METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR REMOVING BENZENE CONTAMINANTS FROM NATURAL GAS
First Claim
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1. A method for removing benzene from a lean natural gas feed, the method comprising:
- splitting a dehydrated feed gas into a first input stream directed into a rich/lean gas exchanger to provide a first output stream and a second input stream directed into a demethanizer side re-boiler to provide a second output stream;
feeding the first output stream from the rich/lean gas exchanger into a expander suction drum;
feeding the second output stream into an expander suction drum;
splitting the gaseous output stream from the expander suction drum into a first expander output stream, a second expander suction drum output stream, and a third expander suction drum condensate output stream;
feeding the first expander suction drum output stream into a demethanizer column reflux exchanger to produce an exchanged gas stream and feeding the exchanged gas stream into a demethanizer column;
feeding the second expander output stream into a gas expander to produce an expanded gas and feeding the expanded gas into the demethanizer column;
feeding the third expander suction drum output stream into the demethanizer column;
condensing the gas in the demethanizer column to form a NGL (natural gas liquid) condensate;
feeding the NGL condensate from the bottom into a stabilizer inlet cooler and subsequently into a stabilizer;
directing a gas stream from the stabilizer into a stabilizer condenser to provide a first condensate;
feeding the first condensate into a stabilizer reflux drum to form a first stabilized condensate;
providing a solvent makeup stream comprising a formulated hydrocarbon based solution containing a majority of components lighter than hexane and heavier than butane;
providing a solvent storage tank for the formulated hydrocarbon based solution;
pumping the formulated hydrocarbon based solution with one or more solvent make up pumps into a liquid stream comprising the first stabilized condensate to form a combined liquid stream;
feeding the combined liquid stream into one or more NGL reinjection pumps, solvent recycle pumps, or a combination thereof to form a solvent recycle stream; and
feeding the solvent recycle stream back into the dehydrated gas feed.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for removing benzene from a lean natural gas feed is provided. The method and apparatus are capable of removing benzene from lean natural gas that is predominantly composed of methane and contains very little heavier hydrocarbon components.
5 Citations
5 Claims
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1. A method for removing benzene from a lean natural gas feed, the method comprising:
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splitting a dehydrated feed gas into a first input stream directed into a rich/lean gas exchanger to provide a first output stream and a second input stream directed into a demethanizer side re-boiler to provide a second output stream; feeding the first output stream from the rich/lean gas exchanger into a expander suction drum; feeding the second output stream into an expander suction drum; splitting the gaseous output stream from the expander suction drum into a first expander output stream, a second expander suction drum output stream, and a third expander suction drum condensate output stream; feeding the first expander suction drum output stream into a demethanizer column reflux exchanger to produce an exchanged gas stream and feeding the exchanged gas stream into a demethanizer column; feeding the second expander output stream into a gas expander to produce an expanded gas and feeding the expanded gas into the demethanizer column; feeding the third expander suction drum output stream into the demethanizer column; condensing the gas in the demethanizer column to form a NGL (natural gas liquid) condensate; feeding the NGL condensate from the bottom into a stabilizer inlet cooler and subsequently into a stabilizer; directing a gas stream from the stabilizer into a stabilizer condenser to provide a first condensate; feeding the first condensate into a stabilizer reflux drum to form a first stabilized condensate; providing a solvent makeup stream comprising a formulated hydrocarbon based solution containing a majority of components lighter than hexane and heavier than butane; providing a solvent storage tank for the formulated hydrocarbon based solution; pumping the formulated hydrocarbon based solution with one or more solvent make up pumps into a liquid stream comprising the first stabilized condensate to form a combined liquid stream; feeding the combined liquid stream into one or more NGL reinjection pumps, solvent recycle pumps, or a combination thereof to form a solvent recycle stream; and feeding the solvent recycle stream back into the dehydrated gas feed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. An apparatus for removing benzene from a natural gas feed, comprising:
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a rich/lean gas exchanger; a demethanizer side re-boiler; an expander suction drum; a demethanizer reflux exchanger; a demethanizer unit and a first NGL condensate stream; a stabilizer inlet cooler receiving the NGL condensate stream; a stabilizer; a plurality of stabilizer reflux pumps; a stabilizer condenser; a stabilizer reflux drum; a solvent storage tank for storing a formulated hydrocarbon based solution containing a majority of components lighter than hexane and heavier than butane; a plurality of solvent makeup pumps for pumping the formulated hydrocarbon based solution; and a plurality of NGL reinjection pumps, solvent recycle pumps, or a combination thereof.
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Specification