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US 8,273,937 B2Granted
Generating natural gas from heavy hydrocarbons
AssigneePetroleum Habitats, L.L.C.
InventorFrank D. Mango
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods for producing in a reactor natural gas from heavy hydrocarbons. A mixture of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst comprising a transition metal are heated under an anoxic condition in a reactor. Natural gas, e.g., catalytic natural gas, is generated from the heavy hydrocarbons by a disproportionation reaction promoted by the catalyst. The anoxic condition can be created by flowing an anoxic stimulation gas in the reactor.
Claims17
A method of producing, in a reactor, natural gas from heavy hydrocarbons, comprising:
- mixing heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst and forming a heavy hydrocarbon catalyst mixture;
- flowing, in the reactor, an anoxic stimulation gas having a concentration of less than 1 ppm O2 by volume, wherein the anoxic stimulation gas is not hydrogen;
- heating in a range from about 25° C. to about 250° C., in the reactor, the heavy hydrocarbon catalyst mixture in the presence of the anoxic stimulation gas;
- and
- generating a catalytic natural gas from the heavy hydrocarbons by a disproportionation reaction promoted by the catalyst;
- wherein the catalyst is a source rock comprising a transition metal or is a mixture of compounds in proportions identified in a source rock comprising a transition metal.
3 more elements
A method for catalytic generation of natural gas, comprising:
- creating an anoxic condition in a reactor containing a mixture of heavy hydrocarbons and a catalyst;
- heating the mixture in the anoxic conditions of the reactor in a range from about 25° C. to about 250° C.;
- and
- generating in the reactor a catalytic natural gas from the heavy hydrocarbons by a disproportionation reaction promoted by the catalyst;
- wherein creating the anoxic condition comprises flowing an anoxic stimulation gas having a concentration of less than 1 O2 in the reactor;
- and
- wherein the catalyst is a source rock comprising a transition metal or is a mixture of compounds in proportions identified in a source rock comprising a transition metal.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.