Configurations and methods for gas condensate separation from high-pressure hydrocarbon mixtures

摘要

A gas condensate production plant comprises a plurality of separation units in which C2 and/or C3 lighter components are stripped from the separator feeds using compressed heated stripping vapor produced from the feed in respective downstream separation units. Contemplated plants substantially reduce heating and cooling duties by using the waste heat from the compressor discharges in the separation process. Furthermore, the multi-stage fractionation according to the inventive subject matter provides improved gas condensate recovery at reduced energy costs.

主权项

1. A gas condensate production plant comprising:
a separation unit having a feed inlet that is configured to receive a two-phase mixture of (a) a hot and compressed recycle stream comprising C2, C3, and lighter components and (b) a hydrocarbon feed comprising C2, C3, and lighter components and C4 and heavier components, wherein the hot and compressed recycle stream comprising C2, C3, and lighter components is present in the two-phase mixture in an amount effective to increase a temperature of the hydrocarbon feed to allow the separation unit to operate under conditions that allow stripping of at least 50% of the C2, C3, and lighter components from the feed using the hot and compressed recycle stream to thereby form a separation unit vapor product comprising the at least 50% of the C2, C3, and lighter components, and wherein the recycle stream has a temperature of between 200° F. to 250° F. and a pressure of between 1100 psig to 1400 psig, and wherein the recycle stream is generated in a second separation unit downstream of the separation unit, is in vapor form, and is compressed to a pressure at which the separation unit operates.