Patent ID: 7947121

Claim:
A method for receiving fluid from a natural gas pipeline, the fluid comprising gaseous hydrocarbons, liquid hydrocarbons, water and optionally solids, the method comprising: (a) in a slug catcher, receiving the fluid comprising gaseous hydrocarbons, liquid hydrocarbons, water and optionally solids from at least one pipeline; (b) in the slug catcher, separating at least a portion of the gaseous hydrocarbons from the rest of the fluid to leave a liquid mixture or a liquid/solid mixture; (c) directing at least a portion of the liquid mixture or liquid/solid mixture from a lower outlet of the slug catcher to a separation vessel; and (d) in the event of a surge of liquids and optionally solids to the slug catcher, directing at least a portion of the liquid mixture or the liquid/solid mixture from the slug catcher to a surge vessel wherein an inlet of the surge vessel is connected to the lower outlet of the slug catcher, and wherein an outlet of the surge vessel is connected to the inlet of the separation vessel.