Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recovering a natural gas contaminated with high levels of carbon dioxide. A gas containing methane and carbon dioxide is extracted from a reservoir containing natural gas, where carbon dioxide comprises greater than 40 vol. % of the extracted gas. The extracted gas is scrubbed with a wash effective to produce a washed extracted gas containing less carbon dioxide than the extracted gas and at least 20 vol. % carbon dioxide. The washed extracted gas is oxidized with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a partial oxidation catalyst to produce an oxidation product gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The oxidation product gas is then utilized to produce a liquid methanol product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and furnace for generating straightened flames in a steam methane reformer or ethylene cracking furnace where fuel-staged burners are used. Fuel staging may be used for reducing NOx emissions. Criteria for generating straightened flames are provided. These criteria relate to oxidant conduit geometry and furnace geometry. Techniques for modifying the furnace and/or burners to achieve these criteria are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method for recovering a natural gas contaminated with high levels of carbon dioxide. A gas containing methane and carbon dioxide is extracted from a reservoir containing natural gas, where carbon dioxide comprises at least 50 vol. % of the extracted gas. The extracted gas is oxidized with an oxygen containing gas in the presence of a partial oxidation catalyst at a temperature of less than 600° C. to produce an oxidation product gas containing hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. The oxidation product gas is then utilized to produce a liquid hydrocarbon or a liquid hydrocarbon oxygenate.

Abstract: Methods of generating subsurface heat for treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. Methods include providing steam to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of locations in a wellbore. The steam is hotter than a temperature of the portion. The steam is heated in the wellbore by combusting a stream comprising hydrogen sulfide in the wellbore. Heat from the combustion transfers to the steam. The steam provided the portion at a first location in the wellbore is hotter than steam provided at a second location in the wellbore along the length of the wellbore, where the first location is further from a surface of the formation than the second location along the length of the wellbore.

Abstract: Methods of generating subsurface heat for treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. Methods include providing steam to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of locations in a wellbore. The steam is hotter than a temperature of the portion. The steam is heated in the wellbore by combusting a stream comprising hydrogen sulfide in the wellbore. Heat from the combustion transfers to the steam. The steam provided the portion at a first location in the wellbore is hotter than steam provided at a second location in the wellbore along the length of the wellbore, where the first location is further from a surface of the formation than the second location along the length of the wellbore.

Abstract: Methods of generating subsurface heat for treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. Steam is provided to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation from a plurality of substantially horizontal steam injection wells. A mixture comprising hydrogen sulfide and an oxidant is combusted in one or more flameless distributed combustors positioned in one or more substantially vertical wellbores to generate heat. At least one of the substantially vertical wellbores is within ten meters of an end of at least one of the substantially horizontal steam injection wells, and at least a portion of the generated heat is transferred to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation located between at least one of the substantially horizontal steam injection wells and at least one of the substantially vertical heater wells to mobilize formation fluids for recovery.

Abstract: Methods for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. A comprising hydrogen sulfide is combusted in one or more surface facilities exterior to the hydrocarbon containing formation to produce a sulfur oxides stream. At least a portion of the sulfur oxides stream is provided to a hydrocarbon containing formation. Steam may be provided to the hydrocarbon containing formation. Mixing of the steam and/or water in the formation with the sulfur oxides generates heat of solution in the hydrocarbon containing formation for mobilizing formation fluids.

Abstract: Methods of generating subsurface heat for treating a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. The methods include providing a stream that includes water to a plurality of wellbores. Fuel and oxidant is provided to one or more flameless distributed combustors positioned in at least one of the wellbores. The fuel and oxidant is mixed to form a fuel/oxidant mixture. At least a portion of the mixture is flamelessly combusted in at least one of the flameless distributed combustors to generate heat. The fuel includes at least 0.1% hydrogen sulfide by volume.

