Abstract: A system and method for removing water from oil comprises: a housing, an oil inlet tube fluidly connecting the oil supply and an oil inlet of the housing, an inlet pump configured to pump a flow of oil from the oil supply to the oil inlet at a first pumping flow rate, an oil outlet tube fluidly connecting an oil outlet of the housing and the oil supply, an outlet pump adapted to pump a flow of oil from the oil outlet to the oil supply at a second pumping flow rate, an air inlet tube providing a gas connection between a air supply unit and an air inlet of the housing, and an air outlet tube providing a gas connection between an air outlet of the housing and the air supply unit, wherein the second pumping flow rate is greater than the first pumping flow rate

Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling desalting and dehydration of crude oil, one method including monitoring total dissolved solids (TDS) content at an outlet stream from a crude oil separation unit, the outlet stream comprising water; monitoring basic sediment and water (BS&W) content at an outlet stream from the crude oil separation unit, the outlet stream comprising processed crude oil; determining pounds per thousand barrels (PTB) salt content and volumetric water content of a dried, desalted crude oil product stream using the TDS content and BS&W content; and controlling a process input to the method from a comparison between the PTB salt content and volumetric water content of the dried, desalted crude oil product stream versus a maximum set value for PTB salt content and volumetric water content of the dried, desalted crude oil product stream.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process of desalting crudeoil, in particular a process for desalting a crude oil which comprises an ionic liquid, an organic acid and any resulting organic salt.

Abstract: A system that includes a fuel treatment system. The fuel treatment system includes a hydrodynamic cavitation reactor that receives a fluid that includes fuel from a fuel supply and water from a water supply. The hydrodynamic cavitation reactor cavitates the fluid. Cavitation of the fluid cracks the fuel and forms radicals that combine with one or more substances in the fuel. A separator receives the fluid and separates the fluid into water, fuel, and one or more substances.

Abstract: A system and method for processing interface emulsion, water, and solids contained within a separator vessel that comprises the steps of continually extracting those components from the vessel and then passing them through a gas flotation cell. The cell, which is preferably a vertical induced gas flotation cell, separates the oil and water contained in the interface emulsion and discharges recovered oil from an upper portion of the cell and treated water from a bottom portion of the cell. The recovered oil and treated water may be further processed and recycled to the vessel or sent elsewhere. The treated water may also be recycled to the cell or sent to a process sewer. Fuel gas residing in an upper portion of the cell may be cooled and passed through a splitter. All the steps of occur in a closed system with no air emissions.

Abstract: It has been discovered that contaminants such as metals and/or amines can be transferred from a hydrocarbon phase to a water phase in an emulsion breaking process by using a composition that contains water-soluble C5-C12 polyhydroxy carboxylic acids, ammonium salts thereof, alkali metal salts thereof, and mixtures of all of these. The composition may also optionally include a mineral acid to reduce the pH of the desalter wash water. The method permits transfer of metals and/or amines into the aqueous phase with little or no hydrocarbon phase under-carry into the aqueous phase. Resolving the emulsion into the hydrocarbon phase and the aqueous phase occurs in a refinery desalting process using electrostatic coalescence. The composition is particularly useful in treating crude oil emulsions, and in removing calcium and other metals therefrom. The polyhydroxy carboxylic acid additionally inhibits metal corrosion of metal pipe or other equipment used in a crude unit.

Abstract: A system for crude oil desalting and dehydration in a single vessel is disclosed. The system comprises a pressure vessel defining a cavity and comprising a sealed bulkhead separating the cavity into a first compartment and a second compartment. Disposed within the first compartment is a first distributor disposed within the first compartment, a first electrical grid assembly, and a transfer conduit that passes through the bulkhead from the first compartment to the second compartment, the second compartment being in fluid communication with the first compartment via the transfer conduit. The pressure vessel may further comprise an overflow weir in the first compartment and a second electrical grid assembly disposed within the second compartment and aligned substantially transverse to a flow path extending from the transfer conduit to the crude collection header.

