WO1998001335A1 - Process, plant and overall system for handling and treating a hydrocarbon gas from a petroleum deposit - Google Patents

Process, plant and overall system for handling and treating a hydrocarbon gas from a petroleum deposit Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998001335A1
WO1998001335A1 PCT/NO1997/000165 NO9700165W WO9801335A1 WO 1998001335 A1 WO1998001335 A1 WO 1998001335A1 NO 9700165 W NO9700165 W NO 9700165W WO 9801335 A1 WO9801335 A1 WO 9801335A1
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WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
gas
phase
plant
pressure
heat exchanger
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO1997/000165
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Pentti Paurola
Sigbjørn LILLESUND
Reidar Vik
Original Assignee
Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S filed Critical Den Norske Stats Oljeselskap A.S
Priority to US09/214,363 priority Critical patent/US6094937A/en
Priority to AU33632/97A priority patent/AU3363297A/en
Publication of WO1998001335A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998001335A1/en

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63B—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; EQUIPMENT FOR SHIPPING 
    • B63B35/00—Vessels or similar floating structures specially adapted for specific purposes and not otherwise provided for
    • B63B35/44—Floating buildings, stores, drilling platforms, or workshops, e.g. carrying water-oil separating devices
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/0002—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the fluid to be liquefied
    • F25J1/0022—Hydrocarbons, e.g. 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0032—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration"
    • F25J1/0035—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using the feed stream itself or separated fractions from it, i.e. "internal refrigeration" by gas expansion with extraction of work
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/003—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production
    • F25J1/0047—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0052—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream
    • F25J1/0055—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures characterised by the kind of cold generation within the liquefaction unit for compensating heat leaks and liquid production using an "external" refrigerant stream in a closed vapor compression cycle by vaporising a liquid refrigerant stream originating from an incorporated cascade
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0211—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle
    • F25J1/0212—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process using a multi-component refrigerant [MCR] fluid in a closed vapor compression cycle as a single flow MCR cycle
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0257—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines
    • F25J1/0275—Construction and layout of liquefaction equipments, e.g. valves, machines adapted for special use of the liquefaction unit, e.g. portable or transportable devices
    • F25J1/0277—Offshore use, e.g. during shipping
    • F25J1/0278—Unit being stationary, e.g. on floating barge or fixed platform
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0281—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc. characterised by the type of prime driver, e.g. hot gas expander
    • F25J1/0283—Gas turbine as the prime mechanical driver
    • 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
    • F25J1/00—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures
    • F25J1/02—Processes or apparatus for liquefying or solidifying gases or gaseous mixtures requiring the use of refrigeration, e.g. of helium or hydrogen ; Details and kind of the refrigeration system used; Integration with other units or processes; Controlling aspects of the process
    • F25J1/0243—Start-up or control of the process; Details of the apparatus used; Details of the refrigerant compression system used
    • F25J1/0279—Compression of refrigerant or internal recycle fluid, e.g. kind of compressor, accumulator, suction drum etc.
    • F25J1/0291—Refrigerant compression by combined gas compression and liquid pumping
    • 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
    • F25J2205/60—Processes or apparatus using other separation and/or other processing means using adsorption on solid adsorbents, e.g. by temperature-swing adsorption [TSA] at the hot or cold end
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • F25J2220/62—Separating low boiling components, e.g. He, H2, N2, Air
    • 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
    • F25J2220/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for the removal of impurities
    • F25J2220/60—Separating impurities from natural gas, e.g. mercury, cyclic hydrocarbons
    • F25J2220/64—Separating heavy hydrocarbons, e.g. NGL, LPG, C4+ hydrocarbons or heavy condensates in general
    • 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
    • F25J2240/00—Processes or apparatus involving steps for expanding of process streams
    • F25J2240/40—Expansion without extracting work, i.e. isenthalpic throttling, e.g. JT valve, regulating valve or venturi, or isentropic nozzle, e.g. Laval
    • 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
    • F25J2290/00—Other details not covered by groups F25J2200/00 - F25J2280/00
    • F25J2290/60—Details about pipelines, i.e. network, for feed or product distribution

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a process and a plant for liquefaction/conditioning of a compressed gas/condensate flow extracted from a petroleum deposit, for transport in liquefied form. More specifically, the invention relates to a process and a plant for such processing of a compressed gas/condensate flow which has been separated from a crude oil extracted from an offshore oil field, for transport thereof in liquefied form with a transport vessel . The invention also relates to an overall system for handling and processing of natural gas from an offshore petroleum field, for transport of the gas in liquefied form with a vessel for transport of liquefied gas fractions.
