US3784466A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Oil and gas treatment
Assignee: Atlantic Richfield Co
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Filing: 1972-07-28
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Granted: 1974-01-08
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Expires: 1992-07-28
Abstract
Abstract Methods for treating oil and gas to stabilize the oil by removing the gas and to make the gas meet specifications such as dew point. The oil is stabilized by subjecting same to flash conditions and the extent of flashing is controlled by adding to the oil a more volatilizeable material of varying liquid and gas content. The gas is prepared to meet specifications by cooling followed by contacting with at least one solvent which has a greater affinity for heavier hydrocarbons, carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, and water than for methane, ethane, and propane.
Inventors
- 👤 T Arnold
- 👤 E Byrnes
- 👤 A Castoe
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 06:36
CPC Classifications
C; C10; C10G; C10G7/00; C10G7/02; C10G5/00; C10G5/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
61 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said remaining heavier hydrocarbons are heated to vary the relative amounts of gaseous and liquid heavier hydrocarbons combined with said gas-containing oil thereby varying the extent of cooling of said gas-containing oil in subsequent flashing operations and therefore controlling the extent of removal of gas from said gas-containing oil during said subsequent flashing operations.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
51 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein the gas product contains a major amount of C1, C2, and C3 hydrocarbons and a minor amount of C4+ hydrocarbons and inorganic gases, and said heavier hydrocarbons contain a major amount of C4+ hydrocarbons and a minor amount of C1, C2, and C3 hydrocarbons.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
90 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said gas-containing oil is subjected to a plurality of flashing and stripping zones operating at successively lower pressures and the pressurized gas streams recovered from the lower pressure flash zones are recompressed to a higher pressure before cooling said pressurized gas stream, said pressurized gas streams are treated with a freezing point depressant, and said heavier hydrocarbons remaining in said cooled pressurized gas are heated followed by reducing part of the pressure thereon to produce a mixture of gaseous and liquid heavier hydrocarbons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
171 words
A method according to claim 4 wherein said gas-containing oil is crude oil at a pressure of at least about 300 psia and a temperature of at least about 100*F., said gas-containing crude oil is adiabatically flashed in a plurality of flash and stripping zones to atmospheric pressure and a temperature of less than 100*F., said pressurized gas stream contains C1, C2, C3, and heavier hydrocarbon vapors, and is at a pressure of at least about 300 psia and a temperature greater than 50*F., said pressurized gas stream is cooled at least to 20*F. without substantial pressure reduction at which time primarily C1 and C2 gas is removed from the substantially liquefied heavier hydrocarbons, the remaining liquefied heavier hydrocarbons are heated to a temperature greater than 50*F. and then reduced in pressure to below 300 psia which forms a mixture of gaseous and liquid heavier hydrocarbons, and said mixture of gaseous and liquid heavier hydrocarbons is combined with said gas-containing crude oil upstream of at least one of said flash zones.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
115 words
A method according to claim 1 wherein said pressurized gas stream containing C1, C2, C3, and heavier hydrocarbon gas also contains H2O, CO2, and H2S gas, said pressurized gas stream is cooled to liquefy a major portion of said heavier hydrocarbons and thereafter water is removed from the cooled pressurized gas stream and at least the gaseous portion of said gas stream than contacted with at least one solvent which has a greater affinity for CO2, H2S, H2O and heavier hydrocarbons than for C1, C2, and C3 hydrocarbons, recovering gaseous hydrocarbons not sorbed by said solvent, said recovered gaseous hydrocarbons being substantially depleted in CO2, H2S, H2O, and heavier hydrocarbons, and separately recovering said solvent.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein said solvent is at least one of acetone, propylene carbonate, dimethylether polyethyleneglycol, n-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, and methanol.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method according to claim 6 wherein each of said groups (1) C1, C2, and C3 hydrocarbons, (2) heavier hydrocarbons, (3) H2O, (4) CO2, and (5) H2S are recovered from said solvent substantially separated from one another.
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) | 1977-01-07 | 1977-07-09 | 1978-01-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-01-07 | 1981-07-09 | 1982-01-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-01-07 | 1985-07-09 | 1986-01-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |