Abstract: Disclosed is a method for removing hydrogen sulfide from natural gas. The method includes passing a natural gas feed including methane and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) through a membrane at normal operating conditions. The membrane is an asymmetric hollow fiber membrane or an asymmetric film composite membrane including a porous layer and a nonporous skin layer. The asymmetric hollow fiber membrane or the nonporous skin layer of the asymmetric film composite membrane plasticizes during the method by exposure to condensable gases with high critical temperature under the operating conditions. The membrane preferentially removes H2S over methane from the natural gas feed at a H2S/methane selectivity of from 7 to 40 when measured at 35° C. and 45 bar.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method of capturing CO2 from a FCC regenerator using select membranes.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for reducing elemental sulfur production in a gas production plant that includes receiving produced fluids high in hydrogen sulfide, removing hydrogen sulfide and converting hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur in a Claus unit. An acid gas stream is diverted from a feed line to the Claus unit in the gas processing plant and directed to a multistage acid gas compressor. An elemental sulfur production rate is reduced without reducing a production rate of the produced fluids. The compressed acid gas stream can be injected into a subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the gas production plant is integrated with an oil processing and gas injection plant.

Abstract: The present invention provides an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas separation performance properties and a process for preparing an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas separation performance properties. The process comprises treating a polymeric precursor fiber with a solution containing a modifying agent prior to pyrolysis. The concentration of the modifying agent in the solution may be selected in order to obtain an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having a desired combination of gas permeance and selectivity properties. The treated precursor fiber is then pyrolyzed to form an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas permeance.

Abstract: The present invention provides an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas separation performance properties and a process for preparing an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas separation performance properties. The process comprises treating a polymeric precursor fiber with a solution containing a modifying agent prior to pyrolysis. The concentration of the modifying agent in the solution may be selected in order to obtain an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having a desired combination of gas permeance and selectivity properties. The treated precursor fiber is then pyrolyzed to form an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas permeance.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for producing oil and gas while removing hydrogen sulfide from fluids produced from oil and gas reservoirs. Hydrogen sulfide-selective membranes are used to remove hydrogen sulfide from bottlenecked plant process steps including hydrogen sulfide removal. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, plant processing efficiency is improved for processing of high temperature associated gas streams by using membranes while integrating heat from other existing process streams. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, plant processing efficiency is improved for processing of high temperature associated gas streams by using high temperature tolerant polymer membranes. Oil and/or gas production is increased.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for processing gas produced from oil and gas reservoirs while removing mercaptans from the gas. Mercaptan-selective membranes are used to debottleneck known systems and methods by removing mercaptans from bottlenecked plant process steps including LPG fractionation and mercaptan sweetening. Hydrogen sulfide can be simultaneously removed by the membranes. Production of on specification LPG and sales gases can be increased.

Abstract: Provided herein is a process for separating alkane isomers from a hydrocarbon mixture in an integrated refining unit, comprising: passing the hydrocarbon mixture through a normal alkane-selective membrane in a single stage to produce a normal alkane-enriched stream and a membrane reject stream; and feeding the normal alkane-enriched stream to a steam cracker to produce olefins; wherein the hydrocarbon mixture comprises n-paraffins and at least two of isoparaffins, cycloparaffins, and aromatics.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods and systems for reducing elemental sulfur production in a gas production plant that includes receiving produced fluids high in hydrogen sulfide, removing hydrogen sulfide and converting hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur in a Claus unit. An acid gas stream is diverted from a feed line to the Claus unit in the gas processing plant and directed to a multistage acid gas compressor. An elemental sulfur production rate is reduced without reducing a production rate of the produced fluids. The compressed acid gas stream can be injected into a subterranean formation. In some embodiments, the gas production plant is integrated with an oil processing and gas injection plant.

