Multistage Separator Vessel for LPG Recovery
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for capturing liquid petroleum gases (LPGs) from wellbores during well treatment operations are inefficient, leading to significant losses and contamination issues, as they fail to effectively separate and condense LPGs from other fluids and contaminants.
Innovation Solution
A method involving injecting LPGs into a wellbore to increase pressure, flowing the fluid stream into a separation vessel where pressure is reduced to separate liquid and vapor forms, transferring the liquid LPGs to a pressure vessel, and passing the vapor through a condenser to condense and filter out contaminants, with optional heating to maintain purity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If current methods are used to capture LPGs from wellbores, then the process is simple, but the separation efficiency is poor and contamination occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The capture process is divided into distinct stages: a separation vessel to separate liquid and vapor phases, a condenser to condense vapor, and a filtration system to remove contaminants. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, improving overall separation efficiency while maintaining manageable system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A condenser is introduced as an intermediary component between the separation vessel and the final collection system. The condenser mediates the transition of vapor to liquid phase, enabling effective separation and contamination removal that would not be achievable through simple direct capture methods.
2Manufacturing precision
If pressure is reduced in the separation vessel, then LPGs separate into liquid and vapor forms, but energy is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The pressure reduction in the separation vessel induces phase transition of LPGs from supercritical or gaseous state to liquid and vapor phases. This phase transition enables effective separation based on density differences, achieving high separation quality while the subsequent condensation of vapor recovers energy that would otherwise be lost.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes changes in pressure and temperature parameters to control the phase behavior of LPGs. By carefully managing the pressure reduction and subsequent condensation process, the system achieves efficient separation while minimizing energy loss through proper parameter management and heat recovery.
3Productivity
If vapour is condensed without filtration, then the condensation process is faster, but contaminants remain in the final product
Solution Approach 1:
Filtration is performed as a preliminary action before the final condensation and collection stages. By removing contaminants early in the process through filtration systems positioned strategically in the vapor stream, the final condensed product achieves high purity without requiring additional complex purification steps that would slow down the overall process.
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
This method effectively recaptures LPGs in high purity, reducing contamination and enabling their reuse by efficiently separating and condensing LPGs, thereby optimizing well treatment operations and resource recovery.
Implementation Method 1
reducing the pressure of the fluid stream from the wellbore pressure to a separation vessel pressure, the fluid stream in the separation vessel comprising the LPGs in liquid form and in vapour form
Implementation Method 2
passing the vapour form through a condenser to condense the vapour form, and depositing the condensed vapour form into the pressure vessel
Implementation Method 3
activating a heater to heat the fluid stream between the wellbore and the separation vessel in order to vapourize the LPGs
Data Source
AI summary
A method of recovering liquid petroleum gases (LPGs) from a wellbore includes: performing a well treatment operation by injecting the LPGs into the wellbore to increase the wellbore pressure; flowing a fluid stream from the wellhead into a separation vessel, the fluid stream comprising the LPGs; reducing the pressure of the fluid stream from the wellbore pressure to a separation vessel pressure, the fluid stream in the separation vessel comprising the LPGs in liquid form and in vapour form; separating the vapour form from the liquid form; transferring the liquid form of the LPGs to a pressure vessel; and passing the vapour form through a condenser to condense the vapour form, and depositing the condensed vapour form into the pressure vessel.