PROCESS FOR RECOVERING NATURAL GAS LIQUIDS FROM NATURAL GAS PRODUCED IN REMOTE LOCATIONS

摘要

Disclosed is a method to reduce the environmental impact of flaring a natural gas feedstream by removing and recovering some or all natural gas liquids (NGLs) (29) from the natural gas feedstream (3) prior to flaring (100). One embodiment of the present method provides for the use of a regenerable adsorbent media to remove the NGLs from the natural gas which can be regenerated by a microwave heating system. Said regeneration step may be operated as a batch process, a semi-continuous process, or a continuous process.

主权项

1. A method for separating and recovering some or all natural gas liquids (NGLs): ethane, propane, butane, pentane, or heavier hydrocarbons from a natural gas feedstream forming a methane-rich natural gas supply and then flaring said methane-rich natural gas supply, wherein the NGLs are separated from the natural gas feedstream by means of a NGLs separation unit, wherein the NGLs separation unit comprises:
(i) an adsorption unit comprising an adsorption bed comprising an adsorbent media which adsorbs NGLs to form a loaded adsorbent media and (ii) a regeneration unit comprising a means to regenerate loaded adsorbent media by causing the release of adsorbed NGLs from the loaded adsorbing media and forming regenerated adsorbent media wherein the method comprises the steps of:
(a) passing the natural gas feedstream through the adsorption unit generating the adsorbent loaded with NGLs and a methane-rich natural gas supply,(b) transporting the adsorbent loaded with NGLs from the adsorption unit to the regeneration unit,(c) regenerating the adsorbent loaded with NGLs by releasing the adsorbed NGLs from the loaded adsorbing media and forming regenerated adsorbent media(d) transporting the regenerated adsorbent media back to the adsorption unit for reuse,(e) recovering the released NGLs,and(f) flaring the methane-rich natural gas supply.