Patents by Inventor Feras Hamad
Feras Hamad has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11851625Abstract: Methods are provided for reducing the quantity of acid gas reinjected into a reservoir by partial CO2 removal processes. The methods include acid gas removal, acid gas enrichment, generation of a CO2 rich stream and an H2S rich stream, and reinjection of the H2S rich stream into the reservoir. The acid gas enrichment can be performed by a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit, a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit, or a combination of a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit a and membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit. The system includes an acid gas removal unit, one or more acid gas enrichment units, and an acid gas reinjection compressor. The acid gas enrichment unit can be a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit, a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit, or a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit and a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 20, 2021Date of Patent: December 26, 2023Inventors: Milind Vaidya, Sebastien Duval, Feras Hamad, Ghulam Shabbir, Nasser Al-Aslai, Ahmad Bahamdan, Richard Baker, Tim Merkel, Kaaeid Lokhandwala
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Patent number: 11759766Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for improving sulfur recovery from a Claus unit. More specifically, this invention provides a sorption based SO2 selective crosslinked polyionic liquid system and method for treating acid gas streams and minimizing sulfur dioxide emissions therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: September 22, 2022Date of Patent: September 19, 2023Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Milind M. Vaidya, Sebastien A. Duval, Veera Venkata R. Tammana, Georgios Lithoxoos, Aadesh Harale, Feras Hamad, Faisal D. Al-Otaibi
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Patent number: 11638898Abstract: This invention relates to a system and method for improving sulfur recovery from a Claus unit. More specifically, this invention provides a steam swept membrane tail gas treatment system and method for treating acid gas streams and minimizing sulfur dioxide emissions therefrom.Type: GrantFiled: March 25, 2022Date of Patent: May 2, 2023Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Feras Hamad, Sebastien A. Duval, Milind M. Vaidya, Ahmad A. Bahamdan, Faisal D. Al-Otaibi
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Patent number: 11596899Abstract: A membrane module includes a housing. The housing includes a housing, comprising: a first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes, and a second plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes different from the first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes. The first plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes has a first length, and the second plurality of porous hollow fiber membranes has a second length that is at least 1.1 times greater than the first length. The membrane module can be used in separation methods, such as membrane distillation methods.Type: GrantFiled: December 20, 2021Date of Patent: March 7, 2023Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Seung-Hak Choi, Sebastien A. Duval, Milind M. Vaidya, Feras Hamad
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Publication number: 20230001349Abstract: Methods and systems for recovering sulfur dioxide from a Claus unit process emissions stream are provided. The method comprises the steps of generating a process emissions stream from a thermal oxidizer or other combustion device, introducing the emissions stream to an SO2 removal system, introducing the SO2 rich stream from the SO2 removal system to a CO2 removal system, and introducing an enriched SO2 stream back to the Claus unit. The SO2 removal system can include one or more SO2 selective membranes. The CO2 removal system can include one or more CO2 selective membranes.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 24, 2021Publication date: January 5, 2023Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Membrane Technology and Research, IncInventors: Milind Vaidya, Sebastien Duval, Feras Hamad, Richard Baker, Tim Merkel, Kaaeid Lokhandwala, Ahmad Bahamdan, Faisal Al-Otaibi
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Publication number: 20220380693Abstract: Methods are provided for reducing the quantity of acid gas reinjected into a reservoir by partial CO2 removal processes. The methods include acid gas removal, acid gas enrichment, generation of a CO2 rich stream and an H2S rich stream, and reinjection of the H2S rich stream into the reservoir. The acid gas enrichment can be performed by a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit, a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit, or a combination of a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit a and membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit. The system includes an acid gas removal unit, one or more acid gas enrichment units, and an acid gas reinjection compressor. The acid gas enrichment unit can be a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit, a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit, or a solvent-based acid gas enrichment unit and a membrane-based acid gas enrichment unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2021Publication date: December 1, 2022Applicants: Saudi Arabian Oil Company, Membrane Technology and Research, IncInventors: Milind Vaidya, Sebastien Duval, Feras Hamad, Ghulam Shabbir, Nasser Al-Aslai, Ahmad Bahamdan, Richard Baker, Tim Merkel, Kaaeid Lokhandwala
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Patent number: 11420153Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur from a sour gas is provided. The process includes the steps of: providing the sour gas to a membrane separation unit having a carbon dioxide-selective membrane that comprises a perfluoropolymer, wherein the sour gas comprises carbon dioxide and at least 1 mol % hydrogen sulfide; separating the sour gas using the carbon dioxide-selective membrane in the membrane separation stage to obtain hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas and hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas, wherein the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas has a hydrogen sulfide concentration of at least 20 mol %, and wherein the hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas comprises carbon dioxide; and processing the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas in a sulfur recovery unit to obtain sulfur.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignees: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.Inventors: Milind M. Vaidya, Sebastien A. Duval, Feras Hamad, Richard Baker, Tim Merkel, Kaaeid Lokhandwala, Ahmad A. Bahamdan, Faisal D. Al-Otaibi
