US3846993A - Cryogenic extraction process for natural gas liquids - Google Patents

Cryogenic extraction process for natural gas liquids Download PDF

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US3846993A
US3846993A US11133071A US3846993A US 3846993 A US3846993 A US 3846993A US 11133071 A US11133071 A US 11133071A US 3846993 A US3846993 A US 3846993A
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B Bates
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Phillips Petroleum Co
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0204—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the feed stream
    • F25J3/0209—Natural gas or substitute natural gas
    • F25J3/0214—Liquefied natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0204—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the feed stream
    • F25J3/0209—Natural gas or substitute natural gas
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0233—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 1 carbon atom or more
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J3/00—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification
    • F25J3/02—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream
    • F25J3/0228—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream
    • F25J3/0238—Processes or apparatus for separating the constituents of gaseous or liquefied gaseous mixtures involving the use of liquefaction or solidification by rectification, i.e. by continuous interchange of heat and material between a vapour stream and a liquid stream characterised by the separated product stream separation of CnHm with 2 carbon atoms or more
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/02—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification in a single pressure main column system
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2200/00—Processes or apparatus using separation by rectification
    • F25J2200/70—Refluxing the column with a condensed part of the feed stream, i.e. fractionator top is stripped or self-rectified
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/02—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using simple phase separation in a vessel or drum
    • F25J2205/04—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using simple phase separation in a vessel or drum in the feed line, i.e. upstream of the fractionation step
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2205/00—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means
    • F25J2205/30—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using a washing, e.g. "scrubbing" or bubble column for purification purposes
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2210/00—Processes characterised by the type or other details of the feed stream
    • F25J2210/62—Liquefied natural gas [LNG]; Natural gas liquids [NGL]; Liquefied petroleum gas [LPG]
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2260/00—Coupling of processes or apparatus to other units; Integrated schemes
    • F25J2260/10—Integration in a gas transmission system at a pressure reduction, e.g. "let down" station
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
    • F25J—LIQUEFACTION, SOLIDIFICATION OR SEPARATION OF GASES OR GASEOUS OR LIQUEFIED GASEOUS MIXTURES BY PRESSURE AND COLD TREATMENT OR BY BRINGING THEM INTO THE SUPERCRITICAL STATE
    • F25J2270/00—Refrigeration techniques used
    • F25J2270/90—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration
    • F25J2270/904—External refrigeration, e.g. conventional closed-loop mechanical refrigeration unit using Freon or NH3, unspecified external refrigeration by liquid or gaseous cryogen in an open loop

