NGL Stabilization
Stabilization | Process Overview | Major Equipment

Process Overview

The equipment used in the DPC stabilizer process simply provides a way to "cook" the volatile hydrocarbons liquid mix, at the optimum pressure (50 to 350 psig) and the required temperature levels (100°F to 400°F). This is done in a distillation tower, controlled in such a way as to drive off the light gaseous hydrocarbons and other gaseous contaminants to be used as a fuel stream or recycled through the conditioning equipment, eventually to be sold as part of the pipeline quality natural gas. The resulting "stabilized" liquid thereby has a much-reduced volatility.

Stabilization Unit


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In many cases the liquid can be stabilized to a point that it can be stored and transported in non-pressurized vessels (crude tankers,) both enhancing safety in handling, and improving the liquid's marketability. This liquid can be marketed as a crude or "dead" condensate. In other instances, our clients may want to limit the amount of vapor driven off from the liquid, and sell a "moderately" pressurized product to an available market. Meeting a MAPCO “Y-Grade” NGL pipeline specification is a typical application. This choice only requires an adjustment in operating temperature and pressure of the stabilization unit.