Abstract: Method for crude petroleum oil processing in Crude Distillation Unit is provided to eliminate the stripping steam in an Atmospheric Distillation Column (VDC) of CDU for a significant reduction in the CDU's operating cost and alleviating the corrosion in the overhead section of ADC. The present invention relates to a method of separating the components of crude petroleum oil. The proposed method utilizes the innovative application of process hydrocarbon vapour consisting of a lighter fraction of crude and natural gas. The conceptualized new schemes for downstream processing the Light and Heavy gas oil (LGO and HGO) distillates to meet their boiling specifications are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for flow management and CO2-recovery from a CO2 containing hydrocarbon flow stream, such as a post CO2-stimulation flowback stream. The apparatus including a flow control zone, a gas separation zone, a pretreatment zone, and a CO2-capture zone. The CO2-capture zone is in fluid communication with the pretreatment zone to provide CO2-capture from a pretreated flowback gas stream and output a captured CO2-flow stream. The CO2-capture zone includes a first CO2-enricher and at least one additional CO2 enricher disposed downstream of the first CO2 enricher and in cascading relationship to provide a CO2-rich permeate stream, the CO2-capture zone further including at least one condenser to condense the enriched CO2-stream and output the captured CO2-flow stream.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for washing hydrocarbon product vapor are disclosed. The apparatus comprises housing, a first wash zone at a predefined cross-section of the housing for receiving the hydrocarbon product vapor, a plurality of injection units located within the first wash zone at predetermined intervals of the length of the housing for receiving wash oil. The injection units inject oil droplets formed from the received wash oil to contact the vapor and obtain a primary washed hydrocarbon vapor within the first wash zone. Further, a second wash zone is located above and in fluid communication with the first wash zone for receiving the primary washed hydrocarbon vapor. One or more spray headers receive wash oil and spray oil droplets formed from the received wash oil to contact with the primary washed hydrocarbon vapor, thereby forming a secondary washed hydrocarbon vapor.

Abstract: Disclosed are a gas to liquids (GTL)-floating production, storage and offloading (FPSO) system that can be used in offshore oil fields or stranded gas fields and a method for producing synthetic fuel using the same. More particularly, the disclosure relates to a GTL-FPSO system capable of producing liquid synthetic fuel from gas extracted from stranded gas fields or associated gas extracted from oil fields, including a reforming reactor and a liquid hydrocarbon producer, and a method for producing the same.

Abstract: A method for significant increase in gas oil yield and energy efficiency in crude oil distillation is provided. The present invention relates to a method of separating the components of crude oil. This method utilizes the innovative and novel application of lighter fraction of crude through its superheating and its injection in the stripping section consisting of bottom to flash zone of main distillation column. Method also illustrates the innovative utilization of water in crude distillation unit to eliminate the bottom striping steam and for significant energy saving.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method and an apparatus for recovery of spent lubricating oil. The evaporation of hydrocarbon fractions from spent lubricating oil is carried out in three steps. The first step is at approximately 150-1030 mbar and between 70-240° C. in which is greater than 99% water, greater than 99% of ethylene glycol and greater than 50% of hydrocarbon molecules with normal boiling point up to 310° C. are evaporated from spent oil. The second step is operated at 6-30 mbar and 200-2900 C in which predominantly gasoil and light vacuum gasoil fractions are evaporated. The third step is operated at 250-320° C. and 0.5-15 mbar in which mainly heavy vacuum gasoil (boiling range of 425 to 570° C. on ASTM D-1160 test) is evaporated from spent oil.

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 process is disclosed for recovering hydroprocessing effluent from a hydroprocessing unit utilizing a hot stripper and a cold stripper. A net overhead stream from the hot stripper is forwarded to the cold stripper for further stripping. The invention is particularly suitable for hydrotreating residue feed streams. The hot stripped stream may be subjected to fluid catalytic cracking. The apparatus and process eliminates the need for a fired heater in the product recovery unit.

Abstract: A method for recovering base oil from waste lubricating oil by separating base oil range constituents from a waste lubricating oil mixture, thereafter separating higher quality base oil constituents and lower quality base oil constituents from the base oil recovered from the waste lubricating oil mixture and thereafter treating the lower quality base oil constituents to produce marketable base oil. The total base oil produced from a waste lubricating oil mixture by this process is greater than the quantity producible by previous processes using only base oil separation from the waste lubricating oil mixture or processes which use only treatment of the base oil recovered from the waste lubricating oil mixture to produce the product base oil.

