Vapor and Liquid Recovery Tower

Abstract

A vapor and liquid recovery tower (VLRT) includes a top section adapted to receive a liquid stream with entrained gas that gravity flows down through the VLRT, and a packing section comprising packing material adapted to release the entrained gas from the liquid stream to produce a VLRT liquid output and a VLRT gas output. The VLRT may further include a lower section adapted to receive a gas stream that rises up through the packing section, wherein the packing material is further adapted to increase surface area contact between the liquid stream and the gas stream, and wherein the VLRT gas output includes the entrained gas and the gas stream.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A vapor and liquid recovery tower (VLRT) comprising:
 an upper section adapted to receive a liquid stream that gravity flows down through the VLRT;   a lower section adapted to receive a gas stream that rises up through the VLRT; and   a packing section disposed between the upper section and the lower section, the packing section comprising packing material adapted to increase surface area contact between the liquid stream and the gas stream to produce a VLRT liquid output and a VLRT gas output.   
     
     
         2 . The VLRT of  claim 1 , wherein the packing material is further adapted to release an entrained gas from the liquid stream. 
     
     
         3 . The VLRT of  claim 1 , wherein the packing material comprises random packing balls or pall rings. 
     
     
         4 . The VLRT of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 one or more baffles or packing trays adapted to contain the packing material.   
     
     
         5 . The VLRT of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a displacement nozzle adapted to disperse the gas stream received into the lower section before the gas stream rises up through the packing section.   
     
     
         6 . The VLRT of  claim 1 , wherein the VLRT liquid output has a higher volume than the liquid stream received into the upper section. 
     
     
         7 . The VLRT of  claim 1 , wherein the VLRT gas output has a lower volume than the gas stream received into the lower section. 
     
     
         8 . A system comprising:
 the VLRT of  claim 1 ;   at least one of an oil storage tank and an oil liquid transfer pump; and   at least one of a water storage tank and a water liquid transfer pump.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 :
 wherein the liquid stream is a water emulsion, and the VLRT liquid output is a VLRT oil output and a VLRT water output;   wherein the VLRT oil output gravity feeds out of the VLRT and is routed to the oil storage tank or to the oil liquid transfer pump; and   wherein the VLRT water output gravity feeds out of the VLRT and is routed to the water storage tank or to the water liquid transfer pump.   
     
     
         10 . A system comprising:
 the VLRT of  claim 1 ;   a separator adapted for receiving live crude oil from a wellhead and for producing a separator oil output and a separator gas output; and   a heater treater adapted for (i) receiving the separator oil output and (ii) producing a heater treater oil output and a heater treater gas output;   wherein the VLRT is adapted for (i) receiving the heater treater oil output as the liquid stream and receiving the heater treater gas output as the gas stream; and (ii) producing a VLRT oil output as the VLRT liquid output.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the VLRT gas output has a lower volume than the heater treater gas output and the VLRT oil output has a higher volume than the heater treater oil output. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the VLRT oil output gravity feeds to an oil storage tank or a liquid transfer pump.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a pump adapted to transfer a recirculating portion of the VLRT oil output back into the VLRT.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the pump is further adapted for transferring the VLRT oil output to an oil storage tank or to a liquid transfer pump. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a crude oil storage tank adapted to receive the VLRT oil output for stabilization.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a liquid transfer pump adapted to (i) receive the VLRT oil output and (ii) provide the VLRT oil output to a user.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a vapor recovery unit (VRU) adapted for (i) receiving the VLRT gas output and (ii) producing a VRU gas output and a VRU oil output.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the heater treater is adapted for (i) receiving the VRU oil output and (ii) receiving a recirculating portion of the VRU gas output. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the system is adapted for (i) combining the VRU gas output with the separator gas output and (ii) providing the combined gas output to a user. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a second VLRT adapted for (i) receiving a water stream produced by the separator or by the heater treater or by both the separator and the heater treater; and (ii) producing a second VLRT oil output and a second VLRT gas output.