Patent · US Expired

LNG production in cryogenic natural gas processing plants

US6889523B2 · kind B2 · utility

30Cited by
65References
8Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 7, 2003
Grant dateMay 10, 2005
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 13, 2023

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
  • CPC primaryF25J2270/90
  • WIPO fieldChemical engineering
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

A process for liquefying natural gas in conjunction with processing natural gas to recover natural gas liquids (NGL) is disclosed. In the process, the natural gas stream to be liquefied is taken from one of the streams in the NGL recovery plant and cooled under pressure to condense it. A distillation stream is withdrawn from the NGL recovery plant to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream. A portion of the condensed stream is expanded to an intermediate pressure and then used to provide some of the cooling required to condense the natural gas stream, and thereafter routed to the NGL recovery plant so that any heavier hydrocarbons it contains can be recovered in the NGL product. The remaining portion of the condensed stream is expanded to low pressure to form the liquefied natural gas stream.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.