Abstract: Multi-component performance liquids suitable for treating a stream comprising crude oil and water, and methods of their use, are provided. The multi-component performance liquids comprise solvent and active ingredients, which may have a weight average molecular weight of from about 1200 daltons to about 300,000 daltons. The methods comprise activating a multi-component performance liquid, delivering the activated multi-component performance liquid to a stream comprising crude oil and water, and allowing the treated stream to separate into an oil phase and an aqueous phase.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for dewatering fluids includes a dewatering chamber (12) through which the fluid for dewatering, especially by a gas that dries the fluid, can flow via an inlet (30) from a fluid reservoir (80) to a fluid input (16) of the dewatering chamber (12) and an outlet (32) from a fluid output (20) of the dewatering chamber (12) to the fluid reservoir (80). A common line (34) is assigned alternately to the inlet (30) and the outlet (32). A fluid pump (36) is disposed within the common line (34). A control valve (40) connects the common line (34) to the fluid reservoir (80) in a first position and to the fluid output (20) of the dewatering chamber (12) in a second position. A flow divider (82) disposed at the opposite end of the common line (34) from the control valve (40) divides the fluid stream coming from the fluid pump (36) into a first substream (t1) that leads to the fluid input (16) of the dewatering chamber (12) and a second substream (t2) that leads to the fluid reservoir (80).

Abstract: A petroleum desalting process in which the oil/water emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel between the settled water layer and the settled oil layer is separated into the oil and water components by contact with a heated high boiling hydrocarbon to break the emulsion and vaporize water from the emulsion in a flash drum. The vessel has an emulsion outlet for removing an emulsion stream from the emulsion layer and a conduit connecting the emulsion withdrawal port to an inlet of an optional settling drum to effect and initial separation into an oil-enriched phase and a water phase with the oil-enriched phase led to the flash drum.

Abstract: Particulate mercury, in the form of metacinnabar, is removed from crude oil by thermally treating the crude oil at temperatures in a range from 150° C. to 350° C. and at a pressure sufficient to limit the amount of crude vaporizing to no more than 10 wt. %. In the thermal treatment, the particulate mercury is converted into elemental mercury, which can be removed by directly adsorption from the crude onto a support. In one embodiment, the elemental mercury can be removed by stripping the crude with a gas, and then adsorbing the mercury onto a support. The crude oil can be optionally treated prior to stabilization and contains 0.1 wt. % or more of C4-hydrocarbons. Following the thermal treatment, the treated crude is cooled and the pressure is reduced. The C4-hydrocarbons then vaporize from the crude and carry the elemental mercury with them. The elemental mercury in this hydrocarbon gas stream may then be removed by a solid adsorbent.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.

Abstract: The invention relates to injecting steam into crude oil for several benefits, primarily of which is to remove salt by transferring the salt into the condensed water from the steam. Steam transfers salt via a different transfer mechanism and therefore doesn't require the high shear mixing of conventional water injection systems. As such, steam injection through a variety of procedures, is more efficient at gathering salt into water that itself is easier to remove from the crude oil.

Abstract: An improved method and process unit for desalting petroleum crude oils in which a portion of the stable emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel is withdrawn from the desalter and diluted with a liquid diluent, typically oil or water or both to destabilize the emulsion which is then separated into separate oil and water phases.

Abstract: A method to produce LNG at straddle plants. In contrast to known methods, there is provided a slipstream of a high pressure, pre-treated, pre-cooled natural gas stream to a straddle LNG plant section. The slipstream is further cooled, and processed in a high pressure column to a methane content of 85% or 85 plus by mole. The processed stream is further treated to remove carbon dioxide. The de-carbonated high pressure stream is further cooled in a heat exchanger by a counter-current vapor fraction of the expanded gas before entering an expander apparatus. The processed, treated and cooled gas is expanded into a separator. The produced LNG fraction is pumped to storage. A portion of the LNG fraction is used as a reflux stream to the high pressure column. The cold vapor fraction from the separator flows through counter-current heat exchangers, giving up its coolth energy before being re-compressed into the high pressure transmission gas pipeline.

Abstract: A technique for treating heavy hydrocarbon oil in the oil production process or oil refining process. A method and apparatus for adding and mixing a liquid phase of hydrocarbon oil to a hydrocarbon oil feedstock containing heavy hydrocarbon oil in an oil production process or oil refining process including a hydrocarbon oil dehydration process, thereby processing the heavy hydrocarbon oil to be lighter and thus increasing the throughput of the heavy hydrocarbon oil.

