IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,398,333
Granted Patent B2
US 12,398,333 · App. 18/180,618 · Granted Aug 26, 2025

Method to maximize stabilized crude recovery from gas condensate

Inventors: Ashiff Khan (Thrissur, IN); Hatem Bajuaifer (Jeddah, SA); Ali T. Hajji (Al-Ahsa, SA); Ahmad M. Hawsawi (Dammam, SA)
Assignee: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
C10G53/04C10G2300/201C10G2300/4012C10G2300/4081
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,398,333
App. No.
18/180,618
Granted
Aug 26, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

A gas oil separation plant including a high pressure production trap for receiving a feed stream and producing a first produced liquid and a first gas stream, a low pressure production trap for receiving the first produced liquid and producing a second produced liquid and a second gas stream, a low pressure compressor knockout drum for receiving the second gas stream and separating the second gas stream into a first overhead gas stream and a first liquid stream, a high pressure first stage knockout drum for receiving the first overhead gas stream and first gas stream and producing a second overhead gas stream and a second liquid stream, a product condensate outlet for receiving a portion of a condensate recycle stream, and a recycle system for recycling a remaining portion of the condensate recycle stream to the HPPT, LPPT, or both.

Claims (50)

1. A gas oil separation plant, comprising:

a high pressure production trap (HPPT) configured for receiving a feed stream and producing a first produced liquid and a first gas stream;

a low pressure production trap (LPPT) configured for receiving the first produced liquid and producing a second produced liquid and a second gas stream;

a low pressure compressor knockout drum configured for receiving the second gas stream and separating the second gas stream into a first overhead gas stream and a first liquid stream;

a high pressure first stage knockout drum configured for receiving the first overhead gas stream and first gas stream and producing a second overhead gas stream and a second liquid stream;

a compression system configured for receiving the second overhead gas stream and producing a condensate recycle stream;

a product condensate outlet for receiving a portion of the condensate recycle stream as a product condensate stream; and

a recycle system configured for recycling a remaining portion of the condensate recycle stream to the HPPT, LPPT, or both.

2. The gas oil separation plant of claim 1 , wherein the compression system further comprises:

a first stage high pressure compressor configured for receiving the second overhead gas stream and producing a compressed second overhead gas stream; and

a first stage intercooler configured for receiving the compressed second overhead gas stream and producing a cooled second overhead gas stream.

3. The gas oil separation plant of claim 2 , wherein the compression system further comprises:

a high pressure second stage knockout drum configured for receiving the cooled second overhead gas stream and producing a third overhead gas stream and a third liquid stream;

a second stage high pressure compressor configured for receiving the third overhead gas stream and producing a compressed third overhead gas stream; and

a second stage intercooler configured for receiving the compressed third overhead gas stream and producing a cooled third overhead gas stream.

4. The gas oil separation plant of claim 3 , further comprising a discharge knockout drum configured for receiving the cooled third overhead gas stream and producing the condensate recycle stream and a fourth liquid stream.

5. The gas oil separation plant of claim 1 , further comprising:

a low pressure compressor configured for receiving the first overhead gas stream and producing a pressurized first overhead gas stream; and

a low pressure intercooler configured for receiving the pressurized first overhead gas stream and producing a cooled first overhead gas stream; and

a flow line configured for transporting the cooled first overhead gas stream to the high pressure first stage knockout drum.

6. The gas oil separation plant of claim 1 , further comprising a dehydrator configured for receiving the second produced liquid, removing any entrained liquid, and producing a dehydrated produced liquid stream and a fifth liquid stream.

7. The gas oil separation plant of claim 6 , further comprising a desalter configured for receiving the dehydrated produced liquid stream and producing a desalted crude product.

8. The gas oil separation plant of claim 7 , further comprising a stabilizer column configured for receiving the desalted crude product and producing a stabilized crude export product stream and a stabilizer overhead gas stream.

9. The gas oil separation plant of claim 8 further comprising a flow line configured for feeding the stabilizer overhead gas stream to the low pressure compressor knockout drum.

10. A process for the production of stabilized crude oil and gas oil condensate comprising:

separating a crude oil feedstock in a high pressure production trap (HPPT), producing a first produced liquid and a first gas stream;

separating the first produced liquid in a low pressure production trap (LPPT), producing a second produced liquid and a second gas stream;

separating the second gas stream in a low pressure compressor knockout drum, producing a first overhead gas stream and a first liquid stream;

separating the first overhead gas stream and first gas stream in a high pressure first stage knockout drum, producing a second overhead gas stream and a second liquid stream;

compressing and cooling the second overhead gas stream in a compression system, producing a condensate stream;

recovering at a least a portion of the condensate stream as a natural gas liquid product; and

recycling a remaining portion of the condensate stream to the HPPT, the LPPT, or both, as a condensate recycle stream using a recycle system to maximize crude oil production.

11. The process of claim 10 , further comprising:

compressing the second overhead gas stream in a first stage high pressure compressor, producing a compressed second overhead gas stream; and

cooling the compressed second overhead gas stream in a first stage intercooler, producing a cooled second overhead gas stream.

12. The process of claim 11 , further comprising:

separating the cooled second overhead gas stream in a high pressure second stage knockout drum, producing a third overhead gas stream and a third liquid stream;

compressing the third overhead gas stream in a second stage high pressure compressor, producing a compressed third overhead gas stream; and

cooling the compressed third overhead gas stream in a second stage intercooler, producing a cooled third overhead gas stream.

13. The process of claim 12 , further comprising separating the cooled third overhead gas stream in a discharge knockout drum, producing the condensate recycle stream and a fourth liquid stream.

14. The process of claim 10 , further comprising:

compressing the first overhead gas stream in a low pressure compressor, producing a pressurized fs; and

cooling the pressurized first overhead gas stream in a low pressure intercooler, producing a cooled first overhead gas stream;

transporting the cooled first overhead gas stream, using a flow line, to the high pressure first stage knockout drum; and

separating the cooled first overhead gas stream with the second overhead gas stream in the high pressure first stage knockout drum.

15. The process of claim 10 , further comprising separating the second produced liquid in a dehydrator, removing any entrained water, and producing a dehydrated produced liquid stream and a fifth liquid stream.

16. The process of claim 15 , further comprising separating the dehydrated produced liquid stream in a desalter, producing a desalted crude product.

17. The process of claim 16 , further comprising feeding the desalted crude product to a stabilizer column, separating a stabilizer overhead gas stream from the desalted crude product, and producing a stabilized crude export product stream and a stabilizer overhead gas stream.

18. The process of claim 17 , further comprising feeding the stabilizer overhead gas stream to the low pressure compressor knockout drum.

19. The process of claim 10 , further comprising controlling the recycle system to minimize or eliminate the portion of the condensate stream recovered as the natural gas liquid product.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 6, 2023
From: KHAN, ASHIFF; BAJUAIFER, HATEM A; HAJJI, ALI T; HAWSAWI, AHMAD M
To: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY
Reel/Frame 063865/0495 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240301299A1 · Sep 12, 2024
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