System and method for recovering NGL
A system includes a water knock-out tank that receives a fluid material. Water from the fluid material settles on the bottom of the water knock-out tank. The system includes a mixing pipe that mixes a glycol with the fluid material transferred from the water knock-out tank and a first heat exchanger that cools the mixed fluid material and glycol. The system includes a gas-liquid separator that separates gaseous components and liquid components of the mixed fluid material and cooled glycol and a liquid-liquid separator that separates the liquid components of the mixed fluid material and cooled glycol by density. The system includes a fractional distillation column that heats a first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator. Heating the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator gasifies a first portion of the first liquid. A second portion of the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator remains liquid and is natural gas liquids.
1. A system comprising:
a water knock-out tank configured to receive a fluid material, wherein water from the fluid material settles on the bottom of the water knock-out tank;
a mixing pipe configured to mix a glycol with the fluid material transferred from the water knock-out tank;
a first heat exchanger configured to cool the mixed fluid material and glycol;
a gas-liquid separator configured to separate gaseous components and liquid components of the mixed fluid material and glycol that has been cooled;
a liquid-liquid separator configured to separate the liquid components of the mixed fluid material and glycol that has been cooled by density; and
a fractional distillation column configured to heat a first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator, wherein heating the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator causes a first portion of the first liquid to gasify, and wherein a second portion of the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator remains liquid and is natural gas liquids.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to cool the mixed fluid material and glycol to a temperature between −30° F. and 10° F.
3. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the mixed fluid material and glycol in the mixing pipe to the gaseous components of the mixed fluid material from the gas-liquid separator.
4. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a fourth heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the second portion of the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator to the gaseous components of the mixed fluid material from the gas-liquid separator.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein a majority of the gaseous component of the mixed fluid material and glycol from the gas-liquid separator comprises methane, ethane, and/or propane.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein a majority of the gaseous component of the mixed fluid material and glycol from the gas-liquid separator comprises methane.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein a majority of the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator comprises methane, ethane, propane, and/or pentane.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the second portion of the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator comprises less than 4 mole % ethane.
9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to cool the mixed fluid material and glycol to a temperature above −40° F.
10. The system of claim 9 , wherein the first heat exchanger is configured to cool the mixed fluid material and glycol to a temperature above −35° F.
11. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a reboiler configured to heat a second liquid from the liquid-liquid separator, wherein heating the second liquid causes water to evaporate out of the second liquid.
12. The system of claim 11 , wherein the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator has a lesser density than the second liquid from the liquid-liquid separator.
13. The system of claim 11 , wherein the reboiler is further configured to provide glycol to the mixing pipe via a glycol pipe.
14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the second liquid from the liquid-liquid separator comprises a higher mole percentage of water than liquid in the glycol pipe.
15. A method comprising:
separating free water from a fluid material, wherein the fluid material comprises natural gas and natural gas liquids;
mixing the fluid material with a glycol;
cooling the mixed fluid material and glycol;
separating gaseous components and liquid components of the mixed fluid material and glycol that has been cooled;
separating, by density, the liquid components of the mixed fluid material and glycol that has been cooled; and
heating a first liquid of the liquid components thereby causing a first portion of the first liquid to gasify, wherein a second portion of the first liquid to remain liquid, and wherein the second portion of the first liquid is natural gas liquids.
16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising heating, by a reboiler, a second liquid from the liquid components of the mixed fluid material and glycol thereby causing water to evaporate out of the second liquid.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein said cooling the mixed fluid material and glycol comprises cooling the mixed fluid material and glycol to a temperature above −40° F.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein said cooling the mixed fluid material and glycol comprises cooling the mixed fluid material and glycol to a temperature above −35° F.
19. The method of claim 15 , wherein said cooling the mixed fluid material and glycol comprises cooling the mixed fluid material and glycol to a temperature between −30° F. and 10° F.
20. The method of claim 15 , wherein said cooling the mixed fluid material and glycol comprises cooling the mixed fluid material and glycol to a temperature that does not condense a majority of ethane in the mixed fluid material and glycol.