  • That part of the natural gas processing system according to US Patent No. 5 025 860 which is installed on board the production platform or ship, and which has for its purpose to purify the natural gas and thereafter to compress and cool the gas for delivery to the LNG-tanker in compressed gas condition, 0 is designed as a traditional plant for this purpose.
  • That part of the natural gas processing system according to US 5 025 860 which is installed on board the LNG tanker, comprises an expansion plant, wherein the received, cooled high- pressure gas is subjected to an additional cooling and is s expanded adiabatically in three stages.
  • a liquefied LNG gas with a pressure of ca. 1 bar is transported as a final product from the expansion plant to storage tanks on board, prepared for transport.
  • Non-condensed gas from the expansion plant is carried through a compression group where it is compressed to a pressure 0 of ca. 30 bar, whereafter it is returned to the production platform or ship through a return line, for use e.g. as a fuel for operation for the compressors for compression and cooling of the natural gas on board the production platform or ship.
  • the compressed natural gas which may exist as a gas, as a two-phase mixture of gas and liquid or as a so- 5 called "dense phase" , and which is here designated as a gas/condensate flow
  • the transport vessel is subjected to expansion on board the transport vessel in a specific manner which entails that the entire gas/condensate flow can be stored in stable condition, cooled and at approximately atmospheric pressure, as two distinct products for separate transport with the transport vessel, viz. as LNG and a heavier, liquid petroleum gas LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas).
  • LPG Liiquefied Petroleum Gas
  • Fig. 1 shows a plant according to the invention for expansion and condensation of an associated gas under a high pressure from an offshore production platform or a production ship
  • Fig. 2 is a schematic view showing an overall system for processing of an associated gas from an offshore petroleum field, for transport of the gas in liquefied form with a vessel for transport of liquefied gas fractions.
  • FIG. 1 there is firstly described an embodiment of the method according to the invention in a plant according to the invention installed on board a transport vessel .
  • a flow 1 of gas and condensate which has been subjected to drying and removal for C0 2 in a common known manner, and which, with a pressure of 20-500 bar, especially 100-350 bar, and a temperature in the range from 4°C to 50 °C, is supplied through a pipeline from a production platform or a production ship, is carried via one or more conventional driers 2 to a first pressure relief valve 3, a so-called Joule-Thomson valve. 5 Possibly there may be used several such valves.
  • an expansion valve there may be used an isentropic expansion turbine ( turbo expander ) .
  • the flow is introduced to a phase separator 4 wherein it is separated into a gas phase and a liquid phase.
  • the gas phase from the phase separator 4 is carried via a unit 5 for removal of mercury to a pipe coil heat exchanger 10 wherein it is cooled. To remove mercury from this s gas phase is necessary for preventing corrosion of the structural material in the heat exchanger.
  • the cooled flow is carried to a second pressure relief valve 6.
  • the pressure after the adiabatic depressurization undertaken in the valve 6 may be ca. o 5 bar lower than the pressure after the first pressure relief valve 3.
  • the depressurized flow from the valve 6 is introduced into a phase separator 7, wherein it is separated into a gas phase and a liquid phase containing said heavier hydrocarbons.
  • the gas phase from the phase separator 7 is carried to a phase separator 8 o connected in series with this separator and from which a liquid phase is returned to the phase separator 7.
  • the gas phase 8a from the phase separator 8 is carried to a unit 9 wherein C0 2 is removed to a level preventing freezing-out with further cooling of the flow, and therefrom to the above-mentioned pipe coil heat 5 exchanger ( 10 ) , where in the gas phase is condensed and supercooled.
  • phase separator 12 The flow of condensed and supercooled gas from the heat exchanger 10, which has now a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure, thereafter is further pressurized in a third pressure relief valve 11, and the outlet flow therefrom is introduced into a phase separator 12 wherein it arrives with a temperature of from -158°C to -163°C. After a possible additional let-down of the pressure to a pressure just above the atmospheric pressure, s the liquid phase 12b from this phase separator is carried to storage in storage tanks 13 at approximately -163°C, as a stabilized liquefied natural gas ( LNG ) . From the phase separator 12 there is also taken out a gas phase 12a consisting of a light hydrocarbon gas enriched with nitrogen. This gas may be utilized ⁇ o as a fuel for power-demanding machinery in the plant or in an associated plant (not shown) for example on board the production platform or ship.
  • the flow 1 of gas and condensate which is supplied to the plant preferably has such a pressure that the depres- i5 surization in the first pressure relief valve 3 can be undertaken to a pressure in the range 60-70 bar.
  • the depressurized flow therefrom which has now an overpressure of 1-2 bar and a temperature of from -30 to -55 °C, is mixed in a mixing device 15 with the liquid phase 7a from the phase separator 7, and the mixed flow is carried to a heat exchanger 16 wherein, if necessary, there is undertaken an 25 adjustment of the temperature of the flow.
  • a phase separator 17 from which a liquid phase consisting of stabilized liquefied production gas (LPG) is carried to storage tanks 18.
  • This liquefied production gas mainly consists of a mixture of propane and butanes, but it 30 may also contain substantial amounts of methane and components which are heavier than butane.
  • the heat exchanger 10 there is used a cryogenic cooling medium from a cooling plant 19 comprising a driving unit 20 and a compressor 21.
  • the cryogenic cooling medium circulates 35 in a closed cooling circuit and for example may be constituted by nitrogen-containing hydrocarbon gas separated in the phase separator 12.
  • the plant shown in Fig. 1 preferably is driven without any recirculation of non-condensed hydrocarbon flows from the phase separators 12 and 17, and preferably there is used only one driving unit 20.
  • driving unit 20 it is preferred to use a gas turbine .
  • C0 2 in the unit 9 there may be used a traditional molecular sieve equipment, which is very robust against movements (heavy sea). If desired, separated C0 2 can be recompressed and returned to the reservoir.
  • Fig. 1 By means of the method and the plant shown in Fig. 1 there is achieved that all the associated gas which is separated in a processing plant on board a production ship or a production platform on an offshore oil field, and which is supplied to the plant according to the invention in compressed form, is able to be handled.
  • the gas flow is condensed into a heavier portion ( LPG ) and a light portion ( LNG ) , which are stored in stable form individually, cooled down and at approximately atmospheric pressure on board the transport vessel.
  • LPG lighter portion
  • LNG light portion
  • the method and plant are not energy optimal, but give great savings on the investment side, and they are flexible with respect to enabling the handling of a wide range of gas qualities.
  • the plant is robust to heavy sea and is in its entirety able to be installed on a single module on board the transport vessel .
  • the method and plant according to the invention described above may, as appears from the above, advantageously form part of an overall system for processing of a gas/condensate flow from an offshore oil or gas field for transport in liquefied form with a transport vessel.
  • a submerged buoy of the type comprising a central, bottom-anchored member communicating with the topical underground source via at least one flexible riser, and which is provided with a swivel unit for the transfer of the fluid under a high pressure to a production plant on the ship.
  • an outer buoy member which is arranged for introduction and releasable securing in a submerged downwardly open receiving space at the bottom of the ship, so that the ship can turn about the anchored, central buoy member under the influence of wind, waves and water currents.
  • this technique there may e.g. be referred to Norwegian laying-open print No. 175 419.
  • STL Submerged Turret Loading
  • the system comprises a floating production ship 31 on which there is provided a field plant or installation 32 for processing of a well stream flowing up from an underground source 33.
  • the well stream is supplied via a wellhead 34 and a flexible riser 35 which extends through the body of water 36 and at its upper end is connected to an STP buoy 37 of the above-mentioned type.
  • the buoy is introduced and releasably secured in a submerged downwardly open receiving space 38 at the bottom of the production ship 31.
  • the buoy comprises a swivel unit forming a flow connection between the riser 35 and a pipe system (not shown) provided on the production ship between the swivel and the field installation 32.
  • the central member of the buoy is anchored to the sea bed 39 by means of a suitable anchoring system comprising a number of anchor lines 40 (only partly shown).
  • a suitable anchoring system comprising a number of anchor lines 40 (only partly shown).
  • the field installation 32 consists of a number of processing units or modules 41 for suitable processing of the supplied well stream from the source 33.
  • the gas which is that part of the well stream which is here of interest, is subjected to drying and removal of C0 2 in a usual known manner.
  • the gas is compressed to a desired high pressure of at least 150 bar, whereby - as a result of the compression - a heating of the gas to a relatively high temperature takes place.
  • the gas now exists in a condition which is optimal with a view to expansion of the gas to liquid form in an expansion plant according to the invention, which will be substantially more reasonable to build than a conventional LNG plant.
  • a flexible pipeline 44 which is arranged for transfer of the compressed gas, extends through the body of water (the sea water) 36 between the production ship 31 and the transport vessel 35.
  • One end of the pipeline at the production ship 31 is permanently connected to the STP buoy 37 and is connected to the field installation 32 via the swivel unit of the buoy and said pipe system on the production ship.
  • the other end of the pipeline 44 is permanently connected to an additional STP buoy 46 which is introduced and releasably secured in a submerged downwardly open receiving space 47 in the transport vessel 45.
  • the buoy is provided with a swivel unit which may be of a similar design as that of the swivel unit in the buoy 37, and its central member is anchored to the sea bed 39 by means of an anchoring system
  • buoy 46 buoy I
  • submerged buoy 49 buoy II
  • the pipeline 44 is also permanently connected to this buoy via a branch o pipeline in the form of a flexible riser 44' which is connected to the pipeline 44 at a branch point 51. The purpose of the arrangement of two buoys will be further described later.
