. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 6 , wherein said a column includes is a stabilizer column for stabilizing the generated NGLs-rich fluid and condensate to atmospheric pressure.
8. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 7 , wherein said NGLs-rich unstabilized condensate is routed to a de-propanizer prior to delivery to said stabilizer column.
9. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 6 , wherein said NGLs include LPG.
10. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 9 , wherein said LPG comprises butane.
11. A process for extracting NGLs from natural gas into an absorbent fluid, comprising the steps of:
condensing in a dewpoint control system a predominantly non-associated natural gas from a first processing train, from which said NGLs are to be extracted, for forming a NGL-rich, unstablized condensate;
routing said NGL-rich, unstablized condensate to a stabilizer column;
contacting NGL-rich overhead vapor from said stabilizer column with an absorbent fluid from a second processing train, said absorbent fluid being crude or heavy oil, in a contractor column for promoting absorption of said NGL from said NGL-rich overhead vapor into said absorbent fluid for generating a NGL-rich fluid; and,
displacing light hydrocarbons from said absorbent fluid into said NGL-rich overhead vapor for generating NGL-lean overhead vapor.
12. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 11 , wherein said NGLs-rich un-stabilised condensate is routed to a de-propanizer prior to delivery to said stabilizer column.
13. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 11 , wherein said NGLs include LPG.
14. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 13 , wherein said LPG comprises butane.
15. A process for extracting NGLs from natural gas into an absorbent fluid, further comprising the steps of:
condensing in a dewpoint control system a predominantly non-associated natural gas from a first processing train, from which NGLs are to be extracted, for forming a NGL-rich, unstablized condensate;
routing said NGL-rich, unstablized condensate to a de-propanizer column, said NGL-rich, unstabilized condensate from a bottom portion of said de-propanizer column is routed to a pressure letdown valve followed by a flash vessel;
contacting NGLs-rich flash gas from said flash vessel with an absorbent fluid from a second processing train, said absorbent fluid being crude or heavy oil, in a contactor column for promoting absorption of said NGLs from said NGL-rich flash gas into said absorbent fluid for generating a NGLs-rich fluid; and,
displacing light hydrocarbons from said absorbent fluid into said flash gas for generating NGL-lean overhead vapor.
16. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 15 , wherein said de-propanizer column is a stabilizer column that is re-configured as a de-propanizer.
17. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 15 , further comprising the step of having said NGL-rich unstabilized condensate from said bottom portion of said de-propanizer column routed to a pressure letdown valve and a heater prior to delivery to said flash vessel.
18. A process for extracting NGLs from natural gas into an absorbent fluid, comprising the steps of
contacting a predominately non-associated natural gas from a first processing train, from which NGLs are to be extracted, with a portion of a NGL-rich mixture liquid in at least one contactor column for promoting absorpotion of NGLs from said natural gas into said portion of NGL-rich mixture liquid for generating NGL-rich, unstablized liquid;
displacing light hydrocarbons from said portion of NGL-rich mixture liquid into said natural gas for generating NGL-lean gas;
contacting said NGL-rich, unstablized liquid with an absorbent fluid from a second processing train, said absorbent fluid being a crude or heavy oil, in at least one stabilizer column for promoting absorption of NGLs from said NGL-rich, unstablized liquid in said absorbent fluid for generating said NGL-rich mixture liquid; and,
displacing light hydrocarbons from said absorbent fluid and said NGL-rich, unstablized liquid into a generated vapor stream of said stabilizer column, a portion of said NGL-rich mixture liquid is said portion of NGL-rich mixture liquid that is recycled to said at least one contactor column for contacting said predominately non-associated natural gas.
19. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 18 , further comprising the step of having said NGL-rich, un-stabilized liquid routed to a de-propanizer prior to delivery to said at least one stabilizer column.
20. The process for extracting NGLs from natural gas according to claim 18 , wherein said NGLs include LPG.