US-12624619-B2 - Devices, systems, and methods for gas lift gas

US12624619B2US 12624619 B2US12624619 B2US 12624619B2US-12624619-B2

Abstract

Devices, systems, and methods are disclosed concerning gas lift gas recovery. A gas lift gas recovery system can include an inlet separator system, charge system, and sump system for facilitating recovery of gas lift gas. The inlet separator system can be configured to receive production fluid for separation of liquids therefrom to recover gas lift gas. The charge system can include a high pressure (HP) leg for holding an HP portion of fluid and a low pressure (LP) leg for holding an LP portion of fluid. The sump system can be configured for holding liquids from at least one of the inlet separator systems and the charge system.

Inventors

Billy Joe Ellis, Jr.

Assignees

LIFTROCK, LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20250121

Claims (17)

1 . A gas lift gas recovery support system, the system comprising: a charge system including a high pressure (HP) leg for holding an HP portion of fluid and a low pressure (LP) leg for holding an LP portion of fluid, a liquid inlet for selective communication to receive liquids; a sump system comprising a sump vessel configured for holding liquids from the charge system, the sump vessel arranged for selective communication with the charge system via a vapor line to transfer vaporous release from the sump vessel to the charge system; and a control system configured for operation to conduct selective communication of fluids, wherein the control system is configured to selectively communicate the sump system with the charge system to transfer liquids to the sump system, the control system including a vapor control valve operable between a closed position to block against communication of vaporous release to the charge system and an open position to fluidly communicate the sump system with the charge system to transfer vaporous fluids to the charge system.
2 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 1 , wherein the control system includes a charge gas valve for communicating pressurized charge gas to the sump system and a sump outlet valve for purging liquids from the sump system, wherein the control system is configured for sump purging operations including opening the sump outlet valve and the charge gas valve in response to a threshold sump fluid level within the sump vessel to purge liquids from the sump vessel.
3 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 2 , wherein the control system is configured to close the vapor control valve under sump purging operations.
4 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 2 , wherein the control system is configured to close one or more valves arranged for selective communication of liquid to the sump system under sump purging operations.
5 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 1 , wherein the sump system is arranged to receive selective communication of liquid an LP liquid from a source other that the charge system.
6 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 5 , wherein the source other than the charge system includes at least one of a fuel gas scrubber system, a suction scrubber, a first interstage scrubber, and a drain of a gas lift gas compressor system.
7 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 1 , wherein the charge system is arranged to receive selective communication of an HP liquid from a source other than the charge system.
8 . The gas lift gas recovery system of claim 7 , wherein the source other than the charge system includes at least one of a second interstage scrubber and a third interstage scrubber.
9 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 7 , wherein the charge system is arranged to receive selective communication of the HP liquid from a source other than the charge system with the HP leg of the charge system.
10 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 1 , wherein the gas lift gas recovery system is skid mounted.
11 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 1 , further comprising a methane recovery system for recovering hydrocarbon gas.
12 . The gas lift gas recovery system of claim 11 , wherein the methane recovery system includes a methane recovery compressor for increasing pressure of recovered gas.
13 . The gas lift gas recovery system of claim 1 , wherein the sump system includes a heat exchanger arranged to provide heat to the liquids within the sump vessel for encouraging vaporization.
14 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to maintain communication for liquids from the LP leg to the sump system outside of sump purging operations.
15 . The gas lift gas recovery support system of claim 1 , wherein the control system is configured to selectively communicate the sump system with the HP leg of the charge system to transfer liquids to the sump system in response to threshold liquid level within the HP leg.
16 . A gas lift gas recovery system comprising: a gas lift gas recovery support system as recited in claim 1 , and a separator system configured to receive production fluid for separation of liquids therefrom to recover gas lift gas, the separator system arranged in selective communication with the gas lift gas recovery support system to provide liquids from the separator system to the gas lift gas recovery support system.
17 . The gas lift gas recovery system of claim 16 , wherein the separator system is arranged in selective communication with the charge system, and the control system is configured to selectively communicate liquids from the separator system to the charge system in response to threshold liquid level within the separator system during dump cycle operation of the sump system for purging liquids from the sump vessel.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE This application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 18/531,122, filed Dec. 6, 2023, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/431,493, entitled “METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR QUICKSET GAS LIFT SEPARATION AND LIQUID STORAGE WITHOUT ATMOSPHERIC GAS VENTING,” filed on Dec. 9, 2022, the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety, including without limitation, those portions concerning fluids management. FIELD Devices, systems, and methods within the present disclosure concern fluids management in oil and gas production. More specifically, devices, systems, and methods within the present disclosure concern management of preferable fluids in oil and gas production. In the oil and gas industry, gas lift technology can apply high-pressure gas for supplementing formation gas to raise or lift well fluids. Typically, in the production of oil from oil wells with assistance from gas lift systems, gas that is separated from the produced oil is compressed and recycled for further use in production of oil from the well. After the compression stage, the separated gas is returned to the production wells as gas lift gas. In typical gas lift systems, fluids produced from the separation process are sent elsewhere such as to offsite use or routed into haul off tanks. Handling of various fluids can lead to emissions, such as release of gaseous emissions into the atmosphere during transfer to haul off tanks, for example, during a dump cycle. Further, liquids that are stored can evaporate, losing/releasing other gas emissions to the atmosphere. Other sources of unproductive emissions can include gaseous emissions from compressor packing vents associated with compressors. Designs for reducing and/or containing discharges can assist in reducing or eliminating atmospheric emissions. SUMMARY According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a gas lift gas recovery system includes an inlet separator system, a charge system, and a sump system for holding liquids from at least one of the inlet separator systems and the charge system. The inlet separator system may be configured to receive production fluid for separation of liquids therefrom to recover gas lift gas. The inlet separator system may include at least one separator vessel for separation of liquids from gas. The at least one separator vessel may include a production inlet to receive production fluid from a well, a gas lift gas outlet for connection with a gas lift gas compressor system, and a liquid outlet. The charge system may include a high pressure (HP) leg for holding an HP portion of fluid and a low pressure (LP) leg for holding an LP portion of fluid. The charge system may include at least a liquid inlet for selective communication with the liquid outlet of the inlet separator to receive liquids. The sump system may include a sump vessel arranged for selective communication with the charge system via a vapor line to transfer vaporous release to the charge system. In some embodiments, the gas lift gas recovery system may include a control system for operation to conduct selective communication of fluids, wherein the control system is configured to selectively communicate the sump system with at least one of the inlet separator systems and the charge system to transfer liquids to the sump system. In some embodiments, the control system may include a charge gas valve for communicating pressurized charge gas to the sump system. The control system may include a sump outlet valve for purging liquids from the sump system. The control system may be configured to open the sump outlet valve and the charge gas valve in response to a threshold sump fluid level within the sump vessel to purge liquids from the sump vessel. In some embodiments, the control system may include a sump vapor control valve operable between a closed position to block against communication of vaporous release to the charge system and an open position to fluidly communicate the sump system with the charge system to transfer vaporous fluids to the charge system. The control system may be configured to close the sump vapor control valve in response to sump purging operations. The control system may be configured to close one or more valves arranged for selective communication of liquid to the sump system in response to the sump purging operations. In some embodiments, the sump system may be arranged to receive selective communication of liquid from at least one of a fuel gas scrubber system, a suction scrubber, a first interstage scrubber, and a drain of a gas lift gas compressor system. The liquid from the at least one of a fuel gas scrubber system, a suction scrubber, a first interstage scrubber, and a drain of a gas lift gas compressor system may be an LP liquid for selective communication to the sump system via a valve of the control system. In some embodiments, the charge system may be arranged to recei