Abstract: Methods of generating subsurface heat for treatment of a hydrocarbon containing formation are described herein. Methods include providing water through one or more wellbores to at least a portion of a hydrocarbon containing formation and combusting at least a portion of a fuel stream comprising hydrogen sulfide in the presence of an oxygen source in one or more heaters positioned in one of the wellbores to produce a combustion by-products stream. Heat from the combustion is transferred to a portion of the hydrocarbon containing formation. The combustion by-products stream includes one or more sulfur oxides. Heat of solution is released by contacting at least a portion of the combustion by-products stream with a portion of the water and/or a portion of water in the hydrocarbon containing formation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and apparatus for the production of pure hydrogen by steam reforming. The process integrates the steam reforming and shift reaction to produce pure hydrogen with minimal production of CO and virtually no CO in the hydrogen stream, provides for CO2 capture for sequestration, employs a steam reforming membrane reactor, and is powered by heat from the convection section of a heater.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for generating electricity with a solid oxide fuel cell system with low carbon dioxide emissions. A liquid hydrocarbon feed is cracked in a first reaction zone, and fed as a gaseous feed to a second reaction zone. The feed is steam reformed in the second reaction zone to provide a reformed product gas containing hydrogen. Hydrogen is separated from the reformed product gas and is fed as a fuel to the anode of a solid oxide fuel cell. Electricity is generated in the fuel cell by oxidizing the hydrogen in the fuel. An anode exhaust stream containing hydrogen and steam is fed back into the first reaction zone to provide heat to drive the endothermic reactions in the first and second reaction zones, and to recycle unused hydrogen back to the fuel cell. Carbon dioxide is produced in relatively small quantities in the process due to the thermal and electrical efficiency of the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solid oxide fuel cell system. The system includes a pre-reforming reactor, a reforming reactor, a hydrogen separation apparatus and a solid oxide fuel cell. The anode exhaust outlet of the solid oxide fuel cell is operatively connected to an inlet of the pre-reforming reactor so anode exhaust from the fuel cell may enter the pre-reforming reactor. The pre-reforming reactor also has an inlet for a hydrocarbon feed precursor. The reforming reactor is operatively coupled to the pre-reforming reactor so that a feed produced in the pre-reforming reactor from the feed precursor may be fed to the reforming reactor. The reforming reactor is operatively connected to the hydrogen separation apparatus so that hydrogen produced in the reforming reactor may be separated from the reformed product gases.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for generating electricity with a solid oxide fuel cell system with low carbon dioxide production. First and second gas streams containing hydrogen are fed at independently selected rates to an anode of a solid oxide fuel cell. The first and second gas streams are mixed with an oxidant at one or more anode electrodes of the solid oxide fuel cell to generate electricity. An anode exhaust stream comprising hydrogen and water is separated from the anode of the fuel cell, and the second gas stream comprising hydrogen is separated from the anode exhaust stream and fed back to the anode of the fuel cell. The rates that the first and second gas streams are fed to the fuel cell are selected so the fuel cell generates a high electrical power density.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a solid oxide fuel cell system for generating electrical power. The system comprises a solid oxide fuel cell, a reforming reactor, a hydrogen separation apparatus, and an anode exhaust conduit. The reforming reactor includes a reforming region in which a feed comprising one or more hydrocarbons may be steam reformed to produce a reformed product gas containing hydrogen. The hydrogen separation apparatus is located in the reforming reactor positioned to separate hydrogen from the reformed product gas produced in the reforming reactor. The hydrogen separation apparatus is operatively connected to the anode of the solid oxide fuel cell to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell as a fuel to be oxidized to produce electricity.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a solid oxide fuel cell system for generating electrical power. The system comprises a solid oxide fuel cell, a reforming reactor, and a hydrogen separation apparatus. The reforming reactor includes a reforming region in which a feed comprising one or more hydrocarbons may be steam reformed to produce a reformed product gas containing hydrogen. The hydrogen separation apparatus is located in the reforming reactor positioned to separate hydrogen from the reformed product gas produced in the reforming reactor. The hydrogen separation apparatus is operatively connected to the anode of the solid oxide fuel cell to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell as a fuel to be oxidized to produce electricity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for generating electricity with a solid oxide fuel cell system. First and second gas streams containing hydrogen are fed at independently selected rates to an anode of a solid oxide fuel cell. The first and second gas streams are mixed with an oxidant at one or more anode electrodes of the solid oxide fuel cell to generate electricity. An anode exhaust stream comprising hydrogen and water is separated from the anode of the fuel cell, and the second gas stream comprising hydrogen is separated from the anode exhaust stream and fed back to the anode of the fuel cell. The rates that the first and second gas streams are fed to the fuel cell are selected so the fuel cell generates a high electrical power density.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for generating electricity in a solid oxide fuel cell system. A mixture of steam and a hydrocarbon containing feed is reformed to produce a reformed product gas containing hydrogen. A first gas stream containing at least 0.6 mole fraction hydrogen is separated from the reformed product gas and fed to the anode of a solid oxide fuel cell. The first gas stream is mixed with an oxidant at one or more anode electrodes in the fuel cell to generate electricity. An anode exhaust stream comprising hydrogen and water is separated from the fuel cell. The anode exhaust stream and/or a cathode exhaust stream from the fuel cell is fed into the reforming reactor, where heat is exchanged between the hot anode and/or cathode exhaust streams and the reactants in the reforming reactor.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a process for generating electricity in a solid oxide fuel cell system with low carbon dioxide emissions. A mixture of steam and a hydrocarbon containing feed is reformed to produce a reformed product gas containing hydrogen. A first gas stream containing at least 0.6 mole fraction hydrogen is separated from the reformed product gas and fed to the anode of a solid oxide fuel cell. The first gas stream is mixed with an oxidant at one or more anode electrodes in the fuel cell to generate electricity. An anode exhaust stream comprising hydrogen and water is separated from the fuel cell. The anode exhaust stream and/or a cathode exhaust stream from the fuel cell is fed into the reforming reactor, where heat is exchanged between the hot anode and/or cathode exhaust streams and the reactants in the reforming reactor. Carbon dioxide is produced in relatively small quantities in the process due to the thermal efficiency of the process.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for generating electricity with a solid oxide fuel cell system. A liquid hydrocarbon feed is cracked in a first reaction zone, and fed as a gaseous feed to a second reaction zone. The feed is steam reformed in the second reaction zone to provide a reformed product gas containing hydrogen. Hydrogen is separated from the reformed product gas and is fed as a fuel to the anode of a solid oxide fuel cell. Electricity is generated in the fuel cell by oxidizing the hydrogen in the fuel. An anode exhaust stream containing hydrogen and steam is fed back into the first reaction zone to provide heat to drive the endothermic reactions in the first and second reaction zone, and to recycle unused hydrogen back to the fuel cell.

Abstract: A burner for producing a plug-like flow and low NOx emissions. The burner has a central air jet and plural staged fuel jets surrounding the central jet. The ratio of the sum of the momentums of vector components of the staged jets along respective axes parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the central jet to the momentum of the central jet along that axis is within the range of 0.5 to 1.5 and most preferably 0.8.