WO2000023689A1 - Gas disposal system - Google Patents

Gas disposal system Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2000023689A1
WO2000023689A1 PCT/GB1999/003481 GB9903481W WO0023689A1 WO 2000023689 A1 WO2000023689 A1 WO 2000023689A1 GB 9903481 W GB9903481 W GB 9903481W WO 0023689 A1 WO0023689 A1 WO 0023689A1
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WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
methanol
gas
convert
oil
vessel
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1999/003481
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Alf Hoy-Petersen
David Frederick Blacoe
John Richard Pucknell
Original Assignee
Kvaerner Oil & Gas Ltd.
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Kvaerner Oil & Gas Ltd. filed Critical Kvaerner Oil & Gas Ltd.
Priority to AU63529/99A priority Critical patent/AU6352999A/en
Publication of WO2000023689A1 publication Critical patent/WO2000023689A1/en

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Classifications

    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C07—ORGANIC CHEMISTRY
    • C07C—ACYCLIC OR CARBOCYCLIC COMPOUNDS
    • C07C29/00—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring
    • C07C29/15—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring by reduction of oxides of carbon exclusively
    • C07C29/151—Preparation of compounds having hydroxy or O-metal groups bound to a carbon atom not belonging to a six-membered aromatic ring by reduction of oxides of carbon exclusively with hydrogen or hydrogen-containing gases
    • C07C29/1516—Multisteps
    • C07C29/1518—Multisteps one step being the formation of initial mixture of carbon oxides and hydrogen for synthesis
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/34—Arrangements for separating materials produced by the well
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B41/00—Equipment or details not covered by groups E21B15/00 - E21B40/00
    • E21B41/005—Waste disposal systems
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH DRILLING, e.g. DEEP DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/01—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells specially adapted for obtaining from underwater installations

Definitions

  • This invention seeks to dispose of small amounts of associated gas, without prejudicing efficient working of an offshore oil field
  • the invention provides a system for the disposal of small amounts of associated gas from an offshore oil field wnic ⁇ system comp ⁇ ses the elements a floating vessel, means on that vessel to separate small amounts of gas from oil, means on the vessel to convert the separated gas to methanol segregated storage space on the vessel to contain the methanol, and provision to transfer the methanol intermittently to a products tanker (or to segregated tanks in an offtake tanker) for removal from the oil field and subsequent disposal, in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a compact reformer capable of operation at high temperature and pressure to convert gas and steam to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syntnesis gas), and means to synthesise methanol from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen
  • the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a steam reforming zone, a methanol synthesis zone, a methanol recovery zone, and a separation zone for separating unconverted synthesis gas into hydrogen ⁇ ch and hydrogen depleted streams.
  • the system defined above is used in combination with a products tanker which has been spe ⁇ ally modified to allow bow loading, and the products tanker is used to remove the methanol
  • the means to convert tne separated gas to methanol may be followed by means to extract carbon dioxide from tne water/methanol mixture so produced
  • the means to convert the separated gas to methanol may include a distillation column to take out water
  • the vessel has an internal turret moo ⁇ ng system
  • the invention includes a method of disposal for small amounts of associated gas a ⁇ sing from the production of oil from an offshore oil field, comp ⁇ si ⁇ g the steps of - separating the small amounts of gas from the oil, converting the separate ⁇ gas to methanol, sto ⁇ ng the methanol in a segregated storage space (separate from the oil), and transfemng the methanol intermittently to a products tanker (or to segregated tanks in an offtake tanker), for removal from the oil field and subsequent disposal in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a compact reformer capable of operation at high temperature and pressure to convert gas and steam to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas), and means to synthesise methanol from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen B ⁇ ef desc ⁇ ption of the Drawings
  • FIG. 1 is a side view of a Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel
  • Figure 2 is a plan view of that FPSO
  • Figure 3 is a partial section (to an enlarged scale) on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2
  • Figure 4 is a diagran showing an offloading technique
  • a vessel 10 has a turret moo ⁇ ng 11 near to its bow
  • the turret moo ⁇ g maintains the vessel on station at or near a small offshore oil field
  • the vessel can weather vane on the turret moo ⁇ ng, and so the vessel always lies head to wind (A turret moo ⁇ ng would be necessary for the northern North Sea However it would not be required in locations having relatively benign environmental conditions - such as offshore West Af ⁇ ca )
  • the vessel 10 h2s been equipped as an FPSO, and has process plant 12, process support equipment 14 and power generation units 15 Details of this equipment outfit are given below
  • the oil processing equipment for this example has been designed for a throughput of 50,000 bpd of oil It is based on a conventional three stage oil/water/gas separation system, with an electrostatic coalescer and produced water clean-up
  • the associated gas passes to an elect ⁇ cally d ⁇ ven compressor which supplies feed gas at approximately 50 bar to a methanol plant (to be desc ⁇ bed later)
  • the methanol plant would require 3 5MW of elect ⁇ cal power When the requirements of the oil processing and utility equipment are added, the total elect ⁇ cal power demand is about 12MW
  • the FPSO includes two 00% dual fuel turbine d ⁇ ve ⁇ generators to supply this power
  • the methanol plant would require 26MW of cooling.
  • the cooling system is conventional, with a closed loop cooling medium system being cooied by seawater in a plate and frame type heat exchanger.
  • This equipment outfit enables the FPSO to remain permanently on station, so that it can continuously process mixed hydrocarbons arising from the offshore oil field. Additionally, the FPSO has cranes 16 and 17, and a helideck 18; and there is an offloading system 19 at its stem.
  • mixed hydrocarbons comprising oil and small amounts of associated gas
  • subsea wellheads not shown
  • FPSO up risers shown in Figure 4
  • the process plant 12 is arranged to separate out from the mixed hydrocarbons the small amounts of gas which are associated with the oil.
  • the "small amounts of gas” are assumed to amount to 10 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).
  • the separated gas is led to a methanol plant 20 located directly aft of the turret mooring 11.
  • the methanol plant is modularized, and includes high temperature and pressure compact reformers 21.
  • the gas to methanol process described in this example has been developed by B.P. and Kvaerner Process Technology (KPT).
  • KPT Kvaerner Process Technology
  • the first stage is the conversion of natural gas (methane) and steam to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas). This stage takes place at high temperature and pressure in a compact reformer.
  • the second stage is the synthesis of methanol from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
  • the temperature within the compact reformer may be 450°C or more, and the pressure may be between 30 - 40 bar.
  • KPT has also developed a reactor which achieves major savings in size, weight and thermal efficiency.
  • This reactor can be used for the second stage of the process (i.e. the synthesis of methanol). Because the reactor is smaller and lighter than conventional units, it is ideally suited for use offshore.
  • This reactor is described in KPT's PCT Application W097/24175.
  • the temperature within the reactor may be between 200 and 300°C (preferably 250 and 280°C), and the pressure may be between 30-100 bar (preferably 50 - 80 bar).
  • the expression "high temperature and pressure” in the claims is exemplified by the temperatures and pressures quoted above. Details of operating parameters are given in the two PCT Applications WO98/28071 and WO97/24175; (or alternatively in W098/28248).
  • the methanol plant converts the separated gas to liquid methanol (methyl alcohol), and the methanol is pumped to segregated storage spaces (e.g. 22) within the hull of the FPSO.
  • the segregated storage spaces 22 (occupying some 25% of the usable hull capacity) are distributed along the length of the hull. Only small amounts of methanol are produced (in this example 3,100 barrels per day from 10 mmscfd of associated gas), and so the segregated storage spaces could be relatively small, and would take a significant period of time - several weeks - to fill.
  • Methanol produced on the FPSO described by way of example would contain about 20% water.
  • the methanol would be removed from the FPSO in that state.
  • distillation may be possible on the FPSO, to take out water prior to removal of the methanol.
  • a specially modified products tanker is positioned astern of the FPSO.
  • the products tanker is modified for bow mooring (and loading), so that it can be secured to the downwind end (stem) of the FPSO.
  • the products tanker is smaller than offtake tankers used to offload oil from the FPSO, and .it is adapted to carry methanol.
  • Figure 4 shows an FPSO of the kind illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, and a products tanker 23.
  • the products tanker 23 is moored by its bow to the stem of the FPSO using lines 24.
  • methanol can be pumped from the segregated methanol storage spaces 22 to the products tanker via hoses 25 extending from the offloading system 19.
  • the small amount of gas associated with the oil can be converted to liquid methanol and periodically removed from the FPSO.
  • the first option envisages a dedicated products tanker for the removal of methanol (as described above). This products tanker would be converted to allow bow mooring from the FPSO. Oil would be offloaded by 'vessels of opportunity'.
  • the FPSO of this example has a typical Suezmax tanker hull, with storage capacity for approximately 1 ,000,000 bol of liquids This storage capacity would be divided into approximately 750,000 bbi dedicated to oil and 250,000 bbl dedicated to methanol
  • a typical products tanker would be selected which could hold about 200,000 barrels of methanol and it is assumed that the oil would be offloaded in 500,000 bbl parcels
  • the 25 75 subdivision of the FPSO storage space would therefore allow for storage of one offtake of each product, plus about 5 days extra production of oil at peak output
  • the example desc ⁇ bed above has dealt with an offshore oil field having a peak production of 50,000 bpd. and "small amounts of associated gas" amounting to 10 mmscfd.
  • the invention could be applicable to smaller amounts of oil (e g. 5,000 bbl) or to larger or smaller amounts of gas (e g 20 down to 5 mmscfd) These amounts would require approp ⁇ ate resizing of the equipment and storage space on the FPSO, and revised offtake frequencies These production levels are not limiting on the scope of the claims.

Abstract

A system for the disposal of small amounts of associated gas from an offshore oil field, which system comprises the elements of a floating vessel (10), means (12) on that vessel to separate small amounts of gas from oil, means (20) on the vessel to convert the separated gas to methanol, segregated storage space (22) on the vessel to contain the methanol, and provision (19, 25) to transfer the methanol intermittently to a products tanker (23) or to segregated tanks in an offtake tanker (not shown), for removal from the oil field and subsequent disposal; in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a compact reformer capable of operation at high temperature and pressure to convert gas and steam to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas), and means to synthesise methanol from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen.

Description

GAS DISPOSAL SYSTEM
Technical Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a system for the disposal of small amounts of associated gas from offshore oil fields
Background of the Invention
In many offshore oil fields, gas (largely methane) is associated with the oil In the past it has been common practice to separate the associated gas from the oil at an offshore platform, and then to transmit that gas to shore via a nearby gas pipeline Alternatively, if there has been no convenient pipeline, the surplus gas has been burned at the platform or 'flared' However, with the enforcement of increasingly stnngent anti-pollution regulations, flanng is being severely restπcted As major oil fields with large reserves are passing their production peaks, small oil fields with associated gas are being considered for development. In the case of small oil fields which are remote from existing gas pipelines, disposal of the associated gas is a problem which precludes efficient exploitation of the oil For the small amounts of gas produced, it would be too expensive to install a special export pipeline (or to remject the gas into the field), and flaring has been ruled out by the anti-pollution regulations
This invention seeks to dispose of small amounts of associated gas, without prejudicing efficient working of an offshore oil field
Production of methanol at offshore sites has been proposed in the past The emphasis has been on large-scale plants, attempting to make the methanol production economic in itself Australian Patent Specification 64593/90 descπbes a process for such production However, the size and configuration of conventional methanol plants have made it impractical to convert small amounts of associated gas to methanol on floating vessels using conventional plants Disclosure of the Invention
The invention provides a system for the disposal of small amounts of associated gas from an offshore oil field wnicπ system compπses the elements a floating vessel, means on that vessel to separate small amounts of gas from oil, means on the vessel to convert the separated gas to methanol segregated storage space on the vessel to contain the methanol, and provision to transfer the methanol intermittently to a products tanker (or to segregated tanks in an offtake tanker) for removal from the oil field and subsequent disposal, in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a compact reformer capable of operation at high temperature and pressure to convert gas and steam to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (syntnesis gas), and means to synthesise methanol from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen Preferably the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a steam reforming zone, a methanol synthesis zone, a methanol recovery zone, and a separation zone for separating unconverted synthesis gas into hydrogen πch and hydrogen depleted streams.
It is preferred that the system defined above is used in combination with a products tanker which has been speαally modified to allow bow loading, and the products tanker is used to remove the methanol
The means to convert tne separated gas to methanol may be followed by means to extract carbon dioxide from tne water/methanol mixture so produced
The means to convert the separated gas to methanol may include a distillation column to take out water Advantageously the vessel has an internal turret mooπng system
The invention includes a method of disposal for small amounts of associated gas aπsing from the production of oil from an offshore oil field, compπsiπg the steps of - separating the small amounts of gas from the oil, converting the separateα gas to methanol, stoπng the methanol in a segregated storage space (separate from the oil), and transfemng the methanol intermittently to a products tanker (or to segregated tanks in an offtake tanker), for removal from the oil field and subsequent disposal in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a compact reformer capable of operation at high temperature and pressure to convert gas and steam to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas), and means to synthesise methanol from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen Bπef descπption of the Drawings
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which - Figure 1 is a side view of a Floating Production Storage Offloading (FPSO) vessel,
Figure 2 is a plan view of that FPSO,
Figure 3 is a partial section (to an enlarged scale) on the line Ill-Ill in Figure 2, and Figure 4 is a diagran showing an offloading technique
Descπption of the Speαfc Embodiment