Abstract: Methods and systems for the devolatilization of thermally produced liquids to raise the flash point are disclosed. Various methods and apparatus can be used to effectively reduce the volatile components, such as wiped film evaporator, falling film evaporator, flash column, packed column, devolatilization vessel or tank.

Abstract: Pyrolysis oil is upgraded by evaporating water from a mixture of the pyrolysis oil and a hydrocarbon having an atmospheric boiling point of at least 130° C. The method yields a de-watered pyrolysis oil mixture.

Abstract: In one aspect, the inventive process comprises a process for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock containing nonvolatiles in a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system. The inventive process comprises: (a) heating the nonvolatile-containing hydrocarbon feedstock upstream of a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system to a temperature sufficient to form a vapor phase that is essentially free of nonvolatiles and a liquid phase containing the nonvolatiles; (b) separating said vapor phase from said liquid phase; (c) feeding the separated vapor phase to the pyrolysis reactor system; and (d) converting the separated vapor phase in said pyrolysis reactor system to form a pyrolysis product.

Abstract: A distillation tower for use in a petrochemical or petroleum operation effects liquid and vapor separation by using centrifugal force applied to the feed introduced into a ring from a tangential inlet. The feed is separated into a liquid component that flows into the bottoms section of the tower and a vapor component that flows upwardly through the core of the ring to a wash zone in the tower. De-entrainment devices are provided in the core so that the vapor swirling upwardly impacts the devices and any remaining entrained liquid is separated from the vapor. As a result, overflash with decreased resid can be collected from the wash zone and used as feed suitable for a fluid catalytic cracking operation, for example.

Abstract: A process is described for producing deasphalted steam cracker tar comprising feeding steam cracker tar to a vacuum pipestill (VPS) including a flash zone separated from a zone comprising trays by at least one annular entrainment ring and obtaining as an overheads a deasphalted tar product and as a bottoms an asphaltenic heavy tar product. Also according to the invention, there is a system for the upgrading of tar comprising said VPS with at least one annular entrainment ring.

Abstract: A process for cracking hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid comprising: heating the feedstock, mixing the heated feedstock with a fluid and/or a primary dilution steam stream to form a mixture, flashing the mixture to form a vapor phase and a liquid phase which collect as bottoms and removing the liquid phase, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and cooling the product effluent, wherein the bottoms are maintained under conditions to effect at least partial visbreaking. The visbroken bottoms may be steam stripped to recover the visbroken molecules while avoiding entrainment of the bottoms liquid. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Abstract: An improved de-entrainment device for use in distillation towers, especially vacuum distillation towers used for fractionating petroleum atmospheric resids is in the form of a baffle which is to be located in the portion of the tower below the feed zone and at the top of the flash zone. The baffle is in the form of an apertured plate above the stripping zone and in its preferred form comprises number of radial fins or blades, resembling a static fan with openings between the fins to permit vapors from the lower portions of the tower to pass upwards through the baffle with a minimal pressure drop. The fins of the baffle are preferably oriented at an angle between 30° and 60° away from the incoming feed so that the incoming feed stream skims over the top edges of the fins.

Abstract: In one aspect, the inventive process comprises a process for pyrolyzing a hydrocarbon feedstock containing nonvolatiles in a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system. The inventive process comprises: (a) heating the nonvolatile-containing hydrocarbon feedstock upstream of a regenerative pyrolysis reactor system to a temperature sufficient to form a vapor phase that is essentially free of nonvolatiles and a liquid phase containing the nonvolatiles; (b) separating said vapor phase from said liquid phase; (c) feeding the separated vapor phase to the pyrolysis reactor system; and (d) converting the separated vapor phase in said pyrolysis reactor system to form a pyrolysis product.