  • the pipeline 44 may extend over a substantial length in the sea, a suitable distance between the production ship 31 and s the buoys I and II in practice being 1-2 km.
  • a suitable distance between the production ship 31 and s the buoys I and II in practice being 1-2 km.
  • a plant 52 according to the invention for expansion 5 and cooling of compressed gas to liquid form, is installed on board the transport vessel 45.
  • the plant is supplied with compressed gas from the pipeline 44, which communicates with the plant via the buoy 46 and a pipe system (not shown) on the transport vessel 45.
  • Liquefied LNG and LPG which are produced in 0 the plant, are stored in tanks 53 on board the transport vessel.
  • the pipeline 44 may also comprise a return line for transfer of such gas from the 5 expansion plant back to the production ship. In some cases it will further be expedient to produce electrical energy as a byproduct from the expansion process in the plant 52. In such cases the pipeline 44 may also comprise a power cable for transfer of electric current from the transport vessel 45 to the production ship 31, as the swivel units of the STP buoys may be constructed for such transfer.
  • the transport vessel 45 is coupled to the loading buoy 46 (buoy I), whereas the additional buoy 49 (buoy II) is submerged, waiting for connection to another transport vessel.
  • the expansion plant 52 can produce e.g. ca. 8 000 tons LNG per day. With a ship size of 80 000 tons the transport vessel 45 then will be able to lie connected to the buoy I for about 10 days before its storage tanks 53 are full. When the tanks are full, the vessel leaves buoy I, and the production continues via buoy II where another transport vessel then is connected.
  • the ready-loaded vessel transports its cargo to a receiving terminal. Based on normal transport distances and said loading time, for example four transport vessels may be connected to the shown arrangement with two buoys I and II, thereby to obtain operation with "direct shuttle loading” (DSL) without any interruption in the production.
  • DSL direct shuttle loading
  • a continuous take-off of gas is not always an absolute presupposition, so that a transport vessel does not need to be continuously coupled to one of the loading buoys.
  • the transport vessel may leave the field/buoy for at least shorter time periods ( some days ) without this having negative consequen- ces.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Thermal Sciences (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Structural Engineering (AREA)
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PCT/NO1997/000165 1996-07-01 1997-06-26 Process, plant and overall system for handling and treating a hydrocarbon gas from a petroleum deposit WO1998001335A1 (en)

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US09/214,363 US6094937A (en) 1996-07-01 1997-06-26 Process, plant and overall system for handling and treating a hydrocarbon gas from a petroleum deposit
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NO962776 1996-07-01
NO962776A NO301792B1 (no) 1996-07-01 1996-07-01 Fremgangsmåte og anlegg for flytendegjöring/kondisjonering av en komprimert gass/hydrokarbonström utvunnet fra en petroleumforekomst

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US6539747B2 (en) 2001-01-31 2003-04-01 Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company Process of manufacturing pressurized liquid natural gas containing heavy hydrocarbons
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KR101566572B1 (ko) 2008-07-11 2015-11-05 존슨 맛쎄이 퍼블릭 리미티드 컴파니 해양 천연 가스를 처리하기 위한 장치 및 방법
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US10267769B2 (en) 2010-03-04 2019-04-23 Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Processing system for processing specimens using acoustic energy
US11624684B2 (en) 2011-02-17 2023-04-11 Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Method for tissue sample fixation
US10126216B2 (en) 2011-02-17 2018-11-13 Ventana Medical Systems, Inc. Method for tissue sample fixation
JP2014118001A (ja) * 2012-12-14 2014-06-30 Mitsubishi Heavy Ind Ltd 浮体式石油貯蔵海洋構造物
RU2551704C2 (ru) * 2013-05-07 2015-05-27 Открытое акционерное общество "Тюменский проектный и научно-исследовательский институт нефтяной и газовой промышленности им. В.И. Муравленко" ОАО "Гипротюменнефтегаз" Способ промысловой подготовки углеводородного газа к транспорту
WO2016050840A1 (en) 2014-09-30 2016-04-07 Global Lng Services Ltd. Method and plant for coastal production of liquefied natural gas
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RU2721211C2 (ru) * 2015-09-15 2020-05-18 Эквинор Энерджи Ас Способ и система для обработки текучей среды, добытой из скважины
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NO962776D0 (no) 1996-07-01
US6094937A (en) 2000-08-01
NO962776A (no) 1997-12-08
AU3363297A (en) 1998-02-02
NO301792B1 (no) 1997-12-08

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