The concept descried by way of example is based on a newly built Suezmax tanker hull (of approximately 150 0C0 tonnes dwt) with an internal turret mooπng system A vessel of this size would be well suited to carry equipment for processing oil production of up to 50,000 barrels per day (bpd) witn some space to spare, and it would have a total storage capacity for about 1 ,000,000 barrels (bbl) of liquids This concept would be capable of operating in the North Sea or offshore West Afπca or on Australia's NW shelf, or in any other area where suitable offshore oil fields are located
As shown generally in Figures 1 and 2, a vessel 10 has a turret mooπng 11 near to its bow The turret mooππg maintains the vessel on station at or near a small offshore oil field The vessel can weather vane on the turret mooπng, and so the vessel always lies head to wind (A turret mooπng would be necessary for the northern North Sea However it would not be required in locations having relatively benign environmental conditions - such as offshore West Afπca ) The vessel 10 h2s been equipped as an FPSO, and has process plant 12, process support equipment 14 and power generation units 15 Details of this equipment outfit are given below
The oil processing equipment for this example has been designed for a throughput of 50,000 bpd of oil It is based on a conventional three stage oil/water/gas separation system, with an electrostatic coalescer and produced water clean-up The associated gas passes to an electπcally dπven compressor which supplies feed gas at approximately 50 bar to a methanol plant (to be descπbed later)
The methanol plant would require 3 5MW of electπcal power When the requirements of the oil processing and utility equipment are added, the total electπcal power demand is about 12MW The FPSO includes two 00% dual fuel turbine dπveπ generators to supply this power The methanol plant would require 26MW of cooling. The cooling system is conventional, with a closed loop cooling medium system being cooied by seawater in a plate and frame type heat exchanger.
This equipment outfit enables the FPSO to remain permanently on station, so that it can continuously process mixed hydrocarbons arising from the offshore oil field. Additionally, the FPSO has cranes 16 and 17, and a helideck 18; and there is an offloading system 19 at its stem.
In use, mixed hydrocarbons (comprising oil and small amounts of associated gas) are produced from subsea wellheads (not shown); and are led to the FPSO up risers (shown in Figure 4).
The process plant 12 is arranged to separate out from the mixed hydrocarbons the small amounts of gas which are associated with the oil. For this example, the "small amounts of gas" are assumed to amount to 10 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd). The separated gas is led to a methanol plant 20 located directly aft of the turret mooring 11. Following the invention, the methanol plant is modularized, and includes high temperature and pressure compact reformers 21.
The gas to methanol process described in this example has been developed by B.P. and Kvaerner Process Technology (KPT). In summary, the process involves two stages. The first stage is the conversion of natural gas (methane) and steam to a mixture of carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas). This stage takes place at high temperature and pressure in a compact reformer. The second stage is the synthesis of methanol from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
One process for the first stage is described in KPTs PCT Application WO98/28071. The temperature within the compact reformer may be 450°C or more, and the pressure may be between 30 - 40 bar.
KPT has also developed a reactor which achieves major savings in size, weight and thermal efficiency. This reactor can be used for the second stage of the process (i.e. the synthesis of methanol). Because the reactor is smaller and lighter than conventional units, it is ideally suited for use offshore. This reactor is described in KPT's PCT Application W097/24175. The temperature within the reactor may be between 200 and 300°C (preferably 250 and 280°C), and the pressure may be between 30-100 bar (preferably 50 - 80 bar).
The expression "high temperature and pressure" in the claims is exemplified by the temperatures and pressures quoted above. Details of operating parameters are given in the two PCT Applications WO98/28071 and WO97/24175; (or alternatively in W098/28248). The methanol plant converts the separated gas to liquid methanol (methyl alcohol), and the methanol is pumped to segregated storage spaces (e.g. 22) within the hull of the FPSO. The segregated storage spaces 22 (occupying some 25% of the usable hull capacity) are distributed along the length of the hull. Only small amounts of methanol are produced (in this example 3,100 barrels per day from 10 mmscfd of associated gas), and so the segregated storage spaces could be relatively small, and would take a significant period of time - several weeks - to fill.
Methanol produced on the FPSO described by way of example would contain about 20% water. The methanol would be removed from the FPSO in that state. Alternatively, distillation may be possible on the FPSO, to take out water prior to removal of the methanol.
Most of the methanol production process, including process steps in the reformers and the methanol reactors, consists of gas reactions. These would not be affected by the motions of a ship. An exception would be a methanol distillation column. If there are doubts about the feasibility of operating a methanol distillation column on a ship, the methanol/water mixture could initially be removed without distillation. This would require the extraction of Carbon Dioxide (which would otherwise form a corrosive mixture) from the produced methanol/water mixture.
