Patent ID: 7017506

Claim:
A method for treating and transporting produced hydrocarbon gases that are produced from a hydrocarbon reservoir, where said produced hydrocarbons gases include the gases propane, butane and methane, comprising: separating said produced hydrocarbon gases into LPG (liquid petroleum gas) that consists primarily of propane and butane, and into lighter gases that include primarily gases that each has a lesser density than propane at the same pressure and temperature, wherein said lighter gases include methane; cooling the LPG to below a temperature at which the LPG is liquid at a pressure of one bar, storing and transporting the liquid LPG in a tank that lies in a floating body, and storing and transporting the lighter gasses in a tank that lies in a floating body; said step of storing and transporting the lighter gasses comprises combining them with water and cooling them to produce a hydrate that comprises the lighter gasses in ice crystals, and transporting and storing the hydrate.