Natural gas liquefaction core modules, plants including same and related methods

Abstract

A method of natural gas liquefaction may include liquefying natural gas from a first natural gas source with a first core module, and liquefying natural gas from at least a second natural gas source having a gas property different than a gas property of the first natural gas source with at least a second core module substantially identical to the first core module. Additionally, a method of designing a natural gas liquefaction plant may include utilizing a preconfigured core module design for a core module configured to receive source gas at site-independent predetermined input conditions, expel tail gas at site-independent predetermined outlet conditions, and liquefy natural gas. Furthermore, a method of distributing liquid natural gas may include providing a plurality of natural gas liquefaction plants comprising substantially identical core modules to a plurality of gaseous natural gas source locations. Finally, a modular natural gas liquefaction plant may include a preconfigured core module, and site-specific inlet and outlet modules.

1 . A method of natural gas liquefaction, the method comprising:
 liquefying natural gas from a first natural gas source with a first core module; and   liquefying natural gas from at least a second natural gas source having a gas property different than a gas property of the first natural gas source with at least a second core module substantially identical to the first core module.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein liquefying natural gas from at least a second natural gas source having a gas property different than a gas property of the first natural gas source comprises liquefying natural gas from at least a second natural gas source having a gas pressure level different than a gas pressure level of the first natural gas source. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising increasing the gas pressure level of the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source with an inlet module prior to directing the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source into the at least a second core module for liquefaction. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , further comprising directing the natural gas from the first natural gas source into the first core module and directing the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source into the at least a second core module at substantially the same pressure. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising directing the natural gas from the first natural gas source into the first core module and directing the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source into the at least a second core module at about 800 psia. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein liquefying natural gas from at least a second natural gas source having a gas property different than a gas property of the first natural gas source comprises liquefying natural gas from at least a second natural gas source having a gas temperature different than a gas temperature of the first natural gas source. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising decreasing the gas temperature level of the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source with an inlet module prior to directing the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source into the at least a second core module for liquefaction. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6 , further comprising increasing the gas temperature level of the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source with an inlet module prior to directing the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source into the at least a second core module for liquefaction. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising directing the natural gas from the first natural gas source into the first core module and directing the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source into the at least a second core module at substantially the same temperature. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising directing the natural gas from the first natural gas source into the first core module and directing the natural gas from the at least a second natural gas source into the at least a second core module at a temperature level between about 50° F. and about 120° F. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 processing a first tail gas expelled from the first core module with a first outlet module to change at least one of the pressure level and the temperature level of the first tail gas; and   processing a second tail gas expelled from the at least a second core module with a second outlet module to change at least one of the pressure level and the temperature level of the second tail gas.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising expelling the first tail from the first core module and the second tail gas from the at least a second core module at substantially the same temperature and pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising expelling the first tail from the first core module and the second tail gas from the at least a second core module at a pressure level of about 100 psia. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 expelling a first tail gas comprising carbon dioxide out of the first core module; and   expelling a second tail gas comprising carbon dioxide out of the at least a second core module.   
     
     
         15 . A method of designing a natural gas liquefaction plant, the method comprising:
 utilizing a preconfigured core module design for a core module configured to receive source gas at site-independent predetermined input conditions, expel tail gas at site-independent predetermined outlet conditions, and liquefy natural gas;   designing a site-specific inlet module configured to provide source gas from a specific natural gas source to the core module at the fixed predetermined input conditions; and   designing a site-specific outlet module configured to convey tail gas from the core module at the predetermined tail gas outlet conditions to a specific tail gas stream.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein designing a site-specific inlet module configured to provide source gas from a specific natural gas source to the core module at the fixed predetermined input conditions further comprises designing a site-specific inlet module configured to provide source gas from a specific natural gas source to the core module at a pressure level of about 800 psia and at a temperature level of about 50° F. and about 120° F. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein designing a site-specific outlet module configured to convey tail gas from the core module at the predetermined tail gas outlet conditions to a specific tail gas stream further comprises designing a site-specific outlet module configured to convey tail gas from the core module at a pressure level of about 100 psia. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein utilizing a preconfigured core module design for a core module configured to liquefy natural gas further comprises utilizing a preconfigured core module design for a core module configured to liquefy natural gas by:
 cooling a gaseous natural gas process stream by transferring heat from a gaseous natural gas process stream to a cooling stream; and   expanding the cooled gaseous natural gas process stream to form a liquid natural gas process stream.   
     
     
         19 . A method of distributing liquid natural gas, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of natural gas liquefaction plants comprising substantially identical core modules to a plurality of gaseous natural gas source locations; and   liquefying at least a portion of the gaseous natural gas from each of the plurality of gaseous natural gas sources with the plurality of natural gas liquefaction plants to provide liquid natural gas at each of the plurality of gaseous natural gas source locations.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein providing a plurality of natural gas liquefaction plants comprising substantially identical core modules to a plurality of gaseous natural gas source locations further comprises providing a plurality of natural gas liquefaction plants comprising substantially identical core modules to a plurality of gaseous natural gas sources comprising gaseous natural gas sources having various gas properties. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising locating the plurality of natural gas liquefaction plants comprising substantially identical core modules at a plurality of liquid natural gas point-of-use locations. 
     
     
         22 . A modular natural gas liquefaction plant comprising:
 a core module comprising:
 a processed natural gas inlet configured to receive gaseous natural gas at a site-independent predetermined pressure and temperature; 
 a liquid natural gas outlet; and 
 a tail gas outlet configured to expel a tail gas at a site-independent predetermined pressure and temperature; 
   an inlet module comprising:
 a natural gas source inlet configured to receive gaseous natural gas at a temperature and pressure of a site-specific natural gas source; and 
 a processed natural gas outlet configured to deliver gaseous natural gas to the processed natural gas inlet of the core module at the site-independent predetermined pressure and temperature; and 
   an outlet module comprising:
 a tail gas inlet configured to receive a tail gas from the tail gas outlet of the core module at the site-independent predetermined pressure and temperature; and 
 a processed tail gas outlet configured to deliver the tail gas to a site-specific location at a site-specific pressure and temperature. 
   
     
     
         23 . A method of natural gas liquefaction, comprising liquefying gaseous natural gas with a plurality of substantially identical core modules at a single site.