Three-phase separation of hydrocarbon containing fluids

A process for separating a liquid hydrocarbon phase from a three-phase feed, wherein the process maintains a desirable Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) for a produced hydrocarbon stream while limiting liquid-hydrocarbon phase and aqueous phase present in a produced gas, the process comprising:

• providing the three-phase feed at a first temperature and first pressure, wherein the first temperature is elevated temperature, defined as being at least 85° F., and the first pressure is elevated pressure, defined as being at least 50 psig, and wherein the three-phase feed has:
• (i) a gas phase defined as hydrocarbons and non-hydrocarbons that are gaseous at temperatures from about 32° F. to about 150° F. at standard pressure,
• (ii) a liquid-hydrocarbon phase defined as hydrocarbons that are in a liquid state at temperatures from about 32° F. to about 150° F. at standard pressure, and
• (iii) an aqueous phase defined as water, saltwater, brine or mixtures thereof;
• separating the three-phase stream to produce a first gas stream and a first aqueous stream and a first hydrocarbon stream, wherein the first hydrocarbon stream is enriched in the liquid-hydrocarbon phase over the three-phase stream;
• separating the first gas stream so as to produce a liquid condensate and the produced gas, wherein prior to the separation of the first gas stream, temperature of the first gas stream is reduced from elevated temperature to a first predetermined temperature, which is below elevated temperature, wherein the first gas stream and produced gas remain at elevated pressure, and wherein the produced gas is enriched in gas phase over the three-phase feed and the first gas stream;
• reducing pressure of the first hydrocarbon stream and liquid condensate so that the first hydrocarbon stream and liquid condensate are at a near atmospheric pressure;
• adjusting the temperature of the first hydrocarbon stream and liquid condensate to be at a second predetermined temperature, which is elevated temperature;
• after reducing pressure and adjusting temperature of the first hydrocarbon stream and liquid condensate, separating the first hydrocarbon stream and liquid condensate to produce the produced hydrocarbon stream, which is enriched in the liquid-hydrocarbon phase and lower in gas phase and lower in aqueous phase than the first hydrocarbon stream and liquid condensate;
• monitoring temperature and pressure of the three-phase stream, the gas stream, and the first hydrocarbon stream and liquid condensate;
• and
• adjusting the process based on the monitoring and changes to the temperature of the three-phase stream so as to maintain the first gas stream at the first predetermined temperature and the elevated pressure, and to maintain the first hydrocarbon stream and liquid condensate at near atmospheric pressure and at the second predetermined temperature after reducing pressure and adjusting temperature and prior to separation to produce the produced hydrocarbon stream, and thereby maintaining a desirable Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP) for the resulting produced hydrocarbon stream while limiting liquid-hydrocarbon phase and aqueous phase in the produced gas.