Cross-Compression Evacuation for Hydrocarbon Recovery From Underground Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for de-inventorying underground storage containment locations result in the complete combustion of hydrocarbon fluids as waste, leading to loss of value and increased atmospheric emissions.

Innovation Solution

A method involving a separation vessel and pumps to separate hydrocarbon and brine phases, allowing nearly 100% recovery of hydrocarbon fluids while minimizing time and environmental impact.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If flare stack combustion is used to evacuate hydrocarbon fluids from underground storage, then the de-inventory operation can be completed, but all hydrocarbon fluid value is lost and atmospheric emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvede-inventory operation completionVSAvoidhydrocarbon fluid value loss

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The evacuation process is segmented into multiple phases: first evacuating the hydrocarbon fluid phase separately, then evacuating the brine phase. This segmentation allows the hydrocarbon fluid to be recovered and valued rather than combusted, while still completing the de-inventory operation efficiently

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention extracts the hydrocarbon fluid phase from the mixed fluid before evacuation. By using separation equipment to take out the hydrocarbon phase and route it through a different pathway than the brine, the valuable hydrocarbon can be recovered and sold rather than lost to combustion

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Productivity

If flare stack combustion is used to evacuate hydrocarbon fluids, then the de-inventory operation can be completed, but atmospheric emissions increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvede-inventory operation completionVSAvoidatmospheric emissions

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of combusting the hydrocarbon fluid and converting it to harmful emissions, the invention redirects the hydrocarbon phase to a recovery system where it can be captured, processed, and sold as a valuable product, transforming a harmful emission source into a beneficial resource recovery operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Loss of substance

If cross-compression technique with separation vessel is used, then hydrocarbon fluid recovery is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehydrocarbon fluid recoveryVSAvoidseparation vessel and pump system

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention uses pneumatic and hydraulic principles through the cross-compression technique, where compressors and pressure differential are utilized to drive the separation and evacuation process. The pressure-driven flow through the separation vessel and subsequent evacuation of each phase utilizes fundamental fluid mechanics rather than complex mechanical systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #29Pneumatics and hydraulics

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Achieves nearly 100% recovery of hydrocarbon fluids, improving financial and environmental outcomes by valuing the hydrocarbons and reducing atmospheric emissions.

Implementation Method 1

Due to the difference in densities between the stored hydrocarbon fluids and water, there is separation between the two phases, with the lighter density hydrocarbon fluid layer being on top of the heavier density brine layer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectDensity separation: Density Gradient

Implementation Method 2

A method includes evacuating a hydrocarbon fluid phase from an underground storage containment location using a cross-compression technique

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressure differential: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS12571294B2Methods to evacuate various hydrocarbon fluids from underground storage containment locations using cross-compression technique

Publication Date: 2026.03.10 ZENRG SERVICES LLC

AI summary

A method to evacuate a fluid mixture from an underground storage location with the use or regulation control of cross-compression technique. The method allows to evacuate and recover a fluid mixture from an underground storage location. The fluid mixture typically contains a hydrocarbon fluid phase and a brine phase. The method includes separating the fluid mixture in the hydrocarbon fluid phase and the brine phase, inside the separation vessel, and then alternatively pumping each phase of the fluid mixture contained inside the separation vessel towards dedicated containment volumes, using a single pump or multiple pumps, whereby a first containment volume is dedicated to the hydrocarbon fluid phase and a second containment volume is dedicated to the brine phase. The proposed method allows recovering a higher proportion of the fluid mixture, as recycled product, and therefore limiting the combustion or release of hydrocarbon towards the atmosphere.