Patent ID: 7511180
Filing Date: 2009-03-31
Classification: B01J,F17C,F28D

Abstract:
1. A process for stabilizing a petroleum liquid comprising: entraining a solid particle medium in a petroleum liquid feed stream to form a fluidizable mixture, wherein said petroleum liquid feed stream includes a more volatile hydrocarbon portion, a less volatile hydrocarbon portion and water; conveying said petroleum liquid feed stream past a heat transfer surface while contacting said fluidizable mixture with said heat transfer surface, wherein said heat transfer surface is cooler than said petroleum liquid feed stream; cooling said petroleum liquid feed stream upon contact with said heat transfer surface to a temperature below a hydrate formation temperature; forming a hydrate from at least part of said more volatile hydrocarbon portion and said water; forming a petroleum liquid product comprising at least part of said less volatile hydrocarbon portion, wherein said petroleum liquid product is less volatile than said petroleum liquid feed stream; and separating said hydrate from said petroleum liquid product.