Abstract: Processes and systems form diluted brine from saturated brine without direct addition of soft or contaminated water in an oil and/or gas treatment facility. Water containing salt contaminants is fed to a forward osmosis membrane. The salt contaminants can be cations, anions, carbonate, bicarbonate and combinations thereof. A saturated brine solution is fed to a draw side of the forward osmosis membrane which allows water to pass from the feed side to the draw side and minimizes the passage of the salt contaminants from the feed side to the draw side. A diluted brine solution having a TDS concentration lower than a TDS concentration of the saturated brine solution is removed from the draw side outlet of the forward osmosis membrane. A concentrated contaminated water stream having a TDS concentration higher than a TDS concentration of the contaminated water feed is removed from the feed side outlet of the forward osmosis membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for producing oil and gas while removing hydrogen sulfide from fluids produced from oil and gas reservoirs and injecting a sour gas stream containing the hydrogen sulfide into an underground formation. Hydrogen sulfide-selective membranes are used to debottleneck known systems and methods by removing hydrogen sulfide from bottlenecked plant process steps including sour gas compression, hydrogen sulfide removal and sour gas injection. Pressure ratio across the membranes can also be manipulated to provide further debottlenecking. Gas-gas eductors are also disclosed for use in leveraging relatively high-pressure streams to boost the pressure of low pressure streams. Oil production is thus increased.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for increasing oil production in an integrated oil and gas production plant including hydrogen sulfide removal and sour-gas injection into an underground formation. Hydrogen sulfide-selective membranes are used to debottleneck known systems and methods by removing hydrogen sulfide from bottlenecked plant process steps including sour gas compression, hydrogen sulfide removal and sour gas injection. A method of retrofitting an integrated plant includes adding a hydrogen sulfide-selective membrane upstream of an amine unit to remove hydrogen sulfide from an associated gas stream and form a permeate stream enriched in hydrogen sulfide and a retentate stream depleted in hydrogen sulfide and enriched in hydrocarbon gases. Less hydrogen sulfide is sent to the amine unit and oil production is higher than in the integrated plant without the hydrogen sulfide-selective membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for producing oil and gas in a plant while removing hydrogen sulfide and water from fluids produced from oil and gas reservoirs and injecting a sour gas stream containing the hydrogen sulfide into an underground formation. Water-selective membranes are used to debottleneck known systems and methods by removing water from bottlenecked sections of the plant including pretreatment of a sour gas feed to one or more gas processing plants. In other aspects, water-selective membranes are used to debottleneck the pretreatment of an acid gas feed to a Claus unit to convert hydrogen sulfide to sulfur in a gas processing plant. The water-selective membranes pretreat the acid gas feed.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for processing gas produced from oil and gas reservoirs while removing mercaptans from the gas. Mercaptan-selective membranes are used to debottleneck known systems and methods by removing mercaptans from bottlenecked plant process steps including LPG fractionation and mercaptan sweetening. Hydrogen sulfide can be simultaneously removed by the membranes. Production of on specification LPG and sales gases can be increased.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for producing oil and gas in a plant while removing hydrogen sulfide and water from fluids produced from oil and gas reservoirs and injecting a sour gas stream containing the hydrogen sulfide into an underground formation. Water-selective membranes are used to debottleneck known systems and methods by removing water from bottlenecked sections of the plant including pretreatment of a sour gas feed to one or more gas processing plants. In other aspects, water-selective membranes are used to debottleneck the pretreatment of an acid gas feed to a Claus unit to convert hydrogen sulfide to sulfur in a gas processing plant. The water-selective membranes pretreat the acid gas feed.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for increasing oil production in an integrated oil and gas production plant including hydrogen sulfide removal and sour-gas injection into an underground formation. Hydrogen sulfide-selective membranes are used to debottleneck known systems and methods by removing hydrogen sulfide from bottlenecked plant process steps including sour gas compression, hydrogen sulfide removal and sour gas injection. A method of retrofitting an integrated plant includes adding a hydrogen sulfide-selective membrane upstream of an amine unit to remove hydrogen sulfide from an associated gas stream and form a permeate stream enriched in hydrogen sulfide and a retentate stream depleted in hydrogen sulfide and enriched in hydrocarbon gases. Less hydrogen sulfide is sent to the amine unit and oil production is higher than in the integrated plant without the hydrogen sulfide-selective membrane.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for producing oil and gas while removing hydrogen sulfide from fluids produced from oil and gas reservoirs and injecting a sour gas stream containing the hydrogen sulfide into an underground formation. Hydrogen sulfide-selective membranes are used to debottleneck known systems and methods by removing hydrogen sulfide from bottlenecked plant process steps including sour gas compression, hydrogen sulfide removal and sour gas injection. Pressure ratio across the membranes can also be manipulated to provide further debottlenecking. Gas-gas eductors are also disclosed for use in leveraging relatively high-pressure streams to boost the pressure of low pressure streams. Oil production is thus increased.

Abstract: Disclosed are systems and methods for producing oil and gas while removing hydrogen sulfide from fluids produced from oil and gas reservoirs. Hydrogen sulfide-selective membranes are used to remove hydrogen sulfide from bottlenecked plant process steps including hydrogen sulfide removal. In some embodiments of the present disclosure, plant processing efficiency is improved for processing of high temperature associated gas streams by using membranes while integrating heat from other existing process streams. In other embodiments of the present disclosure, plant processing efficiency is improved for processing of high temperature associated gas streams by using high temperature tolerant polymer membranes. Oil and/or gas production is increased.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a method of making a crosslinked membrane such as a crosslinked hollow fiber membrane. The method comprises (a) preparing a polyimide polymer comprising carboxylic acid functional groups from a reaction solution comprising monomers and at least one solvent; (b) treating the polyimide polymer with a diol at esterification conditions to form a monoesterified polyimide polymer; (c) forming a monoesterified polyimide membrane or dense film from the monoesterified polyimide polymer; and (d) subjecting the monoesterified polyimide membrane or dense film to transesterification conditions under a CO2 atmosphere to form a crosslinked polyimide membrane or dense film.

Abstract: The present invention provides an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas separation performance properties and a process for preparing an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas separation performance properties. The process comprises treating a polymeric precursor fiber with a solution containing a modifying agent prior to pyrolysis. The concentration of the modifying agent in the solution may be selected in order to obtain an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having a desired combination of gas permeance and selectivity properties. The treated precursor fiber is then pyrolyzed to form an asymmetric modified CMS hollow fiber membrane having improved gas permeance.