Abstract: A system and method for dehydrating crude oil on a floating production storage and offloading installation include a separator vessel to receive an incoming produced water stream, followed by a flash vessel, a treatment block, a crude oil storage tank, and an electrostatic treater. The treatment block includes a low pressure degasser followed by a compact electrostatic separator pre-treater or a compact electrostatic separator pre-treater followed by a low pressure degasser. The flash vessel and/or the low pressure degasser may employ an inlet cyclonic distributor and demisting cyclones, while the electrostatic treater may employ DUAL FREQUENCY® technology. The separator vessel may be a single horizontal two-phase separator/degasser or two vertical two-phase separator/degassers that operate in parallel with each receiving approximately 50 percent of the incoming produced water stream. The final outlet stream preferably contains no more than 0.5 BS&W and 285 milligrams per liter salt.

Abstract: A high throughput, positive pressure, gravity operated dewatering system for hydraulic fluids, lubricating fluids, and petroleum based fluids comprises a gravity operated dewatering chamber receiving the industrial fluid and a source of positive pressure drying air coupled to the dewatering chamber.

Abstract: Modular systems for extracting hydrocarbons from subterranean volumes and associated methods are generally described. Methods for extracting hydrocarbons from a subterranean volume are also described. Some of the described methods comprise flowing a mixture comprising hydrocarbons and water from the subterranean volume to a plurality of fluidically connected separation units and at least partially separating the hydrocarbons from the water using the separation units to produce a first stream comprising higher purity water than the mixture. In certain cases, the method includes fluidically disconnecting at least one of the separation units from the remaining separation units while the separating step is being performed. Some methods include fluidically connecting an additional separation unit to the separation unit while the separating step is being performed.

Abstract: An improved method and process unit for desalting petroleum crude oils in which a portion of the stable emulsion layer which forms in the desalter vessel is withdrawn from the desalter and diluted with a liquid diluent, typically oil or water or both to destabilize the emulsion which is then separated into separate oil and water phases.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for producing diamines and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series in which, by using a coalescence auxiliary in the phase separation of the process product obtained in the scrubbing of the neutralized crude product, the fraction of water and thus also of water-soluble impurities in the organic MDA-containing phase is reduced. According to the invention, the coalescence auxiliary used is a filter bed made of coalescence fiber material. The di- and polyamines of the diphenylmethane series obtained after distillative purification of this MDA-containing organic phase are exceptionally suitable for the preparation of the corresponding isocyanates.

Abstract: Hydroprocessing can be performed at low pressure using acoustic energy. For example, hydroprocessing a feedstock having one or more hydrocarbon compounds carried in, or mixed with, a transport gas involves flowing the feedstock through a reaction zone in a reactor that has a bulk pressure less than 68 atm and applying acoustic energy through the reaction zone. The hydrocarbon compounds are chemically reacted with a hydrogen source in the presence of a catalyst, wherein the reacting occurs in the reaction zone.

Abstract: By means of the invention, a method and an apparatus (1) for the drying of goods, in particular for the convection drying of pastas, which are introduced from a first treatment zone (2) into a second treatment zone (3), are to be improved to the effect that the drying process has a lower energy consumption than conventional dryers and the surroundings of the dryer (1) are polluted only slightly by waste heat. Furthermore, the dryer (1) is to be designed in a structurally simple and cost-effective way. This object is achieved by means of a method for the drying of goods, in which the temperature in the first treatment zone (2) is on average lower than in the second treatment zone (3), and in which the energy obtained from the exhaust air of the first and/or the second treatment zone (2, 3) in at least one heat exchanger (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11) is introduced into the first treatment zone (2).

Abstract: A cyclic remediation process to restore oil recovery from a primary oil production well that has watered off from bottom water encroachment (cone or crest) whereby: (a) the primary oil production well has a produced water cut in excess of 95% (v/v); (b) the oil is heavy oil, with in-situ viscosity >1000 cp; wherein the process includes: (c) injecting a steam slug with a volume of 0.5 to 5.0 times the cumulative primary oil production, with steam volumes measured as water volumes; (d) shutting in the well for a soak period, after the steam injection is complete; and (e) producing the well until the water cut exceeds 95%.

Abstract: An atmospheric vertical oilfield tank designed to pre-condition oilfield fluid streams. Flow enters on tangent a vertical cyclone tube located within the tank and rotates inside the tube. Solids fall downward out of the tube to the bottom of the tank; gases exit upward out of the tube and vent from the tank. Liquids exit the cyclone tube tangential to the ID of the tank, additional solids separation due to impingement, and the liquid flows into the body of the tank where flow slows to allow for settling of solids. Solids are periodically removed from the bottom of the tank. The liquid flows over the top of multiple vertical flow dividing tubes located at the same elevation within the tank, creating separate and equal effluent discharge streams. The tank is taller than destination vessels to provide the height differential necessary to create flow into subsequent tanks without using pumps.

Abstract: A portable, semi-portable, or permanent system for removing BS&W from crude oil at the local production or bulk storage site. A demulsifier is added to the crude as it enters a low shear pump which pumps the mixture through a plate and frame type heat exchanger where the incoming crude is preheated using outgoing heated and dehydrated crude. Then the incoming crude enters an oil-water separator where it is further heated by a secondary heater within the separator and passes through a special coalescing section. Water and basic sediment separate from the crude are discharged from the bottom of the separator. The heated dehydrated crude exits the separator, flows back through the heat exchanger where it is cooled as it preheats incoming crude, and then is pumped to clean oil storage. BS&W and flow monitors on the incoming crude and outgoing crude are used to control operation of the system.

Abstract: It provides for processing a dehydrated and salty hydrocarbon feed having a solid salt dispersed in a hydrocarbon material by contacting the feed with an active agent under a first operating condition under which the active agent has an initial active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon material, and modulating operating conditions to provide a second operating condition under which the active agent has a secondary active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon material that is less than the initial active agent solubility so as to form a separable active agent phase, wherein the salt solubility in the active agent is substantially greater than the salt solubility in the hydrocarbon material under both the first and second operating conditions such that the salt dissolves in the active agent, allowing the separable active agent phase to separate from the hydrocarbon material depleted in the salt.

Abstract: Methods and systems of treating petroleum feedstock contaminated with naphthenic acids and sulfur are disclosed. The methods and systems include heating the petroleum feedstock to decompose the naphthenic acids, pressurizing to minimize the portion in the vapor phase, sweeping water vapor and carbon dioxide into a headspace with a non-oxidizing gas, removing water vapor and carbon dioxide from the headspace, reacting the sulfur with an alkali metal and a radical capping gas to convert the sulfur into alkali sulfides, and removing the alkali sulfides. Also disclosed is reacting the naphthenic acid with water and an oxide or hydroxide of an alkaline earth element to convert the naphthenic acid into naphthenates, removing water, ketonizing, removing oxides or carbonates, reacting the sulfur with an alkali metal and a radical capping gas to convert the sulfur into alkali sulfides, and removing the alkali sulfides.

Abstract: Methods of treating coal tar using reactive distillation are described. The methods include introducing a coal tar stream into a reactive distillation zone which has a reaction zone and a separation zone. The reaction zone contains a hydrotreating catalyst and an absorbent. The coal tar stream is contacted with a hydrogen stream in the reaction zone to remove contaminants from the coal tar stream, and the treated coal tar stream is separated into at least two fractions.

Abstract: In various aspects, the invention provides for processing a hydrocarbon feed having hydrocarbon and emulsified aqueous components demulsifying into hydrocarbon and aqueous phases over an initial demulsification time, with an active agent to form a treated feed. The active agent has an active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon component and in the aqueous component, the aqueous component has an aqueous component solubility in the hydrocarbon component. The active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon component is greater than the aqueous component solubility in the hydrocarbon component. The active agent solubility in the aqueous component is greater than the active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon component. The active agent solubility in the aqueous component is greater than the active agent solubility in the hydrocarbon component.

Abstract: A process allowing the removal of contaminants from an unstable oil such as those produced by thermal or catalytic cracking, wherein, in at least one step of the process, mixing of the unstable oil with a pure or impure solvent having a dipole moment greater than 2 is performed. The stabilized diesels thereby obtained exhibit interesting properties among which significant stability features and are useful in numerous applications, some of these stabilized wide range diesels are new as well as their uses.

