US6413299B1 — Liquid slug and gas separation method and apparat…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 463 words

A method for facilitating the dissipation of liquid slugs within a primary gas pipeline that contains liquid slugs, and wherein the gas is flowing, downstream in the primary gas pipeline, and wherein between its starting point and its ending point, all locations alone the primary gas pipeline can be referred to as being either upstream or downstream of any other location along the primary gas pipeline, comprised of the steps of; a.) providing a secondary gas pipeline that has an input end and an output end, wherein the input end is referred to as being upstream and the output end is referred to as being downstream, and wherein the input end and the output end of the secondary gas pipeline can each be communicatively connected to the primary gas pipeline, and wherein the secondary gas pipeline is of a configuration and of a length such that any of the anticipated liquid slugs that travel through it, from its input end to its output end, will tend to become a two phase flow of liquid and gas in which the liquid and the gas each has its own separate flow rate; and b.) communicatively connecting the input end of the secondary gas pipeline to the primary gas pipeline and communicatively connecting the output end of the secondary gas pipeline to the primary gas pipeline such that the secondary gas pipeline and the primary gas pipeline are running in parallel, and wherein the secondary gas pipeline's output end is connected to the primary gas pipeline at a location such that any liquid slug and gas traveling in a unified manner, and collectively referred to as “LSG” which arrives at the upstream point of connection of the primary gas pipeline with the secondary gas pipeline will divide into LSG 1 that continues traveling down the primary gas pipeline and LSG 2 that enters the secondary gas pipeline, wherein LSG 1 is a portion of LSG and LSG 2 is the remaining portion of LSG, such that LSG 1 +LSG 2 =LSG, and such that LSG 2 <LSG 1 , and such that when LSG 2 , which as explained in paragraph a.) above, during its travel through the secondary gas pipeline from its input end to its output end became a two phase flow of liquid and gas in which the liquid and the gas each has its own separate flow rate, leaves the secondary gas pipeline and re-enters the primary gas pipeline, the now two phase flow of liquid and gas will re-enter the primary gas pipeline at the time of the arrival, at the location at which LSG 2 re-enters the primary gas pipeline, of the front portion of the largest LSG 1 that is anticipated to be traveling through the primary gas pipeline.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 463 words

A method for facilitating the dissipation of liquid slugs within a primary gas pipeline that contains liquid slugs, and wherein the gas is flowing, downstream in the primary gas pipeline, and wherein between its starting point and its ending point, all locations alone the primary gas pipeline can be referred to as being either upstream or downstream of any other location along the primary gas pipeline, comprised of the steps of; a.) providing a secondary gas pipeline that has an input end and an output end, wherein the input end is referred to as being upstream and the output end is referred to as being downstream, and wherein the input end and the output end of the secondary gas pipeline can each be communicatively connected to the primary gas pipeline, and wherein the secondary gas pipeline is of a configuration and of a length such that any of the anticipated liquid slugs that travel through it, from its input end to its output end, will tend to become a two phase flow of liquid and gas in which the liquid and the gas each has its own separate flow rate; and b.) communicatively connecting the input end of the secondary gas pipeline to the primary gas pipeline and communicatively connecting the output end of the secondary gas pipeline to the primary gas pipeline such that the secondary gas pipeline and the primary gas pipeline are running in parallel, and wherein the secondary gas pipeline's output end is connected to the primary gas pipeline at a location such that any liquid slug and gas traveling in a unified manner, and collectively referred to as “LSG” which arrives at the upstream point of connection of the primary gas pipeline with the secondary gas pipeline will divide into LSG 1 that continues traveling down the primary gas pipeline and LSG 2 that enters the secondary gas pipeline, wherein LSG 1 is a portion of LSG and LSG 2 is the remaining portion of LSG, such that LSG 1 +LSG 2 =LSG, and such that LSG 2 <LSG 1 , and such that when LSG 2 , which as explained in paragraph a.) above, during its travel through the secondary gas pipeline from its input end to its output end became a two phase flow of liquid and gas in which the liquid and the gas each has its own separate flow rate, leaves the secondary gas pipeline and re-enters the primary gas pipeline, the now two phase flow of liquid and gas will re-enter the primary gas pipeline at the time of the arrival, at the location at which LSG 2 re-enters the primary gas pipeline, of the front portion of the largest LSG 1 that is anticipated to be traveling through the primary gas pipeline.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 471 words