However, it is likely to be possible to distill the methanol/water mixture on the FPSO, e.g. by using two or three short distillation columns instead of one large column, so to take out water from the mixture.
When the segregated methanol storage spaces 22 are nearly full, a specially modified products tanker is positioned astern of the FPSO. The products tanker is modified for bow mooring (and loading), so that it can be secured to the downwind end (stem) of the FPSO. The products tanker is smaller than offtake tankers used to offload oil from the FPSO, and .it is adapted to carry methanol.
Figure 4 shows an FPSO of the kind illustrated in Figures 1 to 3, and a products tanker 23. The products tanker 23 is moored by its bow to the stem of the FPSO using lines 24.
When the products tanker 23 is secured, methanol can be pumped from the segregated methanol storage spaces 22 to the products tanker via hoses 25 extending from the offloading system 19.
Thus the small amount of gas associated with the oil can be converted to liquid methanol and periodically removed from the FPSO.
Two offloading options are available.
The first option envisages a dedicated products tanker for the removal of methanol (as described above). This products tanker would be converted to allow bow mooring from the FPSO. Oil would be offloaded by 'vessels of opportunity'. The FPSO of this example has a typical Suezmax tanker hull, with storage capacity for approximately 1 ,000,000 bol of liquids This storage capacity would be divided into approximately 750,000 bbi dedicated to oil and 250,000 bbl dedicated to methanol
A typical products tanker would be selected which could hold about 200,000 barrels of methanol and it is assumed that the oil would be offloaded in 500,000 bbl parcels The 25 75 subdivision of the FPSO storage space would therefore allow for storage of one offtake of each product, plus about 5 days extra production of oil at peak output
The maximum envisaged production of 50,000 bpd of oil would result in an offloading frequency of once every 10 days and later production - say of 25,000 bpd of oil - would result in an offloading frequency of once every 20 days The methanol production of 3,100 barrels per day would mean an offloaαiπg frequency of about once every 65 days
Assuming an oil field offshore West Afπca, a round tπp to a Western European terminal could take 40 days For maximum oil production (offloading every 10 days), four offtake tankers would be neeoed and for the later oil production (offloading every 20 days), two offtake tankers would be needed The low offloading frequency for methanol means that only one products tanker would be needed
The loading of oil and methanol would be scheduled so that only one tanker was moored astern of the FPSO at any one time Distπbutioπ of segregated storage spaces 22 along the length of the hull avoids excessive hogging and sagging of the hull due to out of phase offloading The config ration of storage spaces shown in Figure 1 is illustrative only, and does not show a particularly preferred arrangement
SUMMARY Methanol Later Oil Maximum Oil FIRST OPTION Production Production
Production bpd 3 100 25 000 50,000
Storage in FPSO bbl 250,000 750 000 750,000
Offtake size bbl 200,000 500 000 500,000
Offtake period day 65 20 10
Offtake tankers No 1 2 4
In an alternative offloading option (not shown), it could be possible to remove both the methanol and the oil in segregated cargo tanks of an offtake tanker The offtake tanker would need some preparatory work on the methanol tanks, e g to check the tank coatings and replace the firefightmg foam (Crude oil tankers generally use protein-based firefighting foam, which is not suitable for use on methanol ) In this alternative option, division of the FPSO storage spaces would be 15 85 methanol to oil, rather than the 25 75 division of the FPSO storage spaces in the first option Given an offtake tanker of the same size as that assumed in the first option, the capacity for oil would be reduced by the volume of tanks converted to carry methanol Offloading of oil and methanol could take piace every 9 days for 50,000 bpd oil production, or every 18 days for 25,000 bpd oil production
For maximum oil production (offloading every 9 days), five offtake tankers would be needed; and for the later oil production (offloading every 18 days), three offtake tankers would be needed
The requirement for preparatory work means that dedicated offtake tankers ('shuttle tankers') would be needed With this option, 'vessels of opportunity' could not be employed as offtake tankers
Figure imgf000009_0001
The example descπbed above has dealt with an offshore oil field having a peak production of 50,000 bpd. and "small amounts of associated gas" amounting to 10 mmscfd. The invention could be applicable to smaller amounts of oil (e g. 5,000 bbl) or to larger or smaller amounts of gas (e g 20 down to 5 mmscfd) These amounts would require appropπate resizing of the equipment and storage space on the FPSO, and revised offtake frequencies These production levels are not limiting on the scope of the claims.
Advantages of the Invention
In this way, associated gas (produced as an undesirable by-product of oil production) could be removed from the FPSO in liquid form (as methanol), and disposed of economically. By disposing of the gas the overall economics of an offshore oil field with small amounts of associated gas could be rendered viable, particularly in areas where gas flaring is not permitted

Claims

Claims
1/ A system for the disposal of small amounts of associated gas from an offshore oil field, which system comprises the elements: a floating vessel, means on that vessel to separate small amounts of gas from oil, means on the vessel to convert the separated gas to methanol, segregated storage space on the vessel to contain the methanol, and provision to transfer the methanol intermittently to a products tanker (or to segregated tanks in an offtake tanker), for removal from the oil field and subsequent disposal; in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a compact reformer capable of operation at high temperature and pressure to convert gas and steam to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas), and means to synthesise methanol from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
21 A system as claimed in claim 1 in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a steam reforming zone, a methanol synthesis zone, a methanol recovery zone, and a separation zone for separating unconverted synthesis gas into hydrogen rich and hydrogen depleted streams.
3/ A system as claimed in claim 1 or ciaim 2 in combination with a products tanker which has been specially modified to allow bow loading, and the products tanker is used to remove the methanoi.
4/ A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol is followed by means to extract carbon dioxide from the water/methanoi mixture so produced.
5/ A system as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol includes a distillation column to take out remove water.
6/ A system as claimed in any one of the preceding claims in which the vessel has an internal turret mooring system. II A method of disposal for small amounts of associated gas arising from the production of oil from an offshore oil field, comprising the steps of> separatiπg the small amounts of gas from the oil, converting the separated gas to methanol, storing the methanol in a segregated storage space (separate from the oil), and transferring the methanol intermittently to a products tanker (or to segregated tanks in an offtake tanker, for removal from the oil field and subsequent disposal; in which the means to convert the separated gas to methanol comprises a compact reformer capable of operation at high temperature and pressure to convert gas and steam to carbon monoxide and hydrogen (synthesis gas), and means to synthesise methanol from the carbon monoxide and hydrogen.
8/ A system substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
9/ A method substantially as hereinbefore described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings.
PCT/GB1999/003481 1998-10-21 1999-10-21 Gas disposal system WO2000023689A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

