Shell Oil Comapny

Shell Research Limited

David Bertil Runbalk

Duncan Peter Michael Reijnen

A floating system for liquefying natural gas comprising a vessel provided with a plant for liquefying natural gas having an inlet for natural gas and an outlet for liquefied natural gas, a feed supply system for supplying natural gas to the inlet of the plant, one or more storage tanks for storing liquefied natural gas, and an off-loading system for transporting liquefied natural gas between the storage tank(s) and a tanker, which floating system further comprises a vaporization system having an inlet for liquefied gas and an outlet for vapor.

Floating system for liquefying natural gas

A process for treating a crude containing natural gas comprising supplying the crude to a stabilization unit to obtain a gaseous stream and crude oil; supplying a compressed, gaseous stream at a low temperature to the bottom of a first column; partly condensing the first gaseous overhead stream, returning the liquid phase to the first column and supplying the methane-rich stream to a liquefaction plant; supplying an expanded bottom stream at a low temperature to the top of a second column; removing from the top of the second column a second gaseous overhead stream, and removing from the bottom of the second column a liquid bottom stream; vaporizing part of the bottom stream and introducing the vapor into the bottom of the second column; and introducing the remainder of the bottom stream into a crude oil stream at an appropriate point in or upstream of the stabilization unit, wherein the amount of heat removed from the first gaseous overhead stream is so adjusted that the concentration of Cin the first gaseous overhead stream is below a predetermined value, and wherein the fraction of the liquid bottom stream from the second column that is vaporized is so selected that the concentration of Cin the liquid bottom stream is below a predetermined level.

Treating of a crude containing natural gas

A process for treating a crude containing natural gas comprising supplying the crude to a stabilization unit to obtain a gaseous stream and crude oil; supplying a compressed, gaseous stream at a low temperature to the bottom of a first column; partly condensing the first gaseous overhead stream, returning the liquid phase to the first column and supplying the methane-rich stream to a liquefaction plant; supplying an expanded bottom stream at a low temperature to the top of a second column; removing from the top of the second column second gaseous overhead stream, and removing from the bottom of the second column a liquid bottom stream; vaporizing part of the bottom stream and introducing the vapor into the bottom of the second column; and introducing the remainder of the bottom stream into a crude oil stream at an appropriate point in or upstream of the stabilization unit, wherein the amount of heat removed from the first gaseous overhead stream is so adjusted that the concentration of Cin the first gaseous overhead stream is below a predetermined value, and wherein the fraction of the liquid bottom stream from the second column that is vaporized is so selected that the concentration of Cin the liquid bottom stream is below a predetermined level.

Plant for liquefying natural gas comprising a main heat exchanger in which the natural gas is liquefied by means of indirect heat exchange with evaporating refrigerant, and a refrigerant circuit in which evaporated refrigerant is compressed and liquefied to produce liquid refrigerant that is used in the main heat exchanger, wherein the refrigerant circuit includes a compressor train consisting of at least one compressor driven by an electric motor.

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The Hague, Netherlands

David Bertil Runbalk