Patent ID: 7490484

Claim:
A method which may be used as an integrated gas treatment process, said method comprising: a) expanding at least one first pressurized gas, wherein said first pressurized gas is derived from at least one first process performed at a first site; b) driving at least a first gas compressor with the work generated by said expansion of said first pressurized gas, wherein said first gas compressor is located at said first site; c) removing a first compressed gas from said first gas compressor; d) sending at least part of said first compressed gas to a gas treatment unit, wherein: 1) said gas treatment unit is located at a second site; and 2) said second site is located at least about 1 km away from said first site; e) treating said first compressed gas in said gas treatment unit; f) removing at least one fluid from said first compressed gas; g) sending at least part of said removed fluid from said gas treatment unit to said first site; h) producing a first compressed air stream at said first site by a first compression process, wherein said first compression process uses work from at least one first expansion step; i) producing a second compressed air stream at said first site by a second compression process, wherein said second compression process uses work from at least one second expansion step; j) mixing said first compressed air stream and said second compressed air stream to form a combined air stream; and k) sending said combined air stream to an air separation unit located at said second site.