A phase separation pipe for use in parallel with a gas pipeline which contains a pressurized gas flow stream that is flowing in the gas pipeline, and which gas pipeline also contains liquid that is flowing in the gas pipeline, which liquid may be in the form of a liquid slug; wherein the gas and liquid is flowing in the downstream direction in the gas pipeline, which phase separation pipe is comprised of: a.) an input end; and a first section, which first section, at its upstream end, is in continuous communication with said input end; and a second section, which second section, at its upstream end, is in continuous communication with said first section at its downstream end; and an output end which is in continuous communication with said second section at its downstream end; wherein the first section is of a smaller diameter than the gas pipeline with which the phase separation pipe will be used; and wherein the second section is of a larger diameter than the first section; and wherein the input end may be sealingly attached to the gas pipeline; and wherein the output end may be sealingly attached to the gas pipeline downstream of the input end; and b.) wherein the configuration and the diameter of the first section of the phase separation pipe is such that when the input end of the phase separation pipe is sealingly attached to the gas pipeline and the output end of the phase separation pipe is sealingly attached to the gas pipeline downstream of the input end, then, for any liquid slug that is flowing downstream through the gas pipeline a portion of the liquid slug that is less than half of the liquid slug will enter the input end when the liquid slug arrives at the input end's point of connection to the gas pipeline; and c.) wherein the length and the configuration and the diameters of the phase separation pipe is such that any liquid slug and gas “LSG” traveling down the primary gas pipeline and arriving at the input end of the phase separation pipe will divide into a smaller portion LSG 2 and a larger portion LSG 1 ; wherein the smaller portion LSG 2 will enter the input end of the phase separation pipe and will have become substantially turned into a two phase flow of separate gas and separate liquid prior to reaching the output end of the phase separation pipe; and wherein the front portion of LSG 1 will not arrive at the junction of the output end of the phase separation pipe and the primary gas pipeline ahead of the gas which is exiting the output end of the phase separation pipe which gas is the gas that resulted from the transformation of LSG 2 into a two phase flow.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 471 words

A phase separation pipe for use in parallel with a gas pipeline which contains a pressurized gas flow stream that is flowing in the gas pipeline, and which gas pipeline also contains liquid that is flowing in the gas pipeline, which liquid may be in the form of a liquid slug; wherein the gas and liquid is flowing in the downstream direction in the gas pipeline, which phase separation pipe is comprised of: a.) an input end; and a first section, which first section, at its upstream end, is in continuous communication with said input end; and a second section, which second section, at its upstream end, is in continuous communication with said first section at its downstream end; and an output end which is in continuous communication with said second section at its downstream end; wherein the first section is of a smaller diameter than the gas pipeline with which the phase separation pipe will be used; and wherein the second section is of a larger diameter than the first section; and wherein the input end may be sealingly attached to the gas pipeline; and wherein the output end may be sealingly attached to the gas pipeline downstream of the input end; and b.) wherein the configuration and the diameter of the first section of the phase separation pipe is such that when the input end of the phase separation pipe is sealingly attached to the gas pipeline and the output end of the phase separation pipe is sealingly attached to the gas pipeline downstream of the input end, then, for any liquid slug that is flowing downstream through the gas pipeline a portion of the liquid slug that is less than half of the liquid slug will enter the input end when the liquid slug arrives at the input end's point of connection to the gas pipeline; and c.) wherein the length and the configuration and the diameters of the phase separation pipe is such that any liquid slug and gas “LSG” traveling down the primary gas pipeline and arriving at the input end of the phase separation pipe will divide into a smaller portion LSG 2 and a larger portion LSG 1 ; wherein the smaller portion LSG 2 will enter the input end of the phase separation pipe and will have become substantially turned into a two phase flow of separate gas and separate liquid prior to reaching the output end of the phase separation pipe; and wherein the front portion of LSG 1 will not arrive at the junction of the output end of the phase separation pipe and the primary gas pipeline ahead of the gas which is exiting the output end of the phase separation pipe which gas is the gas that resulted from the transformation of LSG 2 into a two phase flow.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 82 words

A phase separation pipe for use in parallel with a gas pipeline which contains a pressurized gas flow stream that is flowing in the gas pipeline, and which gas pipeline also contains liquid that is flowing in the gas pipeline, which liquid may be in the form of a liquid slug; wherein the gas and liquid is flowing in the downstream direction in the gas pipeline, as described in claim 2 ; wherein the first section is not of a uniform diameter.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 82 words

A phase separation pipe for use in parallel with a gas pipeline which contains a pressurized gas flow stream that is flowing in the gas pipeline, and which gas pipeline also contains liquid that is flowing in the gas pipeline, which liquid may be in the form of a liquid slug; wherein the gas and liquid is flowing in the downstream direction in the gas pipeline, as described in claim 2 ; wherein the second section is not of a uniform diameter.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 93 words

A phase separation pipe for use in parallel with a gas pipeline which contains a pressurized gas flow stream that is flowing in the gas pipeline, and which gas pipeline also contains liquid that is flowing in the gas pipeline, which liquid may be in the form of a liquid slug; wherein the gas and liquid is flowing in the downstream direction in the gas pipeline, as described in claim 2 ; wherein the first section is not of a uniform diameter, and wherein the second section is not of a uniform diameter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2005-07-01	2005-12-31	2006-07-02	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2009-07-01	2009-12-31	2010-07-02	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2013-07-01	2013-12-31	2014-07-02	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Liquid slug and gas separation method and apparatus for gas pipelines

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