US6077433A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process for simultaneous extraction of dispersed and dissolved hydrocarbon contaminants from water
Assignee: Cagniard de la Tour AS
•
Filing: 1997-02-28
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Granted: 2000-06-20
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Expires: 2017-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A new process for simultaneous extraction of dispersed and dissolved hydrocarbon contaminants from water. The process is based on the principle of injecting natural hydrocarbon gas to the water feed stream under pressure and temperature conditions which permit the gas to act as a solvent for dissolved and dispersed hydrocarbon contaminants. The dispersed particles "swell" and have a reduced density which markedly improves the efficiency of the downstream separation by liquid--liquid-hydrocyclones.
Inventors
- 👤 Inge Brun Henriksen
- 👤 Gary William Pace
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 19:02
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D11/00; B01D11/04; B01D11/0492; B01D17/00; B01D17/02; B01D17/0208; B01D17/0211; B01D17/0217; B01D17/04; B01D17/047; B04; B04C; B04C11/00; B04C5/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 19
Claim 1
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of separating dissolved and dispersed hydrocarbon contaminants from hydrocarbon-contaminated water, which method comprises the steps of: mixing into a stream of hydrocarbon-contaminated water a liquid hydrocarbon gas; allowing said water and said liquid hydrocarbon gas to separate in a liquid--liquid separator; and removing from said separator an aqueous liquid and a hydrocarbon liquid, said aqueous liquid being more dense than said hydrocarbon liquid; said method further comprising maintaining said water and said liquid hydrocarbon gas within said separator at a temperature and a pressure at which said liquid hydrocarbon gas and hydrocarbon contaminants in said hydrocarbon-contaminated water are miscible and at which said liquid hydrocarbon gas remains liquid, whereby said hydrocarbon liquid is a single phase comprising said liquid hydrocarbon gas and said hydrocarbon contaminants.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
127 words
A method of separating dissolved and dispersed hydrocarbon contaminants from hydrocarbon-contaminated water, which method comprises the steps of: mixing into a stream of hydrocarbon-contaminated water a liquid hydrocarbon gas; allowing said water and said liquid hydrocarbon gas to separate in a liquid--liquid separator; and removing from said separator an aqueous liquid and a hydrocarbon liquid, said aqueous liquid being more dense than said hydrocarbon liquid; said method further comprising maintaining said water and said liquid hydrocarbon gas within said separator at a temperature and a pressure at which said liquid hydrocarbon gas and hydrocarbon contaminants in said hydrocarbon-contaminated water are miscible and at which said liquid hydrocarbon gas remains liquid, whereby said hydrocarbon liquid is a single phase comprising said liquid hydrocarbon gas and said hydrocarbon contaminants.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon gas comprises a mixture of hydrocarbons.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon gas has an average molecular weight of from 30 to 72 g/mole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon gas is Natural Gas Liquid.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon gas comprises less than 64 mole % methane.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon gas is mixed with said hydrocarbon-contaminated water stream in an amount of at least 3.3 St m 3 liquid hydrocarbon gas/m 3 hydrocarbon-contaminated water.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon gas is mixed with said hydrocarbon-contaminated water stream in an amount of at least 3.3 St m 3 liquid hydrocarbon gas/kg contaminant.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
33 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said liquid hydrocarbon gas is mixed with said hydrocarbon-contaminated water stream in an amount of at least 25 moles liquid hydrocarbon gas per mole contaminant.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon-contaminated water stream has a temperature of 60 to 110° C.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A method as claimed in claim 9 wherein said hydrocarbon-contaminated water stream has a pressure of 30 to 100 bar.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said separator is a hydrocyclone.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said separator is a gravity separator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein the steps of said method are repeated using the initial aqueous liquid as said stream of hydrocarbon-contaminated water for the repetition.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the separator initially used is a gravity separator and the separator subsequently used is a hydrocyclone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
24 words
A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein the separator initially used is a hydrocyclone and the separator subsequently used is a gravity separator.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
14 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hydrocarbon-contaminated water is produced water.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
59 words
A method as claimed in claim 1 wherein said stream of hydrocarbon-contaminated water and said liquid hydrocarbon gas both derive from the product stream of an underground oil reservoir which is separated into gas, oil and water streams, said stream of hydrocarbon-contaminated water deriving from said water stream and said liquid hydrocarbon gas being obtained from said gas stream.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
25 words
A method as claimed in claim 17 wherein gas from said gas stream is depleted in methane in the production of said liquid hydrocarbon gas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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Cited
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Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2003-06-20 | 2003-12-20 | 2004-06-20 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2007-06-20 | 2007-12-20 | 2008-06-20 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2011-06-20 | 2011-12-20 | 2012-06-20 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |