Patent ID: RE39826

Claim:
A comprehensive gas processor for removing the moisture and recovering the higher hydrocarbons (i.e., C 2 + ) therein either on-situ in a gas field or in a plant comprising: (a) an integrated gas processor comprising two sections working on a hybrid process, i.e., an integration of two different processes within a single casing; i) a refrigeration-dehydration section working on refrigeration process wherein the inlet gas contacts with a counter-flowing stream of dispersed cold heat-transport medium containing a non- or low-volatile hydrate inhibitor with boiling point higher than 180° C. and the moisture of said gas is condensed and removed with the cold heat-transport medium; and ii) an absorption section working on low-temperature absorption process wherein the dehydrated gas contacts with a counter-flowing stream of dispersed liquid absorbent with a higher hydrocarbon gas solubility higher greater than 20 scf/gal wherein the higher hydrocarbons (i.e., C 2 + ) are absorbed . under said absorption conditions ; (b) a heat-transport medium cooler comprising a pre-cooling stage and a deep-cooling stage wherein in said pre-cooling stage said heat-transport medium is pre-cooled with the cold outlet gas left said integrated gas processor and in said deep-cooling stage the medium is deep-cooled with the refrigerant provided with a refrigerator; (c) an absorbent cooler comprising a pre-cooling stage and a deep-cooling stage wherein in said pre-cooling stage said recycling absorbent is pre-cooled with the cold outlet absorbent left said integrated gas processor and in said deep-cooling stage the absorbent is deep-cooled with the refrigerant provided with a refrigerator; (d) a fractional distiller for separating the absorbed higher hydrocarbons as a product from the outlet absorbent left said integrated gas processor and then the separated absorbent is recycled back to said integrated gas processor; (e) an inhibitor regenerator for concentrating the low-volatile hydrate inhibitor to be recycled and discharging the wastewater; (f) a refrigerator for providing the refrigerant to said deep-cooling stages of said heat-transport medium cooler and said absorbent cooler; (g) a pipeline for delivering the recovered higher hydrocarbons; and (h) a gas inlet pipeline and a pipeline for delivering the processing gas.