US 6,662,589 B1 · Integrated high pressure NGL recovery in the production of liquefied natural gas

Abstract

Process for the recovery of components heavier than methane from natural gas, wherein the process comprises (a) cooling a natural gas feed to provide a cooled natural gas feed and introducing the cooled natural gas feed into an absorber column at a first location therein; (b) withdrawing from the absorber column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane; (c) introducing a methane-rich reflux stream at a second location in the absorber column above the first location; (d) separating the bottoms stream into a stream enriched in methane and one or more streams enriched in components heavier than ethane; and (e) introducing an absorber liquid comprising components heavier than ethane into the absorber column at a location between the first location and the second location.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A process for the recovery of components heavier than methane from natural gas, wherein the process comprises

(a) cooling a natural gas feed to provide a cooled natural gas feed and introducing the cooled natural gas feed into an absorber column at a first location therein;
(b) withdrawing from the absorber column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane;
(c) introducing a methane-rich reflux stream at a second location in the absorber column above the first location;
(d) separating the bottoms stream into a stream enriched in methane and one or more streams enriched in components heavier than ethane;
and
(e) introducing an absorber liquid comprising components heavier than ethane into the absorber column at a location between the first location and the second location.

3 more elements

A system for recovery of components heavier than methane from natural gas, wherein the system comprises

(a) an absorber column for separating natural gas into a methane-rich stream and a stream enriched in components heavier than methane;
(b) cooling means to cool a natural gas feed to provide a cooled natural gas feed and means for introducing the cooled natural gas feed into the absorber column at a first location therein;
(c) means for withdrawing from the absorber column a first overhead vapor stream depleted in components heavier than methane and a bottoms stream enriched in components heavier than methane;
(d) means for introducing a methane-rich reflux stream at a second location in the absorber column above the first location;
(e) separation means for separating the bottoms stream into a stream enriched in methane and one or more streams enriched in components heavier than ethane;
and
(f) means for introducing an absorber liquid comprising components heavier than ethane into the absorber column at a location between the first location and the second location.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Integrated high pressure NGL recovery in the production of liquefied natural gas

Life of this patent

Integrated high pressure NGL recovery in the production of liquefied natural gas

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31