Abstract: A water recovery process for a steam assisted gravity drainage system for a heavy oil recovery facility, the process comprising a flash drum and a flash drum heat exchanger/condenser, wherein the water recovery process receives hot water produced by a facility at a temperature above the water atmospheric boiling point and cools it to a temperature below the water atmospheric boiling point before transferring it to the remaining section of the water recovery process.

Abstract: A method for providing fuel gas to a top-side processing system of a sub-sea well stream is provided. The method comprises separating the sub-sea well stream in a sub-sea arranged three phase separator obtaining a crude oil stream, and a crude natural gas stream, separating acid gasses and/or water from the crude natural gas, pressurizing the gas stream sub-sea, adding at least part of the pressurized gas to the crude oil stream subsea, transporting the added gas together with the oil to the topside, separating the gas from the oil in a first stabilization stage and providing the separated gas as fuel gas to a fuel gas system.

Abstract: A composition and method demulsify a produced emulsion from anionic surfactants and polymer (SP) and alkali, surfactants, and polymer (ASP). The produced emulsion is demulsified into oil and water. In one embodiment, the composition includes a surfactant. The surfactant comprises a cationic surfactant, an amphoteric surfactant, or any combinations thereof.

Abstract: A method for processing interface emulsion, water, and solids contained within a separator vessel that comprises the steps of continually extracting those components from the vessel and then passing them through a gas flotation cell. The cell, which is preferably a vertical induced gas flotation cell, separates the oil and water contained in the interface emulsion and discharges recovered oil from an upper portion of the cell and treated water from a bottom portion of the cell. The recovered oil and treated water may be further processed and recycled to the vessel or sent elsewhere. The treated water may also be recycled to the cell or sent to a process sewer. Fuel gas residing in an upper portion of the cell may be cooled and passed through a splitter. All the steps of the method comprise a closed system with no air emissions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for dispersing and entraining and controlling the residence time, absorption and release of gas bubbles or particles in a fluid without losing gas utilization efficiency from escaping surface gas events. A mechanical, rotating plurality of hollowed blades that induce both an axial and radial controlled circulatory flow and provide a means of gas introduction into the discharge flow that has a conical helical, axial and radial outward flow from the axis of rotation and allows entrained gas bubbles to be trapped as particles and recirculated by means of a circulatory flow back into the intake vortex of said mechanical, rotating plurality of blades. The flow is characterized by a forced intake vortex caused by a low pressure zone with a radial component, and subsequent axial component drawing fluid in a circular fashion toward the eye of the rotating device and impelling fluid.

Abstract: A device for processing a hydrocarbon resource may include a hydrocarbon processing container configured to receive the hydrocarbon resource therein and having a pair of opposing ends with an enlarged width medial portion therebetween. The device may also include a radio frequency (RF) source, and a first spirally wound electrical conductor surrounding the hydrocarbon processing container and coupled to the RF source. The device may further include a second spirally wound electrical conductor carried within the hydrocarbon processing container. The first spirally wound electrical conductor may be configured to generate magnetic fields with the hydrocarbon processing container that are parallel with an axis thereof.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to methods of separating a fluid emulsion stream into a hydrocarbon stream and an aqueous stream, by contacting the stream with a microporous membrane to yield a hydrocarbon product stream and an aqueous product stream. The membrane comprises a substantially hydrophobic, polymeric matrix, and substantially hydrophilic, finely divided, particulate, substantially water-insoluble filler distributed throughout the matrix. The polymeric matrix has a mean pore size less than 1.0 micron, and the purities of the product streams are independent of the flux rate of the aqueous product stream and the pore size of the membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to crude oil-water separation processes, specifically desalting in a petroleum refinery. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for increase coalescence rates of water drops in a desalter.