Abstract: Partial conversion hydrocracking process comprising the steps of (a) hydrotreating a hydrocarbon feedstock with a hydrogen-rich gas to produce a hydrotreated effluent stream comprising a liquid/vapour mixture and separating the liquid/vapour mixture into a liquid phase and a vapour phase, and (b) separating the liquid phase into a controlled liquid portion and an excess liquid portion, and (c) combining the vapour phase with the excess liquid portion to form a vapour plus liquid portion, and (d) separating an FCC feed-containing fraction from the controlled liquid portion and simultaneously hydrocracking the vapour plus liquid portion to produce a diesel-containing fraction, or hydrocracking the controlled liquid portion to produce a diesel-containing fraction and simultaneously separating a FCC feed-containing fraction from the vapour plus liquid portion. The invention also includes an apparatus for carrying out the partial conversion hydrocracking process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a process for producing reagents for a chemical reaction by introducing a fuel containing hydrocarbons into a flash distillation process wherein the fuel is separated into a first component having a lower average molecular weight and a second component having a higher average molecular weight. The first component is then reformed to produce synthesis gas wherein the synthesis gas is reacted catalytically to produce the desire reagent.

Abstract: A process for decoking of a process that cracks hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid and coke precursors, wherein steam is added to the feedstock to form a mixture which is thereafter separated into a vapor phase and a liquid phase by flashing in a flash/separation vessel, separating and cracking the vapor phase, and recovering cracked product. Coking of internal surfaces in and proximally downstream of the vessel is controlled by interrupting the feed flow, purging the vessel with steam, introducing an air/steam mixture to at least partially combust the coke, and resuming the feed flow when sufficient coke has been removed. An apparatus for carrying out the process is also provided.

Abstract: Hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid is cracked by a process comprising: (a) heating the hydrocarbon feedstock; (b) mixing the heated hydrocarbon feedstock with steam and optionally water to form a mixture stream; (c) introducing the mixture stream to a flash/separation apparatus to form i) a vapor phase at its dew point which partially cracks and loses/or heat causing a temperature decrease and partial condensation of the vapor phase in the absence of added heat to provide coke precursors existing as uncoalesced condensate, and ii) a liquid phase; (d) removing the vapor phase as overhead and the liquid phase as bottoms from the flash/separation apparatus; (e) treating the overhead by contacting with a hydrocarbon-containing nucleating liquid substantially free of resid and comprising components boiling at a temperature of at least about 260° C. (500° F.

Abstract: A process for treating a crude containing natural gas comprising supplying the crude to a stabilization unit to obtain a gaseous stream and crude oil; supplying a compressed, gaseous stream at a low temperature to the bottom of a first column; partly condensing the first gaseous overhead stream, returning the liquid phase to the first column and supplying the methane-rich stream to a liquefaction plant; supplying an expanded bottom stream at a low temperature to the top of a second column; removing from the top of the second column a second gaseous overhead stream, and removing from the bottom of the second column a liquid bottom stream; vaporizing part of the bottom stream and introducing the vapor into the bottom of the second column; and introducing the remainder of the bottom stream into a crude oil stream at an appropriate point in or upstream of the stabilization unit, wherein the amount of heat removed from the first gaseous overhead stream is so adjusted that the concentration of C5+ in the first gase

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for a high temperature short-time distillation of residual oil. The method according to the invention is characterized by a technically simple recovery of a small residual fraction from a gas and/or oil vapour mixture produced by a mixing apparatus (1). Said small residual fraction contains large quantities of undesirable polluting catalytic substances (CCR, Ni, V, asphaltenes). For this purpose, the gas and/or oil vapour mixture produced by the mixing apparatus (1) is diluted with gas or water vapour in a column (17) at a temperature of 450° C. in such a way that a high boiling fraction, which has a high content of the pollutant substances and whose initial boiling point is higher than 450° C., is condensed and extracted.

Abstract: A flash/separation vessel for treating hydrocarbon feedstock containing resid to provide a liquid phase and a vapor phase has: (A) an inlet for introducing hydrocarbon feedstock; (B) an inlet for adding heated vaporous diluent to the vessel to dilute the vapor phase; (C) a flash/separation vessel overhead outlet for removing the vapor phase as overhead; and (D) a flash/separation vessel liquid outlet for removing liquid phase as bottoms from the vessel.

Abstract: Residual oil from the processing of crude oil, natural bitumen or oil sand is mixed in a mixer with granular, hot coke as heat carrier (heat carrier coke) in a weight ratio of 1:3 to 1:30, where on the granules of the heat carrier coke there is first of all formed a liquid residue film which partly evaporates in the mixer. Gases and vapors and moist, sticky coke are withdrawn from the mixer. The mixture of coke and residual oil is introduced into a subsequently connected stirred tank in which the mixture slowly moves downwards while being stirred mechanically at a temperature of 450 to 600° C. and preferably at 480 to 550° C. Dry, flowable coke is withdrawn from the stirred tank. Usually, the dwell time of the heat carrier coke in the stirred tank is 1 to 30 minutes.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed that relate generally to a process for reducing harmful or unwanted emissions during the production of asphalt, such as blue smoke. The process includes the introduction of a pump around of the wax oil fraction for re-introduction into the vacuum tower. Additional desirable features include stripping trays below the wax oil collection tray and the feed zone. The result is to produce an asphalt product that creates less blue smoke in the hot mix plant. Another desirable feature is that a product can be created that meets Performance Grade specifications with the addition of polymers or other additives.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed that relate generally to a process for reducing harmful or unwanted emissions during the production of asphalt, such as blue smoke. The process includes the introduction of a pump around of the wax oil fraction for re-introduction into the vacuum tower. Additional desirable features include stripping trays below the wax oil collection tray and the feed zone. The result is to produce an asphalt product that creates less blue smoke in the hot mix plant. Another desirable feature is that a product can be created that meets Performance Grade specifications with the addition of polymers or other additives.

Abstract: A method of separating a petroleum-containing material into at least two fractions, an extraction system, and an extraction fluid therefor are provided. Petroleum-containing material as well as a solvent mixture comprising 50%-99% by volume sub-critical carbon dioxide and 1%-50% by volume of at least one co-solvent are introduced into an extraction column. The co-solvent can be propane, ethane, butane, propylene 2 methylpropane, 2,2 dimethylpropane, propadiene, dimethylether, chlorodifluoromethane, difluoromethane and methylfluoride. A fraction containing solvent mixture and solvated petroleum-containing material is removed from the top portion of the extraction column, while a dense fraction of the petroleum-containing material, as well as solvent mixture, is withdrawn from the bottom portion of the extraction column. Solvent mixture is recovered from the solvated petroleum-containing material.

Abstract: High temperature flash distillation, for treating residual oils originating from crude oil refining, natural bitumen and/or tar sands, comprises feeding the oil to a mixer with granular hot coke, which serves as a thermal transfer medium. In mixing, 60-90% of the oil is vaporized. The non-vaporized fraction includes metal-containing asphaltenes. This fraction is further converted in the mixer, to oil vapor, gas and coke. Gases and vapor are withdrawn from the mixer, separately from the coke. The vapor phase is cooled and condensed to produce product oil. The gas itself is a further product. The coke is reheated and recycled to the mixer as the thermal transfer medium.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed that relate generally to a process for reducing harmful or unwanted emissions during the production of asphalt, such as blue smoke. The process includes the introduction of a pump around of the wax oil fraction for re-introduction into the vacuum tower. Additional desirable features include stripping trays below the wax oil collection tray and the feed zone. The result is to produce an asphalt product that creates less blue smoke in the hot mix plant. Another desirable feature is that a product can be created that meets Performance Grade specifications with the addition of polymers or other additives.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-refining used oil, in which the used oil is processed in at least one cyclonic vacuum evaporator comprising a void evaporation chamber (4) into which feedstock is tangentially injected, and in which a fraction of the feedstock is condensed in a spray condenser (7) communicating with the evaporation chamber (4).

Abstract: The treating apparatus and method of the present invention improve the efficiency and reliability of flash treating crude oil by including a recycled oil pumping loop that takes crude oil from a flashing section of a vessel and feeds it to either the inlet of a treater section or through a heater into a connecting pipe between the treater section and the flashing section, thereby eliminating the need of a fired heater in the flashing section.

Abstract: A process for further processing a residue remaining after vacuum distillation in a crude oil refinery, which entails subjecting the residue remaining after vacuum distillation to flash distillation, thereby producing a distillate and a residue.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons uses a working fluid to reduce the costs of separating an unreacted aromatic feed substrate from aromatic hydrocarbon products. Unreacted aromatic substrate is combined with a light hydrocarbon, such as propane, to form a combined effluent stream. The combined effluent stream enters a flash separator where unreacted aromatic substrate is lifted overhead with the light hydrocarbon while heavier aromatic products are recovered below. The aromatic substrate and light hydrocarbon are easily separated in a simple separation zone. Lifting the aromatic substrate with the working fluid reduces the volume of aromatic substrate that remains with the aromatic product so that the more energy intensive separation of the aromatic substrate and aromatic product is performed on a reduced volume of material.