Abstract

A process for the cryogenic extraction of natural gas liquids through the vaporization and direct heat exchange of liquefied natural gas with a wet natural gas.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Bates Nov. 12, 1974 1 CRYOGENIC EXTRACTION PROCESS FOR 3,236,057 2/1966 Tafreshi 62 40 NATURAL GAS IQ 3,407,613 10/1968 Muller 62/27 3,405,530 10/1968 Denahan 62/28 [75] n e Bruce Bates, Burtlesville, Okla 3,707,066 12/1972 Came 62/11 3,354,663 11/1967 H d 62/28 [73] Assgnee' 5 Company 2,582,148 1/1952 62/23 Ewes 3,362,175 1/1968 Burns 1 62/20 22 Filed: 1 1971 2,952,984 9/1960 Marshall 62/27 2,973,834 3/1961 Clcalese 208/340 [21] Appl. NO; 111,330 3,358,461 12/1967 Hendrix 62/17 52 us. c1 62/23, 62/29 Primary Examiner-Jack Sofer [51] Int. C1 F25j 3/06, F25j 3/02 [58] Field Of Search 62/17, 20, 23, 24, 27, 7 ABSTRACT 62/28, 29, 43, 40; 208/340 A process for the cryogenic extractlon of natural gas [56] References Cited liquids through the vaporization and direct heat ex- UNITED STATES PATENTS change of liquefied natural gas with a wet natural gas.
3,367,122 2/1968 Tutton 62/40 5 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure Transmission Pipelines I 1 f T 1 j Wei Nmumi 24 -Lec1n Gus +Me1hune Gus (WNG) -23 I 7 To Plum As Fuel Gris Compressors ag g Cold Side Wurm Side -Methc|ne Leon Gus Vuporized LNG Uncondensed WNG -17 -9 LNG 5 7 Mixer g Demethunizer Separated V Unvuporized LNG Condensed WNG LNG l v Eihune fil Heavier HC To Fractionation 8 Further Treuirnem PATENTEDHUV 12 I974 3Q846L993 l Transmission Pipelines 25 i We: Natural 24 -Lean Gas +Me1hane Gas (WNG) -23 A I i M To Plan: As Fuel Gas Compressors V 3- g i Cold Side WGl'm Methane H Lean Gas vaporized LNG Uncondensed WNG -|7 --9 LNG 5 7 I Mixer 3 Demeihanizer Separated V Unvaporized LNG Condensed WNG LNG NG 5Tol0 Ethane 8| Heavier HC To Fractionation 8| Furfher Treaimenr INVENTOR. B.L. BATES A T TO/PNEYS This invention relates to a process for the removal of natural gas liquids through cryogenic extraction. In another aspect, this invention relates to a process for vaporizing liquefied natural gas by direct heat exchange with a wet natural gas stream. Particularly, this invention relates to a process for the utilization of liquefied natural gas as a heat sink for cryogenic extraction purposes.
It is increasingly the practice to liquefy natural gas for convenient transport to places where it can be utilized. On arrival, liquefied natural gas is vaporized and used as fuel or for other purposes. At the same time, the considerable expense of liquefying the natural gas in the first instance can be partially recovered by utilizing the liquefied natural gas as a heat sink, namely by utilizing the cold inherent in the liquefied natural gas which is made available for use in the-course of the vaporization process.
Various methods for liquefying gases such as natural gases, principally methane, and'the like, have either been proposed or used. Vaporizing liquefied natural gases after transporting or storing them at atmospheric pressure is not a simple matter. If part of the liquefied gas is burned to supply all of the heat required to vaporize the gas, up to 2 percent by volume of the gas can be required as fuel. Further, it is impractical to heat the liquefied gas with air by means of air fin heat exchangers because of the heavy frost formed during the heating steps. Thus, it can be seen that there is a distinct need for a practical and economical process for vaporizing the liquefied gas at the place of utilization and also to recover and utilize the refrigeration obtainable during the vaporization process.
It is an object of this invention to provide an economical and efficient process for the separation of natural gas liquids from pipeline natural gas and liquefied natural gas sources. It is another object of this invention to provide a process for the efficient vaporization of liquefied natural gas utilizing the liquefied natural gas as a heat sink for the above cryogenic extraction.
Other aspects and objects of this invention will hereinafter appear in the examples and claims included hereinbelow. Accordingly, the problems discussed above, associated with the prior art methods of vaporizing liquefied gases, are resolved by the practice of the present invention.
The process of this invention also involves a cryogenic extraction method for separating components of natural gas streams and more particularly, a method of separating: (l) methane and varying amounts of ethane, (2) ethane and/or propane and higher boiling point hydrocarbon constituents, and (3) heavier hydrocarbons found in natural gas pipeline streams. Many processes have been developed and numerous plants constructed to accomplish the separation set forth above. These processes principally involve external refrigeration, cooling by expansion of natural gas, and/or solvent absorption. The aforementioned separation processes known to the art have failed to utilize or recognize the possibility of separating natural gas liquids through cryogenic extraction by the blending of liquefied natural gas with pipeline natural gas.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided an improved process for the cryogenic extraction of natural gas liquids and for the vaporization of liquefied natural gas. In practicing my invention, a wet natural gas source, for example, from a pipeline stream is chilled by direct heat exchange with liquefied natural gas within a suitable vessel which not only vaporizes the liquefied natural gas but performs a cryogenic extraction of natural gas liquids. The resulting lean natural gas stream is taken from the mixing tank and returned to the natural gas transmission pipeline. The natural gas liquids resulting from the cryogenic extraction process are removed to a demethanizer wherein separated methane is either used for plant fuel or returned to the natural gas transmission pipeline. The natural gas liquids are removed from the demethanizer equipment for further fractionation separation and storage. I
