CPC F17C 11/007 (2013.01) [B63B 2025/087 (2013.01); F17C 2205/013 (2013.01); F17C 2205/0107 (2013.01); F17C 2223/0123 (2013.01); F17C 2270/0105 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
1. A process of storing a mixture of natural gas and a hydrocarbon solvent to yield greater storage densities for the natural gas in the mixture than compressed natural gas at the same storage conditions, comprising:
loading a single phase liquid medium in a containment system, the single phase liquid medium comprising natural gas absorbed in a liquid hydrocarbon solvent, wherein the mol percentage of the liquid hydrocarbon solvent combined with the natural gas is a function of the gas composition of the natural gas, the gas composition of the liquid hydrocarbon solvent, and the storage pressure and temperature conditions to optimize the storage densities of the natural gas of the single phase liquid medium for pressures and temperatures at which the single phase liquid medium is set to be stored, and
storing the single phase liquid medium in the containment system at a storage temperature in a range between −80 F to about −120 F and a storage pressure in a range between 500 psig and 900 psig, wherein the natural gas of the single phase liquid medium is stored at storage densities that exceed storage densities of compressed natural gas for the same pressure and temperatures.
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