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GB9822975.0 1998-10-21

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Cited By (24)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE10015777A1 (en) * 2000-03-30 2001-10-04 Abb Research Ltd Utilization of natural gas on oil rigs by conversion to hydrogen and carbon, with on site use of the hydrogen in electricity production and on-shore use of the carbon in fiber or fuel production
WO2002096839A1 (en) 2001-05-25 2002-12-05 Bp Exploration Operaing Company Limited Fischer-tropsch process
EP1496040A1 (en) 1999-11-26 2005-01-12 Bp Exploration Operating Company Limited Process for converting synthesis gas into higher hydrocarbons
FR2878858A1 (en) * 2004-12-06 2006-06-09 Air Liquide Treatment of gas associated with crude hydrocarbon liquid (I) exiting offshore oil field comprises producing synthesis gas comprising hydrogen and carbon monoxide, and carrying out Fischer-Tropsch reaction in presence of oxygen
WO2006123146A2 (en) 2005-05-20 2006-11-23 Bp Chemicals Limited Process for the conversion of synthesis gas to oxygenate
WO2006123158A2 (en) 2005-05-20 2006-11-23 Bp Chemicals Limited Process for the conversion of synthesis gas to oxygenates
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EP2060553A1 (en) 2007-11-14 2009-05-20 BP p.l.c. Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons into alcohol
EP2070896A1 (en) 2007-12-12 2009-06-17 BP p.l.c. A process for the conversion of n-butanol to di-isobutene and propene
EP2070894A1 (en) 2007-12-12 2009-06-17 BP p.l.c. A process for the conversion of n-butanol of n-butanol to di-isobutene and pentene
EP2072490A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-24 BP p.l.c. Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons to alcohols
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EP2072488A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-24 BP p.l.c. Process for the conversion of hydrocarbon to ethanol
EP2072487A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-24 BP p.l.c. Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons to ethanol
EP2072486A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-24 BP p.l.c. Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons to ethanol
EP2072489A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-24 BP p.l.c. Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons into ethanol
EP2072492A1 (en) 2007-12-17 2009-06-24 BP p.l.c. Process for the conversion of hydrocarbons to ethanol
EP2105428A1 (en) 2007-12-12 2009-09-30 BP p.l.c. A process for the conversion of n-butanol to di-isobutene
EP2186787A1 (en) 2008-11-13 2010-05-19 BP p.l.c. Hydrogenation of ethanoic acid to produce ethanol
EP2196447A1 (en) 2008-12-12 2010-06-16 BP p.l.c. An improved process for hydrogenating alkyl ester(s) in the presence of carbon monoxide
WO2010067077A1 (en) 2008-12-11 2010-06-17 Bp P.L.C. Integrated gas refinery
EP2287145A1 (en) 2009-08-12 2011-02-23 BP p.l.c. Process for purifying ethylene
RU2742652C1 (en) * 2020-08-14 2021-02-09 Общество с ограниченной ответственностью "Флотметанол" Method for producing methanol on a floating platform

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US7939571B2 (en) 2005-05-20 2011-05-10 Bp Chemicals Limited Process for the conversion of synthesis gas to oxygenate
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