The present invention will now be illustrated by the following calculated example, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawing which is a flow dia gram for practicing the invention.
Example A wet natural gas stream 1' under a pressure of about 850-1000 psia and an ambient temperature consisting of methane, 95 mole percent; ethane, 3 mole percent; propane, 0.65 mole percent; hydrocarbons of at least 4 carbon atoms per molecule representing in total 0.15
' mole percent; carbon dioxide, 0.80 mole percent; and
nitrogen, 0.40 mole percent; enters the system at a constant rate of one million cubic feet per day (mcfd). The
pipeline gas flows through a gas line 2 and passes into the warm side of heat exchanger 3. The pipeline gas possesses an approximate combustion energy level. of 1,035 BTU per cubic foot. The thus cooled, wet pipeline natural gas stream flows into a mixing and natural gas liquids collector apparatus 7 wherein it is contacted directly with a liquefied natural gas'stream 5. The liquefied natural gas stream 5 is under an equivalent pressure as that of the pipeline gas, at a temperature of about 258F and consists of methane, 88 mole percent; ethane, 11 mole percent; and propane, 1 mole percent. The liquefied natural gas stream 5 as described above enters the mixing apparatus 7 at a rate of 142,128 mcfd with the gas possessing an approximate combustion energy level of 1,108 BTU per cubic foot. The liquefied natural gas is mixed with' the wet pipeline natural gas in apparatus 7 wherein direct heat exchange and cryogenic extraction occurs. In the mixing and natural gas liquids collector apparatus 7, the liquefied natural gas is vaporized at least in part and the wet natural gas is condensed at least in part, resulting in a cryogenic extraction of the natural gas liquids comprising from. about 3 to about 35 mole percent of both the wet and the liquefied natural gas streams. The resulting lean gas leaves the mixing and natural gas liquids collector apparatus 7 through line 9, and separated natural gas liquids leave the mixing and natural gas liquids collector apparatus 7 through line '11. The lean natural gas flows through line 9 to the heat exchanger 3 wherein it passes into the cold side of the heat ex changer 3. The lean natural gas is compressed in com pressor 21 and is returned through line 23 to the natural gas-transmission pipeline 25.
The natural gas liquids resulting from the cryogenic extraction are transferred through line 11 to a demethanizer 13 wherein methane is removed through line 17 with ethane and heavier hydrocarbons being removed through line 15 to fractionation treatment and storage.
The methane resulting from the demethanizer 13 flows through line 17 and is either fed through a plant fuel outlet 18 for plant consumption or continues to compressor 19 before being returned to the natural gas transmission pipeline 25. The natural gas transmission pipeline 1 has a valve means 24 for regulating pipeline flow as offset by plant requirements.
Exemplary of the above system would include a calculated example having a liquefied natural gas.(LNG) volume of 142,128 mcfd compared to one million mcfd of wet natural gas. The ratio by volume of LNG to wet natural gas would be 142,128 as compared to one million; therefore, the LNG represents 14.2 percent by volume of the total feed. Altering the ratio of LNG to wet natural gas feed will alter the percentage of the various hydrocarbons actually recovered. This ratio could vary over a fairly wide range from about to about 20 percent by volume.
The following extractions would be possible with the conditions as described hereinabove and are established for exemplary purposes: ethane, 75 percent; propane 95 percent; butane 98 percent; pentanes +99 per cent; wherein the percentages are based on percent by volume. Economics and other needs will allow some reduction in the percentages of ethane and propane recovered. The invention permits the recovery of natural gas liquids not only in the feed gas but also in the LNG stream. The calculated figures, based on conditions disclosed and with extraction levels as shown above, are: total extraction shrink from feed gas stream and LNG stream 46,836 mcfd; total feedgas LNG 1,142,128 mcfd; volume percent NGL recovered to feedgas LNG 4.1 percent.
It will be apparent that the embodiments shown are only exemplary and that various modifications can be made in the construction and arrangement of this disclosure within the scope of my invention as defined by the appended claims.
What I claim is: 1. A process for the extraction of ethane and heavier hydrocarbons from a wet natural gas containing methane, ethane and propane and the vaporization of a portion of a liquefied natural gas containing methane, ethane and propane, comprising:
passing a first stream of the liquefied natural gas and a second stream of the wet natural gas into a mixing zone so as to vaporize a portion of the liquefied natural gas and condense a portion of the wet natural gas;
removing from the mixing zone a third stream comprising the vaporized liquefied natural gas and the wet natural gaswhich is not condensed;
removing from the mixing zone a fourth stream comprising the condensed wet natural gas and the liquefied natural gas which is not vaporized;
passing the fourth stream to a demethanizer;
removing a fifth stream comprising methane from the demethanizer; and
removing a sixth stream from the demethanizer comprising hydrocarbons in the fourth stream heavier than methane.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the third stream is about 10 to about 20 percent by volume.