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Patent number: 11420155Abstract: A process for sweetening a syngas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a syngas stream to a nonselective amine absorption unit, the sour syngas stream comprising syngas, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide; separating the syngas stream in the nonselective amine absorption unit to obtain an overhead syngas stream and an acid gas stream; introducing the acid gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the acid gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the acid gas stream in the membrane separation unit to produce a retentate stream and a permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: August 23, 2022Assignees: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY and, MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCHInventors: Milind M. Vaidya, Sebastien A. Duval, Feras Hamad, Richard Baker, Tim Merkel, Kaaeid Lokhandwala, Ivy Huang, Ahmad A. Bahamdan, Faisal D. Al-Otaibi
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Patent number: 11383200Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for treating the tail gas stream of a sulfur recovery plant. The methods including generating a tail gas stream from a sulfur recovery plant, treating the tail gas stream with a hydrogen sulfide removal unit and a hydrogen selective membrane unit, generating a stream low in hydrogen sulfide and a stream rich in hydrogen. The hydrogen sulfide rich stream is recycled to the sulfur recovery unit. The hydrogen selective membrane unit includes a glassy polymer membrane selective for hydrogen over hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Inventors: Seung-Hak Choi, Sebastien Andre Duval, Milind Vaidya, Feras Hamad, Ahmad Bahamdan, Ahmed Al-Talib
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Publication number: 20220205717Abstract: A process for recovering a noncondensable gas from a gaseous mixture, the method comprising the steps of: supplying a gaseous mixture comprising a noncondensable component; supplying a sweep gas comprising a condensable component; introducing the gaseous mixture and the sweep gas to a swept membrane stage to obtain a retentate stream and a mixed permeate stream, the mixed permeate stream comprising at least a portion of the condensable component and at least a portion of the noncondensable component; introducing the mixed permeate stream to a vapor-liquid separator and subjecting the mixed permeate stream to thermodynamic conditions sufficient to condense most of the condensable component into a liquid, and obtain a raw noncondensable component stream, wherein the raw noncondensable component stream is enriched in the noncondensable component; and introducing the raw noncondensable component to a concentration unit to obtain a noncondensable component product stream enriched in the noncondensable component.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2020Publication date: June 30, 2022Applicant: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANYInventors: Feras HAMAD, Sebastien DUVAL, Milind VAIDYA, Ghulam SHABBIR, Ahmad BAHAMDAN
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Patent number: 11325065Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur and carbon dioxide from a sour gas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a sour gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the sour gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the hydrogen sulfide from the carbon dioxide in the membrane separation unit to obtain a retentate stream and a first permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur; introducing the permeate stream to an amine absorption unit; and processing the permeate stream in the amine absorption unit to produce an enriched carbon dioxide stream.Type: GrantFiled: May 18, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignees: MEMBRANE TECHNOLOGY AND RESEARCH, INC.Inventors: Milind M. Vaidya, Sebastien A. Duval, Feras Hamad, Richard Baker, Tim Merkel, Kaaeid Lokhandwala, Ahmad A. Bahamdan, Faisal D. Al-Otaibi
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Patent number: 11325066Abstract: Recovering helium from a gaseous stream includes contacting an acid gas removal membrane with a gaseous stream to yield a permeate stream and a residual stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the residual stream to yield a first acid gas stream and a helium depleted clean gas stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the permeate stream to yield a second acid gas stream and a helium rich stream, and removing helium from the helium rich stream to yield a helium product stream and a helium depleted stream. A helium removal system for removing helium from a gaseous stream including hydrocarbon gas, acid gas, and helium includes a first processing zone including a first acid gas removal unit, a second processing zone including a second acid gas removal unit, a third processing zone, and a helium purification unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2020Date of Patent: May 10, 2022Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Feras Hamad, Megat A. Rithauddeen, Taib Abang, Milind Vaidya, Sebastien A. Duval
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Publication number: 20220062818Abstract: Methods and systems are provided for treating the tail gas stream of a sulfur recovery plant. The methods including generating a tail gas stream from a sulfur recovery plant, treating the tail gas stream with a hydrogen sulfide removal unit and a hydrogen selective membrane unit, generating a stream low in hydrogen sulfide and a stream rich in hydrogen. The hydrogen sulfide rich stream is recycled to the sulfur recovery unit. The hydrogen selective membrane unit includes a glassy polymer membrane selective for hydrogen over hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 3, 2020Publication date: March 3, 2022Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Seung-Hak Choi, Sebastien Andre Duval, Milind Vaidya, Feras Hamad, Ahmad Bahamdan, Ahmed Al-Talib
