Method of reducing mercury in stabilized condensate

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method for removing elemental mercury from liquid natural gas comprising changing the stabilizer column operating conditions to beneficially transfer mercury from the stabilized condensate phase to the overhead gas phase, where it may be compressed and recycled with the gas going to the existing feed gas mercury removal units.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for removing elemental mercury from a liquified natural gas stream feed comprising changing the stabilizer column operating conditions to transfer mercury from the stabilized condensate phase to the overhead gas phase, where it may be compressed and recycled with the gas going to the existing feed gas mercury removal units. 
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer column should be inspected, maintained, and controlled such that the reboiler outlet temperature and bottoms product temperature are within 1 deg C. or less during operation. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the feed consists of a mixture of two or more streams of liquified natural gas. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the reboiler outlet temperature of the stabilizer column is varied based on the mixture. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the stabilizer bottoms operating pressure shall be at least 70 kpag below the design pressure. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4  wherein the feed mixture is 30% Gorgon/70%, and the reboiler outlet temperature is 204 C or greater. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the feed mixture is 50% Gorgon/50%, and the reboiler outlet temperature is 199 C or greater. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the feed mixture is 70% Gorgon/30%, and the reboiler outlet temperature is 196 C or greater.