Exxonmobil Upstream Research Company

Donald P Shatto

P Scott Northrop

Tracy Alan Fowler

Larry D Talley

Shwetha Ramkumar

J Tim Cullinane

Norman K Yeh

Richard F Stoisits

Sean T Philbrook

David C Lucas

Jiyong Cai

A hydrogen sulfide (HS) scavenging system for removing HS, mercaptans, and/or other sulfur-containing compounds from a natural gas stream. A co-current contacting system is located in-line within a pipe and receives the natural gas stream and a liquid scavenger stream. The co-current contacting system includes a co-current contactor including a droplet generator and a mass transfer section. The droplet generator generates droplets from the liquid scavenger stream and disperses the droplets into the natural gas stream. The mass transfer section provides a mixed, two-phase flow having a vapor phase and a liquid phase. The liquid phase includes the liquid scavenger stream with HS, mercaptans, and/or other sulfur-containing compounds absorbed from the natural gas stream, and the vapor phase includes the natural gas stream. A separation system separates the vapor phase from the liquid phase.

Compact contacting systems and methods for scavenging sulfur-containing compounds

A method for managing hydrates in a subsea production system is provided. The production system includes a host production facility, a control umbilical, at least one subsea production well, and a single production line. The method generally comprises producing hydrocarbon fluids from the at least one subsea production well and through the production line, and then shutting in the production line. In addition, the method includes the steps of depressurizing the production line to substantially reduce a solution gas concentration in the produced hydrocarbon fluids, and then repressurizing the production line to urge any remaining gas in the free gas phase within the production line back into solution. The method also includes displacing production fluids within the production line by moving displacement fluids from a service line within the umbilical line and into the production line. The displacement fluids preferably comprise a hydrocarbon-based fluid having a low dosage hydrate inhibitor (LDHI).

Method for managing hydrates in subsea production line

Growing community of inventors

Houston, TX, United States of America

Donald P Shatto