US 12,616,922 B2 · Gas plant hydrocarbon recovery management system and process

Abstract

A gas plant hydrocarbon recovery management system includes a hydrocarbon blowdown header flowline for receiving a hydrocarbon drainage composition, a recovery flowline extending from the header flowline to receive a portion of the composition, a three-phase gravity separator in fluid communication with the recovery flowline via a first flowline, and a hydrocarbon recovery vessel in fluid communication via a second flowline. A three-way control valve is arranged in the recovery flowline and actuatable between a first operational state, where the portion of the composition is entirely diverted through the first flowline and to the three-phase gravity separator, and a second operational state, where some of the portion of the composition is diverted also to the second flowline and to the hydrocarbon recovery vessel. The valve is actuated from the first to the second operational state when a flow rate through the first flowline reaches a predetermined maximum flow rate.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A gas plant hydrocarbon recovery management system, comprising:

a hydrocarbon blowdown header flowline for receiving a hydrocarbon drainage composition;
a recovery flowline extending from the hydrocarbon blowdown header flowline to receive a portion of the hydrocarbon drainage composition;
a three-phase gravity separator in fluid communication with the recovery flowline via a first flowline;
a hydrocarbon recovery vessel in fluid communication via a second flowline;
and
a three-way control valve arranged in the recovery flowline and actuatable between a first operational state, where the portion of the hydrocarbon drainage composition is entirely diverted through the first flowline and to the three-phase gravity separator, and a second operational state, where some of the portion of the hydrocarbon drainage composition is diverted also to the second flowline and to the hydrocarbon recovery vessel,
wherein the three-way control valve is actuated from the first operational state to the second operational state when a flow rate through the first flowline reaches a predetermined maximum flow rate.

4 more elements

A method, comprising:

receiving a hydrocarbon drainage composition in a hydrocarbon blowdown header flowline;
diverting a portion of the hydrocarbon drainage composition into a recovery flowline that fluidly communicates with a three-phase gravity separator via a first flowline and fluidly communicates with a hydrocarbon recovery vessel via a second flowline, wherein a three-way control valve is arranged in the recovery flowline;
placing the three-way control valve in a first operational state, where the portion of the HC drainage composition is entirely diverted through the first flowline and to the three-phase gravity separator;
monitoring a flow rate through the first flowline;
determining that the flow rate through the first flowline has reached a predetermined maximum flow rate;
and
transitioning the three-way control valve to a second operational state, where some of the portion of the HC drainage composition is diverted to the second flowline and to the hydrocarbon recovery vessel.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Gas plant hydrocarbon recovery management system and process

Life of this patent

Gas plant hydrocarbon recovery management system and process

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15