Patent US4595404A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4595404A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
CO2 methane separation by low temperature distillation
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1985-01-14
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Granted: 1986-06-17
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Expires: 2005-01-14
Abstract
Abstract A process for the regeneration of a CO 2 gaseous stream such as are utilized in CO 2 miscible flooding for petroleum recovery, is disclosed. The process utilizes an economic, low energy intensive cycle to regenerate a wide range of CO 2 containing compositions, which are typically recycled for further use.
Inventors
- 👤 Brain J. Ozero
- 👤 Michael P. Czaikowski
- 👤 H. Edward Gimpel
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 04:59
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25J; F25J3/00; F25J3/02; F25J3/0228; F25J3/0233; F25J3/0204; F25J3/0209; F25J3/0238; F25J3/0266; F25J2200/00; F25J2200/02; F25J2200/04; F25J2200/30; F25J2200/32; F25J2200/90; F25J2220/00; F25J2220/60; F25J2220/66; F25J2220/80; F25J2220/82; F25J2235/00; F25J2235/80; F25J2290/00; F25J2290/40; Y; Y02; Y02C; Y02C20/00; Y02C20/40; Y10; Y10S; Y10S62/00; Y10S62/928; Y10S62/929
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
190 words
A process comprising, regenerating a CO 2 gaseous feed stream further containing a significant acid gas component having a CO 2 concentration of about 60-90 mole %, as well as a variety of carbonaceous compounds, including, compressing and cooling the CO 2 feed stream to a suitable elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure; substantially removing any acid gases present from the CO 2 feed stream; drying the CO 2 feed stream; separating the CO 2 feed stream in a single distillation zone, which is primarily externally refrigerated, into: (a) a light fuel gas stream having a CO 2 concentration sufficiently high to proclude freezing in said distillation zone, (b) a liquid, substantially CO 2 -containing stream of a purity sufficient for use in tertiary oil recovery, and (c) a heavy hydrocarbon stream; cooling the light fuel gas stream; pressurizing and transporting the substantially CO 2 -containing liquid stream into a suitable heat exchange zone; heating the CO 2 -containing liquid stream to a suitable temperature to form a suitable product stream; separating the heavy hydrocarbon stream into a lighter fuel gas stream and a heavier substantially CO 2 -free hydrocarbon stream.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
190 words
A process comprising, regenerating a CO 2 gaseous feed stream further containing a significant acid gas component having a CO 2 concentration of about 60-90 mole %, as well as a variety of carbonaceous compounds, including, compressing and cooling the CO 2 feed stream to a suitable elevated temperature and superatmospheric pressure; substantially removing any acid gases present from the CO 2 feed stream; drying the CO 2 feed stream; separating the CO 2 feed stream in a single distillation zone, which is primarily externally refrigerated, into: (a) a light fuel gas stream having a CO 2 concentration sufficiently high to proclude freezing in said distillation zone, (b) a liquid, substantially CO 2 -containing stream of a purity sufficient for use in tertiary oil recovery, and (c) a heavy hydrocarbon stream; cooling the light fuel gas stream; pressurizing and transporting the substantially CO 2 -containing liquid stream into a suitable heat exchange zone; heating the CO 2 -containing liquid stream to a suitable temperature to form a suitable product stream; separating the heavy hydrocarbon stream into a lighter fuel gas stream and a heavier substantially CO 2 -free hydrocarbon stream.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the acid gas component comprises H 2 S, COS, mercapatans, and various mixtures thereof.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the carbonaceous compounds present in the CO 2 stream comprise a variety of petroleum-based compounds.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the CO 2 feed stream is compressed and cooled to about 450 to 550 psig and 70° to 90° F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the compressed, cooled and acid gas component removed CO 2 feed is further cooled by contacting with a pressurized CO 2 -containing liquid product stream in a suitable heat exchange zone.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the CO 2 feed stream is dried to about 0 to 2 ppm water by an effective low temperature drying stage.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
40 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light fuel gas stream is substantially comprised of butane and lower hydrocarbons maintained at a temperature of about -60° to -70° F. and a pressure of about 400 to 600 psig.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substantially CO 2 -containing stream is a liquid sidedraw stream comprising at least about 90 mole % CO 2 maintained at about 20°-30° F. and a pressure of about 400 to 600 psig.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heavy hydrocarbon stream substantially comprises the butanes and heavier hydrocarbons.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the distillation zone is externally refrigerated by the utilization of a distillation intercooler unit positioned above the CO 2 -containing sidedraw stream withdrawal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
24 words
A process as claimed in claim 10 wherein the refrigerant for the intercooler unit enters the unit at a temperature of about -10° F.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the substantially CO 2 -containing liquid stream is substantially stripped of non CO 2 component in an adjacent stripping zone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light fuel gas stream is prepared for use as a suitable product stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the CO 2 product stream is maintained at about 800-3500 psig and 30°-60° F.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
32 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the heavy hydrocarbon stream is separated into a light fuel gas product stream and a heavier hydrocarbon product stream by a suitable distillation stage.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
33 words
A process as claimed in claim 15 wherein the lighter gas product stream is combined with the light fuel gas stream from the primary distillation zone to form a fuel gas product stream.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the CO 2 -containing product stream is recycled to underground petroleum formations.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
37 words
A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the light fuel gas stream is cooled for use as a product by contacting in a suitably refrigerated overhead condenser unit and removing a desired light fuel gas fraction.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2551399A
Cited
US3983711A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-06-16 | 1989-12-16 | 1990-06-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-06-16 | 1993-12-16 | 1994-06-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-06-16 | 1997-12-16 | 1998-06-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |