Page 216 - Petroleum and Gas Field Processing

reboiled trayed stabilizer is shown in Figure 8. Its operation is
similar to a stabilizer with stripping gas, except that a reboiler
generates the stripping vapors flowing up the column rather than
using a stripping gas. These vapors are more effective because
they possess energy momentum due to elevated temperature.
Because hydrogen sulfide has a vapor pressure higher than propane,
it is relatively easy to drive hydrogen sulfide from the oil. Conversely, the
trayed stabilizer provides enough vapor/liquid contact that little pentanes
plus are lost to the overhead.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abdel-Aal, H. K., Surface Petroleum Operations, Saudi Publishing & Distributing
House, Jeddah, 1998.
Kister, H. Z., Distillation Operations, McGraw-Hill, New York, 1988.
Meyers, R. A. (ed.), Handbook of Petroleum Refining Processes, McGraw-Hill
Book Company, New York, 1996.
Moins, Georges, ‘‘Stabilization Process Comparison Helps Selection’’, Oil and Gas
Journal, January 28, 1980:163–173.

REVIEW QUESTIONS

1. Explain the function of crude oil stabilization operation.
2. Why do lighter crude oils need stabilization but heavier crude oil may
not need stabilization?
3. What is the difference between sweet and sour crude oils?
4. What is the function of the crude oil sweetening process?
5. Why it is necessary to remove H 2 S from crude oil?
6. Describe how stabilization by flashing is achieved. Under what
conditions could this method of stabilization be used.
7. Describe the principle of stripping operation for crude oil stabilization.
8. What are the conditions under which crude oil stabilization should be
employed?
9. Describe the principles of operation of the following crude oil
sweetening processes:

(i) Stage vaporization with stripping gas
(ii) Trayed stabilization with stripping gas
(iii) Reboiled trayed stabilization

Copyright 2003 by Marcel Dekker, Inc. All Rights Reserved.