Abstract: Process for efficiently operating a natural gas liquefaction system with integrated heavies removal/natural gas liquids recovery to produce liquefied natural gas (LNG) and/or natural gas liquids (NGL) products with varying characteristics, such as, for example higher heating value (HHV) and/or propane content. Resulting LNG and/or NGL products are capable of meeting the significantly different specifications of two or more markets.

Abstract: A liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility that employs a system to remove incondensable material from one or more refrigeration cycles within the facility. One or more embodiments of the present invention can be advantageously employed in an open-loop refrigeration cycle to remove at least a portion of one or more high vapor pressure components that have accumulated in the refrigerant cycle over time. In addition, several embodiments can be advantageously employed to stabilize facility operation in the event of drastic changes to the concentration of the natural gas feed stream introduced into the facility.

Abstract: An LNG facility employing an enhanced nitrogen removal system that concentrates the amount of nitrogen in the feed stream to a nitrogen removal unit (NRU) to thereby increase the separation efficiency of the NRU. In one embodiment, the nitrogen removal system comprises a multistage separation vessel operable to separate nitrogen from a cooled natural gas stream. At least a portion of the resulting nitrogen-containing stream exiting the multistage separation vessel can be used as a refrigerant, processed to a nitrogen removal unit, and/or utilized as fuel gas for the LNG facility.

Abstract: A system for removing a contaminant from a refrigerant stream employed in a closed-loop refrigeration cycle of an LNG facility. The system employs a distillation column to separate the refrigerant stream into a contaminant-rich and a contaminant-depleted stream, wherein the contaminant-depleted stream is subsequently returned to the closed-loop refrigeration cycle. The distillation column can include a reboiler and/or condenser. The reboiler and condenser can utilize one or more process streams from within the LNG facility to provide heating and/or cooling to the distillation column.

Abstract: An LNG facility employing an enhanced fuel gas control system. The enhanced fuel gas control system is operable to produce fuel gas having a substantially constant Modified Wobbe Index (MWI) during start-up and steady-state operation of the LNG facility by processing one or more intermediate process streams in a fuel gas separator. In one embodiment, the fuel gas separator employs a hydrocarbon-separating membrane, which can remove heavy hydrocarbons and/or concentrate nitrogen from the incoming process streams.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process and apparatus for liquefying natural gas. In another aspect the present invention relates to the heat recovery from a turbine in a liquefied natural gas facility.

Abstract: A method includes controlling a process control system for coordinating the operation of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) process.

Abstract: A liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility that employs a system to remove incondensable material from one or more refrigeration cycles within the facility. One or more embodiments of the present invention can be advantageously employed in an open-loop refrigeration cycle to remove at least a portion of one or more high vapor pressure components that have accumulated in the refrigerant cycle over time. In addition, several embodiments can be advantageously employed to stabilize facility operation in the event of drastic changes to the concentration of the natural gas feed stream introduced into the facility.

Abstract: An LNG facility employing an enhanced nitrogen removal system that concentrates the amount of nitrogen in the feed stream to a nitrogen removal unit (NRU) to thereby increase the separation efficiency of the NRU. In one embodiment, the nitrogen removal system comprises a multistage separation vessel operable to separate nitrogen from a cooled natural gas stream. At least a portion of the resulting nitrogen-containing stream exiting the multistage separation vessel can be used as a refrigerant, processed to a nitrogen removal unit, and/or utilized as fuel gas for the LNG facility.

Abstract: A natural gas liquefaction system employing a high pressure pre-cooling refrigeration cycle. The natural gas liquefaction system can be advantageously employed in cold weather regions and/or in regions that exhibit large variations in ambient temperature.

Abstract: Cascade-type natural gas liquefaction methods and apparatus are provided, having enhanced thermodynamic efficiencies, through the use of added refrigeration levels in one or both of the ethylene and methane refrigeration systems thereof.

Abstract: An LNG facility employing an enhanced fuel gas control system. The enhanced fuel gas control system is operable to produce fuel gas having a substantially constant Modified Wobbe Index (MWI) during start-up and steady-state operation of the LNG facility by processing one or more intermediate process streams in a fuel gas separator. In one embodiment, the fuel gas separator employs a hydrocarbon-separating membrane, which can remove heavy hydrocarbons and/or concentrate nitrogen from the incoming process streams.

Abstract: An LNG facility capable of producing a domestic gas product from an intermediate stream in the LNG facility. Withdrawing the domestic gas product from a location within the LNG facility can minimize operational disturbances typically caused by extracting a domestic gas product stream upstream of the liquefaction portion of the LNG facility. In addition, withdrawing the domestic gas product from this location can provide increased control of light contaminants (e.g., nitrogen) in open-loop refrigeration cycles and can ultimately result in incremental LNG and/or NGL production.

Abstract: A system employing a torque converter and a synchronizing motor to start up a large rotational driver/load combination. The torque converter is employed to increase the rotational speed of the load to the maximum speed permitted by the torque converter. The synchronizing motor is then employed to further increase the rotational speed of the load to substantially match the rotational speed of the driver.

Abstract: A system for removing a contaminant from a refrigerant stream employed in a closed-loop refrigeration cycle of an LNG facility. The system employs a distillation column to separate the refrigerant stream into a contaminant-rich and a contaminant-depleted stream, wherein the contaminant-depleted stream is subsequently returned to the closed-loop refrigeration cycle. The distillation column can include a reboiler and/or condenser. The reboiler and condenser can utilize one or more process streams from within the LNG facility to provide heating and/or cooling to the distillation column.

Abstract: A method of increasing the production rate and operational flexibility of an LNG facility by overfiring one or more modular gas turbines employed to drive one or more refrigerant compressors in the LNG facility.

Abstract: Liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility employing an intermediate pressure distillation column for recovery of ethane and heavier components from the processed natural gas stream in a way that increases operational stability and minimizes capital and operating costs.

Abstract: Cascade-type natural gas liquefaction methods and apparatus are provided, having enhanced thermodynamic efficiencies, through the use of added refrigeration levels in one or both of the ethylene and methane refrigeration systems thereof.

Abstract: The current invention provides a methodology and apparatus for the liquefaction of normally gaseous material, most notably natural gas, which reduces the number of process vessels required and/or reduces space requirements over convention apparatus.