Integrated approach to producing hydrocarbons

Abstract

A method to start up a process for the production of normally gaseous, normally liquid, and optionally normally solid hydrocarbon products from a. hydrocarbonaceous feedstock comprising ths steps of (1) producing high pressure (HP) steam, preferably HP superheated steam, by means of at least one gas turbine generator and optionally one or more boilers fed with a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock.; (2) reducing the pressure of at least part of the HP steam produced according to step 1 to medium pressure (MP) steam; (3) using at least part of the MP steam produced according to step 2 to drive a compressor ; (4) using the compressor to drive one or more means for compressing and optionally separating an oxygen containing gas; (5) using at least part of the oxygen containing gas to convert a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock into synthesis gas; (6) converting the synthesis gas produced according to step 5 exothermally to a range of normally gaseous, normally liquid, and optionally normally solid hydrocarbon products in a Fischer-Tropsch reaction; (7) controlling the reaction temperature of step 6 by indirect heat exchange of the reaction medium with water, the water being converted to saturated steam (FT steam); (8) separating the hydrocarbon products produced in step 6 into a light product stream (comprising any unconverted syngas and at least part of the normally-gaseous hydrocarbon products) and a heavy product stream (comprising the normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbon products) ; (9) feeding at least part of the light product stream to one or more gas turbine generators to form combusted gas and expanding said combusted gas through an expansion chamber of the gas turbine generator (s) to form hot flue gas and energy; (10) heating boiler feed water by heat exchange with the hot flue gas to produce additional high pressure (HP), preferably superheated, steam, (11) cooling and / or condensing at least a part of the HP steam produced in step 10 in a heat exchanger against at least part of the FT steam produced in step 7 to produce additional MP steam for use in generating electrical and / or mechanical energy for steps 1 to 10; and optionally (12) reducing the pressure of at least part of the superheated HP steam produced in step 10 to medium pressure (MP) steam for use in earlier steps .

Description

technical field [0001] The present invention relates to a method of starting a process for the production of normally gaseous, normally liquid and optionally normally solid hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon feedstock. In particular, the present invention relates to methods of launching an integrated highly efficient, low-cost process that provides operational flexibility for the production of hydrocarbons, especially at remote locations and on offshore platforms. Background technique [0002] Various processes are known for the conversion of (gaseous) hydrocarbon feedstocks, in particular methane, natural gas and / or associated gases, into liquid products, in particular methanol and liquid hydrocarbons, especially paraffins. In this respect, reference is usually made to remote and / or offshore locations where direct use of the gas is not possible. It is not always practical and / or economical to transport gas such as by pipeline or in the form of liquefied natural gas. This is ...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Reinjection of gas increases the cost of oil production and, in the case of associated gas, may lead to undesired effects on crude oil production

Images