Removal of H.sub.2 S and/or CO.sub.2 from a light hydrocarbon stream by use of gas permeable membrane
OwnerT. E. Cooley, A. B. Coadyinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for removing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 from a natural gas stream involves the employment of a dried cellulose ester membrane having a permeability for H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 of at least 10.sup.-8. A gas permeation process may also be used to produce a CO.sub.2 rich stream from gas in gas reservoirs which contain a large amount of CO.sub.2. The produced rich CO.sub.2 stream may then be used in flooding processes for enchanced oil recovery.
Claims17
A method for removing H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 from a gaseous hydrocarbon feed stream comprising H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 which comprises:
- exposing a first side of a thin dry supported cellulose ester membrane having a helium permeability constant of at least 10.sup.-7 and having a separation factor for CO.sub.2 /CH.sub.4 of at least about 5 to said feed stream;
- maintaining said first side at a pressure of at least 100 psi greater than the permeate side of said membrane;
- separately removing the permeate stream and the residue of the feed stream from contact with said membrane to maintain a higher partial pressure of H.sub.2 S and CO.sub.2 on said first side than on said permeate side.
A method of removing CO.sub.2 from a gaseous hydrocarbon feed stream comprising CO.sub.2 which comprises:
- exposing a first side of a thin dry supported cellulose ester membrane having a helium permeability constant of at least 10.sup.-7 and having a separation factor for CO.sub.2 /CH.sub.4 of at least about 5 to said feed stream;
- maintaining said first side at a pressure of at least 100 psi greater than the permeate side of said membrane;
- separately removing the permeate stream and the residue of the feed stream from contact with said membrane to maintain a higher partial pressure of CO.sub.2 on said first side than on said permeate side.
A method of removing H.sub.2 S from a gaseous hydrocarbon feed stream comprising H.sub.2 S which comprises:
- exposing a first side of a thin dry supported cellulose ester membrane having a helium permeability constant of at least 10.sup.-7 and having a separation factor for CO.sub.2 /CH.sub.4 of at least about 5 to said feed stream;
- maintaining said first side at a pressure of at least 100 psi greater than the permeate side of said membrane;
- separately removing the permeate stream and the residue of the feed stream from contact with said membrane to maintain a higher partial pressure of H.sub.2 S on said first side than on said permeate side.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.