Process for the stabilization of crude oils at the outlet of the

Details Process for the stabilization of crude oils at the outlet of the Process for the stabilization of crude oils at the outlet of the

1995-06-26

1997-07-08

Kim, Christopher

Mineral oils: apparatus

Refining

With filtration

196 99, 196100, 196139, 202158, 202182, 203 87, C10C 104, B01D 314

Patent

active

056456921

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is a 371 of PCT/FR94/00950, filed Jul. 28, 1994.


TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a process for the stabilization of crude oils at the outlet of the extraction well and to the device for implementation of the process.


BACKGROUND ART

Process for the stabilization of crude oils is understood to mean the operation which consists in bringing the flowing pressure of the crude oil at the well outlet, generally of between 10 and 100 bars, to atmospheric pressure, a Reid vapor pressure of the order of 0.69 bar at 38.degree. C., determined by the API standard D323, being observed, while limiting losses to the atmosphere of light hydrocarbons, especially C.sub.3.sup.+ hydrocarbons, that is to say consisting of three to seven carbon atoms, commonly known as C.sub.3, C.sub.4, C.sub.5, C.sub.6 and C.sub.7 hydrocarbons. The aim of such a process is, of course, to maximize the production of crude oil while attempting to recover the maximum of C.sub.3.sup.+ but while obtaining a stabilized crude oil which does not degas or which only degasses very slightly.
Currently, in order to stabilize a crude oil on an oil field, a process involving a number of successive flashes is used. This is a process of decompression in a number of stages, which makes it possible to lower the pressure of the crude oil, which is mainly accompanied by not always controllable degassing of the lightest C.sub.3.sup.- hydrocarbons, that is to say hydrocarbons consisting of less than three carbon atoms, i.e. C.sub.3, C.sub.2 and C.sub.1. However, it is impossible, by successive flashes, to degas the crude oil while being limited solely to C.sub.3.sup.- hydrocarbons; inevitably, C.sub.3.sup.+ hydrocarbons are entrained in the gases which are not recovered and C.sub.3.sup.- hydrocarbons remain diluted in the crude oil. This process by flashes does not make it possible to selectively separate C.sub.3.sup.- hydrocarbons from the crude oil without degassing other products with a higher added value. The presence of C.sub.3.sup.- in the stabilized crude oil makes it more sensitive to temperature and pressure variations during subsequent operations, since the C.sub.3.sup.- can degas inopportunely.
This problem of the subsequent degassing of crude oil, especially during its storage or its transportation, either by boat or by pipeline, can be the source of many difficulties and especially of possible accidents.


DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is therefore to obtain a stabilized crude oil in which a maximum of C.sub.4.sup.+ hydrocarbons, that is to say C.sub.4 to C.sub.7 hydrocarbons, which are generally not completely recovered by the techniques known to those skilled in the art, will be recovered and the amount of C.sub.3 hydrocarbons will be adjusted with a view to obtaining the optimum Reid vapor pressure for its subsequent storage or transportation.
The subject of the present invention is therefore a process for the stabilization of crude oils at the outlet of the extraction well, characterized in that it comprises at least one separation stage which comprises distilling the virgin crude oil arising from the extraction well under pressure in at least one distillation column as at least two cuts, including a gaseous C.sub.1 to C.sub.5 hydrocarbon cut recovered at the head of the column and a stabilized crude oil cut recovered below the injection point of the crude oil into the column.
In a first embodiment of the invention, when the virgin crude oil is distilled as two cuts, the stabilized crude oil cut is drawn off at the bottom of the column.
In the process of the present invention, the distillation is carried out in a conventional way known to those skilled in the art, whether the column is fitted with trays or comprises packings. Thus, a liquid reflux will be created at the head of the column and an upward vapor flow, countercurrentwise to the liquid reflux, will be created at the bottom of the column.
However, in contrast to the known art, instead of condensing all the gaseous cut be

REFERENCES:
patent: 3091586 (1963-05-01), Pappas et al.
patent: 3297566 (1967-01-01), Moyer et al.
patent: 3320159 (1967-05-01), Potts
patent: 3819511 (1974-06-01), Peiser et al.
patent: 4406743 (1983-09-01), MacQueen et al.

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