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Publication number: 20210031139Abstract: Recovering helium from a gaseous stream includes contacting an acid gas removal membrane with a gaseous stream to yield a permeate stream and a residual stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the residual stream to yield a first acid gas stream and a helium depleted clean gas stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the permeate stream to yield a second acid gas stream and a helium rich stream, and removing helium from the helium rich stream to yield a helium product stream and a helium depleted stream. A helium removal system for removing helium from a gaseous stream including hydrocarbon gas, acid gas, and helium includes a first processing zone including a first acid gas removal unit, a second processing zone including a second acid gas removal unit, a third processing zone, and a helium purification unit.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 10, 2020Publication date: February 4, 2021Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Feras Hamad, Megat A. Rithauddeen, Taib Abang, Milind Vaidya, Sebastien A. Duval
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Publication number: 20200360853Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur from a sour gas is provided. The process includes the steps of: providing the sour gas to a membrane separation unit having a carbon dioxide-selective membrane that comprises a perfluoropolymer, wherein the sour gas comprises carbon dioxide and at least 1 mol % hydrogen sulfide; separating the sour gas using the carbon dioxide-selective membrane in the membrane separation stage to obtain hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas and hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas, wherein the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas has a hydrogen sulfide concentration of at least 20 mol %, and wherein the hydrogen sulfide-stripped gas comprises carbon dioxide; and processing the hydrogen sulfide-enriched gas in a sulfur recovery unit to obtain sulfur.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Milind M. VAIDYA, Sebastien A. DUVAL, Feras HAMAD, Richard BAKER, Tim MERKEL, Kaeeid LOKHANDWALA, Ahmad A. BAHAMDAN, Faisal D. AL-OTAIBI
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Publication number: 20200360854Abstract: A process for recovering sulfur and carbon dioxide from a sour gas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a sour gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the sour gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the hydrogen sulfide from the carbon dioxide in the membrane separation unit to obtain a retentate stream and a first permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur; introducing the permeate stream to an amine absorption unit; and processing the permeate stream in the amine absorption unit to produce an enriched carbon dioxide stream.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Milind M. VAIDYA, Sebastien A. DUVAL, Feras HAMAD, Richard BAKER, Tim MERKEL, Kaeeid LOKHANDWALA, Ahmad A. BAHAMDAN, Faisal D. AL-OTAIBI
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Publication number: 20200360855Abstract: A process for sweetening a syngas stream, the process comprising the steps of: providing a syngas stream to a nonselective amine absorption unit, the sour syngas stream comprising syngas, carbon dioxide, and hydrogen sulfide; separating the syngas stream in the nonselective amine absorption unit to obtain an overhead syngas stream and an acid gas stream; introducing the acid gas stream to a membrane separation unit, the acid gas stream comprising hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide; separating the acid gas stream in the membrane separation unit to produce a retentate stream and a permeate stream, wherein the retentate stream comprises hydrogen sulfide, wherein the permeate stream comprises carbon dioxide; introducing the retentate stream to a sulfur recovery unit; processing the retentate stream in the sulfur recovery unit to produce a sulfur stream and a tail gas stream, wherein the sulfur stream comprises liquid sulfur.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 18, 2020Publication date: November 19, 2020Applicants: SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Membrane Technology and Research, Inc.Inventors: Milind M. VAIDYA, Sebastien A. DUVAL, Feras HAMAD, Richard BAKER, Tim MERKEL, Kaeeid LOKHANDWALA, Ivy HUANG, Ahmad A. BAHAMDAN, Faisal D. AL-OTAIBI
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Patent number: 10765995Abstract: Recovering helium from a gaseous stream includes contacting an acid gas removal membrane with a gaseous stream to yield a permeate stream and a residual stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the residual stream to yield a first acid gas stream and a helium depleted clean gas stream, removing a majority of the acid gas from the permeate stream to yield a second acid gas stream and a helium rich stream, and removing helium from the helium rich stream to yield a helium product stream and a helium depleted stream. A helium removal system for removing helium from a gaseous stream including hydrocarbon gas, acid gas, and helium includes a first processing zone including a first acid gas removal unit, a second processing zone including a second acid gas removal unit, a third processing zone, and a helium purification unit.Type: GrantFiled: May 25, 2018Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Feras Hamad, Megat A. Rithauddeen, Taib Abang, Milind Vaidya, Sebastien A. Duval
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Patent number: 10479684Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.Type: GrantFiled: September 11, 2018Date of Patent: November 19, 2019Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil CompnayInventors: Jean-Pierre R. Ballaguet, Milind M. Vaidya, Iran D. Charry-Prada, Sebastien A. Duval, Feras Hamad, John P. O'Connell, Rashid M. Othman
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Publication number: 20190016598Abstract: A method for recovering sulfur from an acid gas feed is provided. The method comprising the steps of mixing the acid gas feed and an absorption process outlet stream to form a combined Claus feed, introducing the combined Claus feed and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed to a Claus process to produce a Claus outlet gas stream, introducing the Claus outlet gas stream to a thermal oxidizer, treating the thermal oxidizer outlet stream in a gas treatment unit to produce a dehydrated stream, introducing the dehydrated stream to a membrane sweeping unit to produce a sweep membrane residue stream and a sulfur dioxide enriched air feed, introducing a sweep air stream to a permeate side of the membrane sweeping unit, and introducing the sweep membrane residue stream to a sulfur dioxide absorption process to produce the absorption process outlet stream and a stack feed.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 11, 2018Publication date: January 17, 2019Applicant: Saudi Arabian Oil CompanyInventors: Jean-Pierre R. BALLAGUET, Milind M. VAIDYA, Iran D. CHARRY-PRADA, Sebastien A. DUVAL, Feras HAMAD, John P. O'CONNELL, Rashid M. OTHMAN