Method for Enhanced Recovery of Ethane, Olefins, and Heavier Hydrocarbons from Low Pressure Gas
First Claim
1. A method for processing an low pressure gas inlet stream to recover C2 and higher weight hydrocarbons, comprising the steps ofdehydrating said low pressure gas inlet stream,cooling said low pressure gas inlet stream to form a partially condensed hydrocarbon feed,separating a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream from said partially condensed hydrocarbon feed,compressing said first vapor stream,separating said first liquid stream into a first part and a second part,using said first part of said first liquid stream in an absorber to absorb C2 and higher weight hydrocarbons from said compressed first vapor stream,partially condensing a top product from said absorber,separating said partially condensed absorber top product into a second liquid stream and a second vapor stream,separating a bottom product from said absorber into a first part and a second part,heating said first part of said bottom product,distilling said heated first part of said bottom product in a distillation column,utilizing said second part of said first liquid stream, said second liquid stream, and said second part of said bottom product as a top feed to said distillation column, andrecovering C2 and higher weight hydrocarbons as bottom product from said distillation column.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A method for recovering C2 and higher weight hydrocarbons, or alternatively C3 and higher weight hydrocarbons, from low pressure gas, wherein the method avoids the need to significantly compress contaminated low pressure gas in most cases, and is robust in response to pressure and temperature variations in the low pressure gas feed.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A method for processing an low pressure gas inlet stream to recover C2 and higher weight hydrocarbons, comprising the steps of
dehydrating said low pressure gas inlet stream, cooling said low pressure gas inlet stream to form a partially condensed hydrocarbon feed, separating a first liquid stream and a first vapor stream from said partially condensed hydrocarbon feed, compressing said first vapor stream, separating said first liquid stream into a first part and a second part, using said first part of said first liquid stream in an absorber to absorb C2 and higher weight hydrocarbons from said compressed first vapor stream, partially condensing a top product from said absorber, separating said partially condensed absorber top product into a second liquid stream and a second vapor stream, separating a bottom product from said absorber into a first part and a second part, heating said first part of said bottom product, distilling said heated first part of said bottom product in a distillation column, utilizing said second part of said first liquid stream, said second liquid stream, and said second part of said bottom product as a top feed to said distillation column, and recovering C2 and higher weight hydrocarbons as bottom product from said distillation column.
Specification