Comprehensive natural gas processor

A comprehensive gas processor for removing the moisture and recovering the higher hydrocarbons (i.e., C2+) therein either on-situ in a gas field or in a plant comprising:

• (a) an integrated gas processor comprsing two sections working on a hybrid process, i.e., an integration of two different processes within a single casing:
• i) a refrigeration-dehydration section working on refrigeration process wherein the inlet gas contacts with a counter-flowing stream of dispersed cold heat-transport medium containing a non- or low-volatile hydrate inhibitor with boiling point higher than 180° C. and the moisture of said gas is condensed and removed with the cold heat-transport medium;
• and
• ii) an absorption section working on low-temperature absorption process wherein the dehydrated gas contacts with a counter-flowing stream of dispersed liquid absorbent with a hydrocarbon gas solubility higher than 20 scf/gal wherein the higher hydrocarbons (i.e., C2+) are absorbed;
• (b) a heat-transport medium cooler comprising a pre-cooling stage and a deep-cooling stage wherein in said pre-cooling stage said heat-transport medium is pre-cooled with the cold outlet gas left said integrated gas processor and in said deep-cooling stage the medium is deep-cooled with the refrigerant provided with a refrigerator;
• (c) an absorbent cooler comprising a pre-cooling stage and a deep-cooling stage wherein in said pre-cooling stage said recycling absorbent is pre-cooled with the cold outlet absorbent left said integrated gas processor and in said deep-cooling stage the absorbent is deep-cooled with the refrigerant provided with a refrigerator;
• (d) a fractional distiller for separating the absorbed higher hydrocarbons as a product from the outlet absorbent left said integrated gas processor and then the separated absorbent is recycled back to said integrated gas processor;
• (e) an inhibitor regenerator for concentrating the low-volatile hydrate inhibitor to be recycled and discharging the wastewater;
• (f) a refrigerator for providing the refrigerant to said deep-cooling stages of said heat-transport medium cooler and said absorbent cooler;
• (g) a pipeline for delivering the recovered higher hydrocarbons;
• and
• (h) a gas inlet pipeline and a pipeline for delivering the processed gas.