Abstract: A process for the dehydration, deacidification and stripping of a gas, characterized in that:(a) at least one fraction of the gas is contacted with an aqueous phase containing methanol, the resultant gas being thus charged with methanol being withdrawn from stage (a);(b) the gas withdrawn from stage (a) is contacted with a mixture of solvents comprising methanol, water, and a solvent heavier than methanol, the gas leaving stage (b) being thus at least in part freed of the acid gases which it contained initially;(c) the mixture of solvent obtained from stage (b) is at least in part generated by special reduction and/or heating while liberating at least part of the acid gases, the mixture of solvent being at least partially regenerated, or being at the outlet of stage (c) recycled through stage (b); and(d) the gas obtained from (stage b) is refrigerated while producing at least an aqueous phase containing methanol which is at least in part recycled through stage (a).

Abstract: A gas containing at least two constituents A and B having different temperatures is fractionated by carrying out at least the two cooling and contacting phases as follows:a) during a first stage, said gas is at least partly cooled to cause condensation of at least a first liquid fraction and said gas is brought into contact with said liquid fraction in at least a first zone of contact and heat exchange Z1, and at least a liquid fraction enriched in constituent A and at least a gaseous fraction are collected at the outlet of said first zone of contact and heat exchange Z1,b) during a second stage, said gaseous fraction from stage a) is at least partly cooled to cause condensation of at least a second liquid fraction and said gaseous fraction is brought into contact with said second liquid fraction in at least a second zone of contact and heat exchange Z2, and at least a liquid fraction enriched in constituent B and at least a gaseous fraction are collected at the outlet of said second zone.

Abstract: A fluid consisting at least partly of a mixture of hydrocarbons is liquefied by means of the following stages:the mixture under pressure is cooled so as to condense it at least partly to produce a liquid phase and a gas phase, and bringing into contact of at least a fraction of each of said phases is simultaneously achieved at least partly in a countercurrent flow so as to obtain, by matter transfer, a gas phase enriched in light hydrocarbons and a first liquid phase enriched in heavy hydrocarbons, andthe two phases obtained thereby are separated and the gas phase enriched in light hydrocarbons is sent to a second cooling stage in order to obtain a second liquid phase enriched in light hydrocarbons.

Abstract: A pressurized natural gas is liquefied through at least one cooling cycle, in which a mixture of cooling fluids is used, comprising at least the following steps:a) at least some of the said cooling mixture is condensed by compression and cooling, for example, using an external cooling fluid to obtain at least one vapor fraction and one liquid fraction,b) at least some of each of the vapor and liquid fractions is expanded separately to obtain a light fluid M1 comprising mostly a vapor phase and a heavy fluid M2 comprising mostly a liquid phase,c) the fluids M1 and M2 are at least partially mixed to obtain a low-temperature mixture, andd) the natural gas is liquified and undercooled under pressure by a process of heat exchange with the low-temperature mixture produced during step c).

Abstract: The method of the invention for liquefying a natural gas consists in liquefying at least a part of this gas by expanding it with mechanical energy, whereby during this expansion the gas changes from a dense phase to a liquid phase without undergoing a phase transition.

Abstract: Device for separating a mixture consisting of at least a continuous phase (I) and of at least a conducting disperse phase (II) in the form of particles such as drops in the continuous phase, the two phases having different densities. The device includes at least two substantially cylindrical parts (1, 3) fitted into each other which delimit an annular zone (5), introducing means (6, 7) for introducing the mixture to be separated at the periphery of the outer tubular part (1), arranged so as to communicate a rotational motion to the mixture, means for applying between the two parts (1, 3) a potential difference capable of causing the particles of the disperse phase (II) to coalesce, receiving and decanting means (4), means (8, 9) for discharging the two phases (I) and (II) at least partly separated on account of the differentiated motion of the particles which have coalesced and means for establishing a circulation of the mixture.

Abstract: Device for separating a mixture consisting of at least a continuous phase (I) and of at least a conducting disperse phase (II) in the form of particles such as drops in the continuous phase, the two phases having different densities. The device includes at least two substantially cylindrical parts (1, 3) fitted into each other which delimit an annular zone (5), introducing means (6, 7) for introducing the mixture to be separated at the periphery of the outer tubular part (1), arranged so as to communicate a rotational motion to the mixture, means for applying between the two parts (1, 3) a potential difference capable of causing the particles of the disperse phase (II) to coalesce, receiving and decanting means (4), means (8, 9) for discharging the two phases (I) and (II) at least partly separated on account of the differentiated motion of the particles which have coalesced and means for establishing a circulation of the mixture.