Abstract: Heavy crude oils having high sulfur content and viscosities are upgraded by a hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process that includes microwave irradiation of a mixture of the sour heavy crude oil with at least one catalyst and optionally, one or more sensitizers, and irradiation in the presence of hydrogen. The process is also adapted to microwave treatment of hard to break emulsions, either above ground or below ground where water-in-oil emulsions are initially formed, followed by the catalytic hydrodesulfurization promoted by application of further microwave energy to the demulsified crude oil stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a crude oil treating apparatus including a treating section and a flashing section connected together by a pipe and a flashing valve. The method includes the steps of: passing wet crude oil into the treating section; separating water from the wet crude oil in the treating section; obtaining partially dry crude oil; passing partially dry crude oil via the pipe and the flashing valve to the flashing section of the apparatus; heating the partially dry crude oil upstream of the flashing section and downstream of the flashing valve by heat exchanged with the water separated from the crude oil in the treating section; and obtaining dry crude oil from the flashing section.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the purification of crude and apparatus for its implementation. This process comprises a separation into gas and degassed emulsion and separation of the degassed emulsion into water and oil. The invention also relates to a process of separating a hydrocarbon emulsion and apparatus for implementing this. This process comprises washing of the emulsion at an oil/water interface.

Abstract: Systems and methods generate steam in hydrocarbon recovery operations and may further enable emulsion separation and product upgrading. The methods rely on indirect boiling of water by contact with a thermal transfer liquid heated to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the water. Examples of the liquid include oils, recovered hydrocarbons, liquid metals and brine. Heating of the liquid may utilize circulation of the liquid across or through a furnace, heat exchangers, or a gas-liquid contactor supplied with hot gas. Further, a solvent for bitumen introduced into the water may also vaporize upon contact with the thermal transfer liquid.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a method for lowering the water dew point subsea in a produced multiphase hydrocarbon fluid stream containing water, the method comprising the steps of: separating (10) the hydrocarbon fluid stream (1) into a liquid phase (3) and a first gas phase (2); cooling (20) the first gas phase in a controlled manner to knock out water or condensing water and optionally other condensates while keeping the fluid above a hydrate formation temperature thereof; separating off condensed liquids (6) and a second gas phase; wherein the second gas phase (8) has a water dew point which is lower than that of the initial multiphase hydrocarbon fluid stream. The invention also concerns a system for lowering the water dew point subsea.

Abstract: The present invention relates to online analysis of crude oil from desalting processes. Online analysis of the crude oil that has been desalted will allow for real time adjustments to process operating parameters such that the salt concentration of the crude oil is maintained within acceptable parameters.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for enclosed recycling of oil-water-sludge in an oil shale dry distillation system. According to the method, the technology is advanced, equipment investment costs are low, the occupied area is small, the failure rate is low, a highly pure shale oil product and a highly concentrated oil sludge product can be obtained efficiently, and the waste water generated in the purification and concentration processes can be recycled, thereby achieving full enclosure of the device system, greatly reducing the energy consumption, and improving the oil shale dry distillation process in the prior art.

Abstract: Heavy crude oils having high sulfur content and viscosities are upgraded by a hydrodesulfurization (HDS) process that includes microwave irradiation of a mixture of the sour heavy crude oil with at least one catalyst and optionally, one or more sensitizers, and irradiation in the presence of hydrogen. The process is also adapted to microwave treatment of hard to break emulsions, either above ground or below ground where water-in-oil emulsions are initially formed, followed by the catalytic hydrodesulfurization promoted by application of further microwave energy to the demulsified crude oil stream.

Abstract: Process for removing asphaltenic particles from a hydrocarbon feed containing asphaltenic particles by treating the feed in a filter unit comprising a perforated tube surrounded by hollow longitudinal projections comprising a filter having openings of at most 50 micrometer diameter in which the internal space of each of the hollow projections is in fluid communication with the inside of the perforated tube and which filter is regularly subjected to cleaning by treating each of the projections with cleaning fluid wherein the flow of cleaning fluid is opposite to the direction of normal flow.

Abstract: A method for processing raw natural gas for storage and transport in a storage vessel at a storage pressure greater than the raw natural gas dense phase pressure, which includes the steps of receiving the raw natural gas in a flow path at an inlet pressure greater than the storage pressure; if necessary, dehydrating the raw natural gas; and continuously releasing the dehydrated raw natural gas from the flow path at a release pressure and a release temperature into a storage vessel until the pressure of the dehydrated raw natural gas in the storage vessel reaches the storage pressure, avoiding the solidification of any impurities in the raw natural gas.