Claims (5)

1. A PROCESS FOR THE EXTRACTION OF ETHANE AND HEAVIER HYDROCARBONS FROM A WET NATURAL GAS CONTAINING METHANEM ETHANE AND PROPANE AND THE VAPORIZATION OF A PORTION OF A LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS CONTAINING METHANE, ETHANE AND PROPANE, COMPRISING: PASSING A FIRST STREAM OF THE LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS AND A SECOND STREAM OF THE WET NATURAL GSS INTO A MIXING ZONE SO AS TO VAPORIZE A PORTION OF THE LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS AND CONDENSE A PORTION OF THE WET NATURAL GAS; REMOVING FROM THE MIXING ZONE A THIRD STREAM COMPRISING THE VAPORIZED LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS AND THE WET NATURAL GAS WHICH IS NOT CONDENSED; REMOVING FROM THE MIXING ZONE A FOURTH STREAM COMPRISING THE CONDENSED WET NATURAL GAS AND THE LIQUEFIED NATURAL GAS WHICH IS NOT VAPORIZED; PASSING THE FOURTH STREAM TO A DEMETHANIZER; REMOVING A FIFTH STREAM COMPRISING METHANE FROM THE DEMETHANIZER; AND REMOVING A SIXTH STREAM FROM THE DEMETHANIZER COMPRISING HYDROCARBONS IN THE FOURTH STREAM HEAVIER THAN METHANE.
2. The process of claim 1 wherein the third stream is passed in indirect heat exchange relationship with the second stream.
3. The process of claim 2 wherein the second stream is removed from a pipeline, and at least a portion of the third stream and at least a portion of the fifth stream are returned to the pipeline.
4. The process of claim 3 wherein said wet natural gas comprises about 95 percent methane.
5. The process of claim 1 wherein the ratio of liquefied natural gas to the wet natural gas is in the range of about 10 to about 20 percent by volume.
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Cited By (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4040259A (en) * 1972-12-15 1977-08-09 Phillips Petroleum Company Recovery of natural gas liquids by partial condensation
US4388092A (en) * 1981-01-27 1983-06-14 Chiyoda Chemical Engineering & Construction Method for processing LNG for Rankine cycle
US4509967A (en) * 1984-01-03 1985-04-09 Marathon Oil Company Process for devolatilizing natural gas liquids
US5600969A (en) * 1995-12-18 1997-02-11 Phillips Petroleum Company Process and apparatus to produce a small scale LNG stream from an existing NGL expander plant demethanizer
US20060218939A1 (en) * 2001-05-04 2006-10-05 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas and methods relating to same
US20070107465A1 (en) * 2001-05-04 2007-05-17 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Apparatus for the liquefaction of gas and methods relating to same
US7219512B1 (en) * 2001-05-04 2007-05-22 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas and methods relating to same
WO2008006222A1 (en) 2006-07-13 2008-01-17 Jose Lourenco Method for selective extraction of natural gas liquids from “rich” natural gas
US20080087041A1 (en) * 2004-09-14 2008-04-17 Denton Robert D Method of Extracting Ethane from Liquefied Natural Gas
WO2008022998A3 (en) * 2006-08-23 2008-11-20 Eduard Coenraad Bras Method and apparatus for treating a hydrocarbon stream
US20090071634A1 (en) * 2007-09-13 2009-03-19 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Heat exchanger and associated methods
US7594414B2 (en) 2001-05-04 2009-09-29 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Apparatus for the liquefaction of natural gas and methods relating to same
US7637122B2 (en) 2001-05-04 2009-12-29 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Apparatus for the liquefaction of a gas and methods relating to same
US20110094261A1 (en) * 2009-10-22 2011-04-28 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Natural gas liquefaction core modules, plants including same and related methods
US20110094263A1 (en) * 2009-10-22 2011-04-28 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Methods of natural gas liquefaction and natural gas liquefaction plants utilizing multiple and varying gas streams
US20110214839A1 (en) * 2008-11-10 2011-09-08 Jose Lourenco Method to increase gas mass flow injection rates to gas storage caverns using lng
US8555672B2 (en) 2009-10-22 2013-10-15 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Complete liquefaction methods and apparatus
WO2013166608A1 (en) * 2012-05-11 2013-11-14 Jose Lourenco A method to recover lpg and condensates from refineries fuel gas streams
US9217603B2 (en) 2007-09-13 2015-12-22 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Heat exchanger and related methods
US9254448B2 (en) 2007-09-13 2016-02-09 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Sublimation systems and associated methods
US9574713B2 (en) 2007-09-13 2017-02-21 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Vaporization chambers and associated methods
US10006695B2 (en) 2012-08-27 2018-06-26 1304338 Alberta Ltd. Method of producing and distributing liquid natural gas
US10077937B2 (en) 2013-04-15 2018-09-18 1304338 Alberta Ltd. Method to produce LNG
US10288347B2 (en) 2014-08-15 2019-05-14 1304338 Alberta Ltd. Method of removing carbon dioxide during liquid natural gas production from natural gas at gas pressure letdown stations
US10571187B2 (en) 2012-03-21 2020-02-25 1304338 Alberta Ltd Temperature controlled method to liquefy gas and a production plant using the method
US10634426B2 (en) 2011-12-20 2020-04-28 1304338 Alberta Ltd Method to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) at midstream natural gas liquids (NGLs) recovery plants
US10655911B2 (en) 2012-06-20 2020-05-19 Battelle Energy Alliance, Llc Natural gas liquefaction employing independent refrigerant path
US10852058B2 (en) 2012-12-04 2020-12-01 1304338 Alberta Ltd. Method to produce LNG at gas pressure letdown stations in natural gas transmission pipeline systems

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