# US 10,119,086 B2 · System and method for recovering NGL > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,119,086 B2 - Document ID: US10119086B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/042,774 - Filed: 2016-02-12 - Published: 2016-08-18 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-13 - Assignees: Coldstream Energy Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Steve Shotts - Inventors: Steve Shotts - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10119086B2 ## CPC - C10L 3/12: Liquefied petroleum gas {(liquefying by pressure and cold treatment F25J)} - C10L: FUELS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; NATURAL GAS; SYNTHETIC NATURAL GAS OBTAINED BY PROCESSES NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C10G OR C10K; LIQUIFIED PETROLEUM GAS; USE OF ADDITIVES TO FUELS OR FIRES; FIRE-LIGHTERS ## Abstract 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. ## Claims ### Claim 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a majority of the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator comprises methane, ethane, propane, and/or pentane. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second portion of the first liquid from the liquid-liquid separator comprises less than 4 mole % ethane. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) 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. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the reboiler is further configured to provide glycol to the mixing pipe via a glycol pipe. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) 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. ### Claim 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. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) 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. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) 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. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) 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. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) 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.