Abstract: A process involves subjecting a fluid containing a aqueous phase and hydrocarbons to an electromagnetic wave in order to prevent the formation of hydrates within the fluid; the electromagnetic wave advantageously is sent out intermittently in time.

Abstract: A device for studying the behavior of a multiphase effluent in circulation includes a test pipe having two ends containing the effluent and a unit for delivering a working fluid alternately into each end of the pipe to effect movement of the effluent. The effluent to be studied which has been placed in the test pipe, is displaced according to an alternating circulation generated by injection of a working fluid into each of the ends of the pipe. A process for studying the behavior of the multiphase fluid in circulation involves placing the effluent in a test pipe, displacing the effluent in the test pipe in an alternating motion by delivering a working fluid alternately into each end of the pipe and measuring behavior of the effluent during the alternating displacement of the effluent.

Abstract: A method of separating a mixture of gases by the following stages:a) absorbing a part G2 of a gas mixture G1 by a solvent L1 in an absorption zone C1;b) expanding the solvent L1, leading to partial vaporization of the absorbed gases G2 and cooling of the solvent L1;c) desorbing the gas fraction G2 in a desorption apparatus D1 having a reboiling zone B1 and an internal heat exchange zone Z1, wherein the solvent L1 from stage (b) is circulated in countercurrent contact with the vapor phase, and simultaneously has counter-current heat exchange with the solvent phase from the reboiling zone B1;d) passing the regenerated solvent leaving the reboiling zone B1 into the heat exchange zone Z1, and transferring the regenerated solvent to the top of said internal heat exchange zone; ande) recycling the regenerated solvent to the absorption zone C1.

Abstract: A device for separating a mixture comprised of at least a continuous phase I and at least a disperse phase II, one of the phases being a light phase and the other being a heavy phase, comprising canalization means for canalizing a current of the mixture and suited for communicating thereto a helical motion along a central shaft (A) and filtration means, the motion leading to a differentiated radial displacement of the light phase and of the heavy phase under the action of the centrifugal force, during which the continuous phase I flows at least partly through said filtration means. The canalization means and filtration means are arranged to define a helical passage which decreases according to a direction of flow of the mixture through the device.

Abstract: A process for the dehydration and/or desalination and simultaneous fractionation of a petroleum deposit effluent containing oil, associated gas and water which can be saline, which process comprises:(a) at least one step for separating the liquid and gaseous phases at the pressure P1 for removal of the gas, producing a gaseous fraction G1, on the one hand, which is removed and a liquid fraction L1, on the other hand, which is sent to step(b) at least one step for separating, at least partly, the two liquid phases mixed in the liquid fraction L1, the aqueous phase being partly removed and the oil phase containing a quantity of residual aqueous phase being sent to step (c);(c) at least one distillation step carried out at a pressure P2 which is less than, or at the most equal to, the pressure P1 in step (a), in a distillation zone C1, said distillation being carried out in the presence of the oil phase coming from step (b), said zone C1 comprising an internal heat exchange zone and a boiling zone, and enabling

Abstract: A description is given of a process for the fractionation of oil and gas on a petroleum deposit effluent, including:(a) a stage wherein the liquid and gaseous phases are separated at the gas evacuation pressure P1, producing a gaseous fraction G1, on the one hand, which is evacuated, and a liquid fraction L1, on the other hand, which is constituted at least partially of oil, sending the liquid fraction L1 to stage (b);(b) at least one distillation stage carried out at a pressure P2 which is less than or at least equal to the pressure P1 in stage (a), in a distillation zone C1 which has an internal heat exchange zone and a reboiling zone, and which permits a gaseous fraction G2 to be recovered, on the one hand, and a liquid fraction L2 to be recovered, on the other hand, which is sent to the internal exchange zone, then evacuated; and(c) at least one recompression stage at the pressure P1 of at least a part of the gaseous fraction G2 which is at least partly mixed with the gaseous fraction G2 and evacuated.

