Method for producing methane-containing gaseous mixtures
AssigneeAmoco Corporation
InventorsRajen Puri, Paul T. Pendergraft
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Abstract
Processes are disclosed for separating an oxygen-containing gas into oxygen-enriched and oxygen-depleted streams. The oxygen-depleted stream is injected into a methane-containing solid carbonaceous subterranean formation to produce a methane-containing gaseous mixture. The oxygen-enriched stream is reacted with a stream containing an oxidizable material which can be the methane-containing mixture.
Claims38
A process for producing a methane-containing gas and for using a process-derived oxygen-enriched gas stream comprising the steps of:
- physically separating a gaseous mixture containing at least about 10 volume percent oxygen into an oxygen-depleted stream and an oxygen-enriched stream;
- injecting the oxygen-depleted stream through an injection well in fluid communication with a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation;
- recovering a gaseous composition comprising methane from a production well in fluid communication with the solid carbonaceous subterranean formation;
- and
- reacting at least a portion of the oxygen-enriched stream with a reactant stream containing at least one oxidizable reactant.
A process for producing a methane-containing gas and for using a process-derived oxygen-enriched gas stream comprising the steps of:
- physically separating a gas containing at least 10 volume percent oxygen and at least 60 volume percent nitrogen into an oxygen-depleted stream and an oxygen-enriched stream;
- injecting the oxygen-depleted stream into a solid carbonaceous subterranean formation through an injection well;
- recovering a gaseous composition comprising methane and nitrogen from a production well in fluid communication with the solid subterranean carbonaceous formation;
- and
- reacting at least a portion of the oxygen-enriched stream with a reactant stream containing at least one reactant selected from the group consisting of methane and methane-derived reactants, said reactant being derived from the recovered gaseous composition.
A process for producing a methane-containing gas and for using a process-derived oxygen-enriched gas stream comprising the steps of:
- physically separating air into an oxygen-depleted stream comprising a volume ratio of nitrogen to oxygen of at least 9:1 and an oxygen-enriched stream comprising a volume ratio of nitrogen to oxygen of less than 2.5 to 1;
- injecting the oxygen-depleted stream into a coalbed through an injection well;
- recovering a gaseous composition comprising methane from a production well in fluid communication with the coalbed;
- and
- reacting at least a portion of the oxygen-enriched stream with a reactant stream containing at least one oxidizable reactant and a portion of the recovered stream containing nitrogen.
A process of producing a methane combustion fuel or petrochemical feed stock comprising the steps of:
- injecting air into an adsorptive bed of material to establish a total pressure on the adsorptive bed of material, the adsorptive bed of material preferentially adsorbing oxygen over nitrogen;
- removing a high pressure effluent, comprising an oxygen-depleted gaseous effluent having a volume ratio of nitrogen to oxygen of at least 6:1, from the adsorptive bed of material;
- lowering the total pressure;
- recovering a low pressure effluent comprising an oxygen-enriched gaseous effluent having a volume ratio of nitrogen to oxygen of less than 4:1;
- injecting the oxygen-depleted effluent into a solid subterranean carbonaceous formation through an injection well;
- recovering a gaseous composition comprising injected nitrogen and methane from at least one production well;
- and
- reacting the oxygen-enriched effluent with the gaseous composition.
A process of producing a synthesis gas comprising the steps of:
- injecting air into an adsorptive bed of material to establish a total pressure on the adsorptive bed of material, the adsorptive bed of material preferentially adsorbing oxygen over nitrogen;
- removing a high pressure effluent, comprising an oxygen-depleted gaseous effluent having a volume ratio of nitrogen to oxygen of at least 6:1, from the adsorptive bed of material;
- lowering the total pressure;
- recovering a low pressure effluent comprising an oxygen-enriched gaseous effluent having a volume ratio of nitrogen to oxygen of less than 4:1;
- injecting the oxygen-depleted effluent into a solid subterranean carbonaceous formation through an injection well;
- recovering a gaseous composition comprising methane from at least one production well;
- and
- reacting the oxygen-enriched effluent with the gaseous composition to produce synthesis gas.
A process of producing a methane combustion fuel comprising the steps of:
- injecting air into an adsorptive bed of material to establish a total pressure on the adsorptive bed of material, the adsorptive bed of material preferentially adsorbing oxygen over nitrogen;
- removing a high pressure effluent, comprising an oxygen-depleted gaseous effluent having a volume ratio of nitrogen to oxygen of at least 6:1, from the adsorptive bed of material;
- lowering the total pressure;
- recovering a low pressure effluent comprising an oxygen-enriched gaseous effluent having a volume ratio of nitrogen to oxygen of less than 4:1;
- injecting the oxygen-depleted effluent into a solid subterranean carbonaceous formation through an injection well;
- recovering a gaseous composition comprising methane from at least one production well;
- and
- reacting the oxygen-enriched effluent with the gaseous composition by combustion with the oxygen-enriched effluent.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.