Mobil Oil Corporation

Barry E Hoffman

Costandi A Audeh

Garry W Kirker

A process for producing a natural gas condensate having a reduced amount of mercury from a mercury-containing natural gas wellstream, wherein the wellstream is separated into gaseous and liquid fractions. The treatment of the gaseous fraction includes treatment with a carbonate solution which, upon regeneration, yields an acid gas. A portion of the acid gas is mixed with the liquid fraction, the mixture is then filtered, passed over a substance capable of adsorbing hydrogen sulfide, and separated into a stream comprising a natural gas condensate and at least one other stream comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons and/or other gases.

Process for the production of natural gas condensate having a reduced

The present invention advantageously provides a desiccant bed with means for removing residual mercury from a gas, such as a natural gas stream. The desiccant bed includes a silver and/or gold-containing layer and a protective layer of pellets having an active compound comprising at least one of copper hydroxide, copper oxide and copper sulfide. The active compound provides the desiccant bed with the additional advantage of removing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 as well as mercury from the gaseous stream. The desiccant bed removes the mercury, H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 without incurring the pressure loss inherent in utilizing a separate downstream adsorbent bed for removing Hg.

Racked bed for removal of residual mercury from gaseous hydrocarbons

Mercury is removed from a gaseous hydrocarbon stream by passing the stream through an in-line mixer which includes mixing elements which have gas-contacting surfaces of an amalgam-forming metal. Preferred amalgam-forming metals are gold, silver or a combination thereof. A specific in-line mixer has static mixing elements which are disposed along the length of the mixer, preferably, the mixing elements are helically disposed along the length of the mixer. Other contaminants such as water and residual H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 are removed from the gas stream by a gas purification system which includes the in-line mixer and a desiccant bed modified for removing mercury and other contaminants. The modifications to the desiccant bed include a porous gold and/or silver containing layer, i.e., a gold and/or silver wire screen or packed gold and/or silver wool, and a protective layer of alumina pellets having an active compound such as copper hydroxide, copper oxide and copper sulfide impregnated therein.

Mercury removal from gaseous hydrocarbons

A process for producing a natural gas condensate having a reduced amount of mercury from a mercury-containing natural gas wellstream, wherein the wellstream is first separated into gaseous and liquid fractions. The treatment of the gaseous fraction includes treatment with a carbonate solution which, upon regeneration, yields an acid gas which is mixed with the liquid fraction. The mixture is then separated from gaseous components and filtered.

The present invention advantageously provides a conventional dessicant bed with means for removing residual mercury, H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 from a gas, such as a natural gas stream, by replacing an inert protective layer of pellets with an active compound comprising at least one of copper hydroxide, copper oxide and copper sulfide. The active compound provides the dessicant bed with the additional advantage of removing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 as well as mercury from the gaseous fraction without incurring the pressure loss inherent in utilizing a separate downstream adsorbent bed for removing Hg.

Simultaneous dehydration and removal of residual impurities from gaseous

A process for producing a natural gas condensate having a reduced amount of mercury from a mercury-containing natural gas wellstream, wherein the wellstream is separated into gaseous and liquid fractions. A portion of the gaseous fraction is mixed with the liquid fraction, the mixture is then filtered, passed over a substance capable of adsorbing hydrogen sulfide, and separated into a stream comprising a natural gas condensate and at least one other stream comprising lower molecular weight hydrocarbons and/or other gases.

A process for producing a natural gas condensate having a reduced amount of mercury from a mercury-containing natural gas wellstream, wherein the wellstream is separated into gaseous and liquid fractions. A portion of the gaseous fraction is mixed with the liquid fraction, the mixture is then separated into a stream comprising a natural gas condensate and at least one other stream comprising lower hydrocarbons and/or other gases. The natural gas condensate stream is then filtered.

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Duncanville, TX, United States of America

Barry E Hoffman