Abstract: A process for simultaneously exchanging material and for exchanging heat, material change being effected between a gas phase and at least one liquid phase by contact and passage in opposite directions of the gas phase and of the at least one liquid phase and heat exchange being effected between a compartment (I) and another compartment (II). In compartment (I) a plurality of spacer plates defining material exchange passages are arranged and the material exchange is effected by causing the at least one liquid phase to flow over a substantially vertical or inclined wall of a corrugated spacer plate having perforations and by causing at least a fraction of the gas phase to traverse simultaneously said perforations in a substantially ascending direction to contact said at least one liquid phase. The heat exchange is effected by circulating a heat exchange fluid in the compartment (II) which has a common wall with the compartment (I).

Abstract: For the separation of butenes and butanes by extractive distillation, a charge mainly containing butenes and butanes is contacted in an extractive distillation column under pressure with a first selective polar solvent, S1 (e.g., dimethyl formamide), the butanes being collected at the top. The solvent S1 containing the butenes and passing out at the bottom is mixed with a second solvent, S2, having a boiling point intermediate between that of butenes and that of the solvent S1, the mixture passing into a desorption column under pressure, where the butenes are collected at the top. The mixture of solvent S1 and S2 is separated in a purification column under atmospheric pressure, the solvent S2 passing out at the top is recycled to the desorption column, and the solvent S1 passing out at the bottom is recycled to the extractive distillation column.

Abstract: A method and device for separating a continuous phase from at least one dispersed phase, with the phases having different densities. A mixture of the phases to be separated is supplied into a device including at least one cylindrical chamber vertically disposed and at least one static helically-shaped member is accommodated in the chamber. At least one face of the helically-shaped member is formed by a helicoidal surface. A maximum free path of a dispersed phase particle in a radial direction prior to colliding with the helically-shaped member is less than one quarter of a peripheral diameter of the member and, preferably, less than one tenth of an internal diameter of the chamber. The method and apparatus are capable of separating an aqueous phase from an organic phase such as, a petroleum fluid, with the mixture to be separated also possibly including a gaseous phase and a solid phase.

Abstract: The benzene content of hydrocarbon gasolines is accomplished by (a) fractionating at least one hydrocarbon gasoline into a light fraction A, with an increased benzene content, and a heavy fraction B, with a reduced benzene content; (b) contacting the light fraction A at a temperature below room temperature with a gas containing at least a fraction of olefins in which the number of carbon atoms is from 2 to 5 per molecule so that at least a fraction of said olefins is absorbed in light fraction A; at the end of stage (b), separating a residual gas with a reduced olefin content from a liquid fraction C, with an increased olefin content; (d) passing the fraction C from stage (c) into an alkylation reactor so that at least a fraction of the benzene is alkylated by at least a fraction of the olefins; (e) fractionating the mixture emerging from stage (d) so as to produce, firstly, a gas phase chiefly comprising gases which were not converted during stage (d) and, secondly, a liquid phase, at least partly containing

Abstract: Described are a process and an apparatus for transporting and treating a natural gas.The process according to the invention comprises contacting in a zone G.sub.1 the gas issuing from a production well (1) with a liquid phase coming at least in part from recycling (4) and containing water and at least one anti-corrosion additive and/or at least one anti-hydrate additive which is at least partly water-miscible and vaporizing in the pure state or in azeotrope form; transporting the additive-charge gaseous phase in a conduit (5), cooling it at E.sub.1, separating at B.sub.1 an aqueous phase from the non-condensed gas which is collected by way of a conduit (10) and recycling the additive-charged aqueous phase to the contact zone G.sub.1 by way of the line (9, 4).The process and apparatus are for the transportation of natural gas over long distances in particular.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for extracting water mixed with a liquid fluid. The process is characterized in particular by carrying out the following steps:forming a dispersion of hydrates of a gas within the fluid, these hydrates being formed from water and gas in a sufficient quantity, the gas being suitable for forming hydrates;separating the hydrates from at least most of the fluid, the hydrates possibly being with a remaining part of the fluid, andbreaking down the hydrates previously concentrated in order to obtain gas and water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and apparatus for the treatment of a gas containing methane, water, at least one hydrocarbon other than methane, as well as at least one acid gas.