Abstract: A method for removing particulate solids, such as catalyst fines, from a hot slurry oil having a gravity of 5.degree. API to 15.degree. API, an atmospheric pressure initial boiling point of from about 500.degree. F. to about 750.degree. F. and an atmospheric pressure end point of less than 1,000.degree. F. which entails mixing a preselected amount of the slurry oil with a preselected amount of a hot vacuum reduced crude oil having equilibrium flash vaporization characteristics such that when the mixture is subjected to a selected temperature in a vacuum tower maintained at a vacuum of from about 1.0 mm Hg to about 10.0 mm Hg, at least 85 volume percent of the slurry oil will be flashed overhead and not more than about 15% of the vacuum reduced crude oil will be flashed overhead, and the particulate solids will remain in the liquid bottoms.

Abstract: A reformer optimization system including the injection of non-reactive gas into hydrogen recycle gas for increasing hydrogen flow through a recycle compressor. Non-reactive gas is injected into hydrogen-rich gas fed to the compressor at least as early as the hydrogen-rich gas enters the compressor. The quantity of hydrogen is monitored, and the quantity of non-reactive gas injected is controlled in response to the hydrogen quantity. By maintaining a substantially constant molecular weight of the hydrogen gas, hydrogen content thereof is increased. The non-reactive gas is preferably at least one of a group comprising nitrogen, ethane and propane.

Abstract: The residue or residue fraction left behind during vacuum distillation in a crude oil refinery is further processed, in that it undergoes thin-film short-path distillation at a higher temperature and under a fine vacuum. Raising the temperature leads to a rise in the feed rate and to an improvement in the distillate/residue ratio.

Abstract: A process for the production of alkylaromatic hydrocarbons uses a light hydrocarbon recycle to reduce the costs of separating an unreacted aromatic feed substrate from aromatic hydrocarbon products. Unreacted aromatic substrate is combined with a light hydrocarbon, such as propane, to form a combined effluent stream. The combined effluent stream enters a flash separator where unreacted aromatic substrate is lifted overhead with the light hydrocarbon while heavier aromatic products are recovered below. The aromatic substrate and light hydrocarbon are easily separated in a simple separation zone. Lifting the aromatic substrate with the light hydrocarbon reduces the volume of aromatic substrate that remains with the aromatic product so that the more energy intensive separation of the aromatic substrate and aromatic product is performed on a reduced volume of material.

Abstract: A process and apparatus are disclosed for recovering olefins, particularly C.sub.3, C.sub.4, and C.sub.5 olefins, from gaseous mixture thereof with lower-boiling components. The olefin-containing gas mixtures is compressed and cooled to yield vapor and condensate streams, the vapor stream is further cooled forming additional condensate, both condensate streams are combined and adiabatically flash evaporated, and the remaining liquid is distilled to recover the desired olefins in a liquid bottoms products. Flash vapor, and optionally the distillation vapor product, are recycled to the compression step.

Abstract: A method of and system for recovering a solvent from a mixture of solvent and hydrocarbons, the system comprising at least two evaporation flasks successively fed with a charge consisting of said mixture to be separated, at least one steam generator performing the condensation of the solvent, a circuit for conveying the evaporated solvent and connecting the flasks to the generator and a circuit of an intermediate fluid in gaseous phase including a compressor for raising the condensation temperature of this fluid, the latter circuit connecting the generator to heat exchangers arranged upstream of each flask.

Abstract: A method for recycling gas in an installation for the stabilization of crude oil (1) containing gas/liquid separation stages (2, 3, 4) whose gas removal pipes (12, 13, 14) are connected to the intake of a gas treatment installation (18) which provides a current of rich gas (19) and a current of poor residual gas (20), characterized in that an adjustable part (21, 22) of the poor residual gas current is injected into the flow of crude oil (8), preferably between the penultimate (3) and last (4) gas/liquid separation stage, of the installation for stabilization of crude oil (1), in order to increase the production of liquified petroleum gas and condensates.

Abstract: An inlet horn for reducing liquid entrainment of liquid in vapor products in distillation towers. The inlet horn has a tangential entry for the vapor-liquid feed which opens into a peripheral open bottomed horn with a number of deflector vanes angularly disposed horizontally and vertically along the length of the horn to deflect liquid components of the feed radially outwards and vapor components downwards so as to improve their separation. The horn may be used in atmospheric and vacuum crude distillation and other vapor-liquid separation units.

