Variable capacity multiple-leg packed separation column

An industrial packed column apparatus configured and dimensioned for processing a raw gas feedstream to a gas-oil separation plant comprising a gaseous hydrocarbon stream containing water to remove at least a portion of the water by contact with a liquid absorbent selected from the group consisting of triethylene glycol (TEG), ethylene glycol, methyl ethylene glycol and methyldiethanolamine, the apparatus comprising:

• a. a plurality of tubular members having upper and lower ends, the tubular member being aligned in a vertical parallel array to form a first bundle, one of the tubular members being configured as the final downstream member,
• b. each tubular member having a packed section positioned between its upper and lower ends, the packed section containing a packing material,
• c. each of the tubular members having a lean absorption liquid inlet positioned above the packed section and a rich absorption liquid outlet positioned below the packed section,
• d. each of the tubular members having a raw gas feed inlet positioned below the packed section and a treated gas outlet at the top of the tubular member above the packed section,
• e. each of the raw feed gas inlets connected to a raw feed gas manifold via control valves for selectively admitting the raw feed gas to one or more of the plurality of tubular members,
• f. each of the treated gas outlets being respectively connected via a valved conduit to (i) a treated gas collection manifold and, with the exception of the final downstream member (ii) the raw gas inlet of one or more of the other tubular members in the first bundle, except the treated gas outlet of the final downstream member in the bundle, whereby all or a portion of a treated gas stream exiting a tubular member, except for the final downstream member can be passed for further treatment to at least one of the other tubular members in the first bundle.