A process is provided for stabilizing a petroleum liquid feed stream which
contains a more volatile hydrocarbon portion, a less volatile hydrocarbon
portion and water. The more volatile hydrocarbon portion of the petroleum
liquid feed stream is reacted with the water in a fluidized bed heat
exchanger to form a solid hydrate and a petroleum liquid product which
contains the remaining less volatile hydrocarbon portion of the petroleum
liquid feed stream. The petroleum liquid product is separated from the
solid hydrate to recover the resulting petroleum liquid product which is
substantially less volatile and more stable than the petroleum liquid
feed stream and more suitable for storage or transport, particularly at
low pressures.