Abstract: A method of recovering light organic solvent from a liquid mixture containing the solvent and a process material, such as asphaltenes or coal liquefaction products. The solvent-process material mixture is treated in a solvent separation zone to separate a first vapor phase rich in solvent and a first liquid phase rich in process material. At least a portion of the liquid in the solvent separation zone is transferred to a mixing zone, where the liquid is intimately contacted with steam, under shearing conditions. The steam-liquid phase mixture thus produced is returned to the solvent separation zone and treated to separate a second vapor phase, rich in steam and solvent, and a second liquid phase, rich in process material and substantially depleted of solvent. Solvent is recovered from the first and second vapor phases.

Abstract: A method of recovering light organic solvent from a liquid mixture containing the solvent and a product material, such as asphaltenes or coal liquefaction products. The solvent-product material mixture is treated to separate a first vapor phase rich in solvent and a first liquid phase rich in product material. The first liquid phase is then intimately contacted with steam, under shearing conditions, in a static or dynamic mixer. The steam-liquid phase mixture is then treated to separate a second vapor phase, rich in steam and solvent, and a second liquid phase, rich in product material and substantially depleted of solvent. Solvent is recovered from the first and second vapor phases.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for extracting an organic liquid from an organic liquid solute/solvent mixture. The mixture is contacted with a fluid extractant which is at a temperature and pressure to render the extractant a solvent for the solute but not for the solvent. The resulting fluid extract of the solute is then depressurized to give a still feed which is distilled to form still overhead vapors and liquid still bottoms. The enthalpy required to effect this distillation is provided by compressing the still overhead vapors to heat them and indirectly to heat the still feed. The process is particularly suitable for separating mixtures which form azeotropes, e.g., oxygenated hydrocarbon/water mixtures. The energy required in this process is much less than that required to separate such mixtures by conventional distillation techniques.

Abstract: A process and system for vaporizing heavy oil prior to thermal cracking to olefins, by flashing with steam in first mixer, superheating the vapor, and flashing in second mixer the liquid from first mixer.

Abstract: A mixture of a hydrocarbon-selective solvent -- e.g. isobutane -- and deasphalted oil is separated in a two-stage hot-separator system at progressively higher temperatures and substantially the same pressure. Resulting vaporous phases are subjected to a cold-flash separation at a lower pressure and a considerably lower temperature. The initial hot separation, in the two-stage system, is effected at a temperature from about 1.0.degree. F. to about 25.degree. F. above the critical temperature of the solvent; the second is conducted at a temperature about 30.degree. F. to about 130.degree. F. above that in the initial hot-separation. This technique is especially advantageous when integrated into a catalytic slurry process for the conversion of metal- and asphaltene-containing hydrocarbonaceous black oils.

Abstract: An improvement in the separation of a multi-component mixture, especially a well head stream, into gaseous and liquid phases by multi-component flash separation at reducing pressures, comprises recycling at least a part of the gaseous fraction recovered from a stage after the first stage to a preceding stage, and preferably the immediately preceding stage, to mix with the liquid phase which is separated in said preceding stage and at substantially the pressure of said preceding stage. This (a) increases the gas/liquid ratio in each stage, the amount of liquid recovered from the last stage and the proportion of medium-boiling components therein; (b) results in more gas being available from the higher pressure stages and (c) yields gases having narrower boiling ranges. Three separation stages are preferred and pipeline gas, crude LPG and a local fuel gas to supply the energy requirements of the separation can be derived from the gaseous fractions recovered from the separation stages.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing a petroleum production stream at a remote location, e.g., offshore platform, to produce a liquid product stream having a stabilized vapor pressure, and a gas product stream having a stabilized, low dew point temperature at high pressure. The production stream is flowed through four separation stages where gas is separated from the liquid stream. The handling of the gas and condensed liquids from each of the stages is such that the present flow sequence closely simulates that of a conventional distillation tower and operates almost exactly the same except the principal driving force for vapor boil-up is pressure drop instead of reboiler heat. "Reboiler" heat is also provided in the process by heating the condensed liquid stream before it is returned to the third separation stage and this, along with the control of the pressure of the fourth stage, controls the final vapor pressure of the liquid product stream.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for re-refining used oil, in which the used oil is processed in at least one cyclonic vacuum evaporator comprising a void evaporation chamber (4) into which feedstock is tangentially injected, and in which a fraction of the feedstock is condensed in a spray condenser (7) communicating with the evaporation chamber (4).