US3014082A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for purifying and dehydrating natural gas streams
Assignee: Pure Oil Co
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Filing: 1959-12-23
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Granted: 1961-12-19
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Expires: 1979-12-23
Abstract
No abstract record available.
Inventors
- 👤 Byron B Woertz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 19:06
CPC Classifications
C; C07; C07C; C07C7/00; C07C7/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 4
Claim 1
Independent Claim
125 words
A METHOD OF PURIFYING AND DEHYDRATING A NATURALGAS STREAM COMPRISING SEPARATING AND REMOVING THE FREE LIQUID AND SOLID CONTENT OF SAID GAS STREAM, COOLING SAID GAS STREAM TO A TEMPERATURE SLIGHTLY IN EXCESS OF THAT AT WHICH HYDRATES WILL INITIALLY FORM IN SAID GAS STREAM, SEPARATING AND REMOVING ADDITIONAL QUANTITIES OF CONDENSED LIQUIDS FROM SAID GAS STREAM, FLOWING SAID GAS STREAM THROUGH A HEAT EXCHANGER AND THEREIN COOLING THE GAS TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH HYDRATES FORM BY INDIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE WITH COLD, DEHYDRATED PRODUCT GAS, CONTINUALLY SCRAPING THE GAS-STREAM COOLING SURFACE OF SAID HEAT EXCHANGER TO SEPARATE SOLID HYDRATES THEREFROM, SEPARATING AND REMOVING SAID SOLID HYDRATES FROM THE GAS STREAM TO PRODUCE A SUBSTANTIALLY HYDRATE-FREE PRODUCT GAS OF REDUCED WATER
Claim 2
Independent Claim
125 words
A METHOD OF PURIFYING AND DEHYDRATING A NATURALGAS STREAM COMPRISING SEPARATING AND REMOVING THE FREE LIQUID AND SOLID CONTENT OF SAID GAS STREAM, COOLING SAID GAS STREAM TO A TEMPERATURE SLIGHTLY IN EXCESS OF THAT AT WHICH HYDRATES WILL INITIALLY FORM IN SAID GAS STREAM, SEPARATING AND REMOVING ADDITIONAL QUANTITIES OF CONDENSED LIQUIDS FROM SAID GAS STREAM, FLOWING SAID GAS STREAM THROUGH A HEAT EXCHANGER AND THEREIN COOLING THE GAS TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THE TEMPERATURE AT WHICH HYDRATES FORM BY INDIRECT HEAT EXCHANGE WITH COLD, DEHYDRATED PRODUCT GAS, CONTINUALLY SCRAPING THE GAS-STREAM COOLING SURFACE OF SAID HEAT EXCHANGER TO SEPARATE SOLID HYDRATES THEREFROM, SEPARATING AND REMOVING SAID SOLID HYDRATES FROM THE GAS STREAM TO PRODUCE A SUBSTANTIALLY HYDRATE-FREE PRODUCT GAS OF REDUCED WATER
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
197 words
AN APPARTUS FOR PURIFYING AND DEHYDRATING A NATURAL-GAS STREAM COMPRISING A LIQUID KNOCKOUT UNIT FOR REMOVING FREE LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS FROM THE GAS STREAM AS THE GAS STREAM IS CONDUCTED THERETHROUGH, A HEAT EXCHANGER FOR COOLING SAID GAS STREAM TO A TEMPERATURE NOT LOWER THAN THAT AT WHICH HYDRATES FORM IN THE GAS STREAM BY HEAT EXCHANGE WITH A COLD FLUID, A SECOND LIQUID KNOCKOUT UNIT FOR REMOVING FREE LIQUIDS CONDENSED BY THE COOLING IN SAID HEAT EXCHANGER, A SCRAPER-HEAT EXCHANGER FOR COOLING SAID GAS STREAM TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THAT AT WHICH HYDRATES FORM, SAID SCRAPER-HEAT EXCHANGER INCLUDING MEANS FOR REMOVING SOLID HYDRATES FROM THE GAS STREAM-HEAT EXCHANGE SURFACE OF SAID SCRAPER-HEAT EXCHANGER, A SOLID-HYDRATES SEPARATOR FOR REMOVING SOLID HYDRATES FROM SAID GAS STREAM TO PRODUCE HYDRATE-FREE PRODUCT GAS AS SAID GAS IS CONDUCTED THERETHROUGH, MEANS FOR WARMING SAID PRODUCT GAS, CHOKE MEANS FOR EXPANDING SAID PRODUCT GAS TO DECREASE THE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE THEREOF, ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED ELEMENTS BEING SERIALLY CONNECTED IN THE ORDER STATED FOR THE FLOW OF SAID GAS THERETHROUGH, AND MEANS FOR CONDUCTING SAID PRODUCT GAS FROM SAID CHOKE MEANS TO SAID SCRAPER-HEAT EXCHANGER FOR FLOW THERETHROUGH TO RECEIVE HEAT THEREFROM.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
197 words
AN APPARTUS FOR PURIFYING AND DEHYDRATING A NATURAL-GAS STREAM COMPRISING A LIQUID KNOCKOUT UNIT FOR REMOVING FREE LIQUIDS AND SOLIDS FROM THE GAS STREAM AS THE GAS STREAM IS CONDUCTED THERETHROUGH, A HEAT EXCHANGER FOR COOLING SAID GAS STREAM TO A TEMPERATURE NOT LOWER THAN THAT AT WHICH HYDRATES FORM IN THE GAS STREAM BY HEAT EXCHANGE WITH A COLD FLUID, A SECOND LIQUID KNOCKOUT UNIT FOR REMOVING FREE LIQUIDS CONDENSED BY THE COOLING IN SAID HEAT EXCHANGER, A SCRAPER-HEAT EXCHANGER FOR COOLING SAID GAS STREAM TO A TEMPERATURE SUBSTANTIALLY BELOW THAT AT WHICH HYDRATES FORM, SAID SCRAPER-HEAT EXCHANGER INCLUDING MEANS FOR REMOVING SOLID HYDRATES FROM THE GAS STREAM-HEAT EXCHANGE SURFACE OF SAID SCRAPER-HEAT EXCHANGER, A SOLID-HYDRATES SEPARATOR FOR REMOVING SOLID HYDRATES FROM SAID GAS STREAM TO PRODUCE HYDRATE-FREE PRODUCT GAS AS SAID GAS IS CONDUCTED THERETHROUGH, MEANS FOR WARMING SAID PRODUCT GAS, CHOKE MEANS FOR EXPANDING SAID PRODUCT GAS TO DECREASE THE TEMPERATURE AND PRESSURE THEREOF, ALL THE AFOREMENTIONED ELEMENTS BEING SERIALLY CONNECTED IN THE ORDER STATED FOR THE FLOW OF SAID GAS THERETHROUGH, AND MEANS FOR CONDUCTING SAID PRODUCT GAS FROM SAID CHOKE MEANS TO SAID SCRAPER-HEAT EXCHANGER FOR FLOW THERETHROUGH TO RECEIVE HEAT THEREFROM.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1964-12-18 | 1965-06-19 | 1965-12-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1968-12-18 | 1969-06-19 | 1969-12-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1972-12-18 | 1973-06-19 | 1973-12-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |