Patents by Inventor Tapan K. Das

Tapan K. Das 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).

  • Patent number: 10905996
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Daniel Chinn, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Patent number: 10843129
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Daniel Chinn, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Patent number: 10391444
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Chinn, Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Patent number: 10363518
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Daniel Chinn, Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Patent number: 10363517
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2019
    Assignee: CHEVRON U.S.A. INC.
    Inventors: Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Daniel Chinn, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20190105599
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Daniel Chinn, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20190105603
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Daniel Chinn, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20190105602
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Daniel Chinn, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20190105600
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Chinn, Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20190105601
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2018
    Publication date: April 11, 2019
    Inventors: Daniel Chinn, Nitesh Bhuwania, Shabbir Husain, Ronald P. MacDonald, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20180251688
    Abstract: Particulate mercury is removed from crude oil by thermally treating the crude oil or condensate at temperatures in a range from 150° C. to 350° C. and at a sufficient pressure with subsequent cooling under maintenance of pressure to provide irreversible conversion to elemental mercury, which may be preferentially removed in a mercury removal unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 4, 2018
    Publication date: September 6, 2018
    Inventors: Dennis John O'Rear, Russell Evan Cooper, Daniel Chinn, Tapan K. Das
  • Patent number: 8753500
    Abstract: A process and system are described for the processing of gas associated with crude oil production, i.e. associated gas. A separation complex is used to separate produced fluids produced from a hydrocarbon reservoir into crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas, water, and natural gas. At least a portion of the natural gas is converted into synthesis gas in a synthesis gas generator. A combination of a synthesis gas conversion catalysts and hydroconversion catalysts are used in a synthesis gas reactor to convert the synthesis gas into a liquid effluent stream containing liquefied petroleum gas and a synthetic crude oil. The liquefied petroleum gas and synthetic crude oil from the synthesis gas reactor is sent to the separation complex. Liquefied petroleum gas is separated both from the synthetic crude oil and a natural crude oil obtained from the produced fluids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Charles Leonard Kibby, Dennis J. O'Rear, Robert James Saxton, Tapan K. Das, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan
  • Patent number: 8461220
    Abstract: A method is provided for converting synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbon mixtures useful as distillate fuel and/or lube base oil containing no greater than about 25 wt % olefins and containing no greater than about 5 wt % C21+ normal paraffins. The synthesis gas is contacted with a synthesis gas conversion catalyst comprising a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis component and an acidic component in an upstream catalyst bed thereby producing a wax-free liquid containing a paraffin component and an olefin component. The olefin component is saturated by contacting the liquid with an olefin saturation catalyst in a downstream catalyst bed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Kibby, Robert J. Saxton, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20130109768
    Abstract: Processes and systems are provided for converting synthesis gas containing a mixture of H2 and CO to liquid hydrocarbon products having a cloud point less than about 15° C. The systems utilize at least one Fischer-Tropsch reactor containing hybrid Fischer-Tropsch catalyst with cooling and separation of reactor effluent following each reactor. The low cloud point indicates that the amount of wax in the hydrocarbon products is minimized relative to conventional Fischer-Tropsch conversion. Accordingly, more economical systems can be built and operated because equipment associated with wax removal or wax treatment can be reduced or eliminated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Robert J. Saxton, Gordon R. Deppe, Scott Oliver, David W. Parham, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Charles L. Kibby, Tapan K. Das, Christine M. Philips, Richard Sasson, Anne Helgeson
  • Publication number: 20130001128
    Abstract: A method is provided for converting synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbon mixtures useful as distillate fuel and/or lube base oil. The synthesis gas is contacted with a synthesis gas conversion catalyst comprising a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis component in an upstream catalyst bed thereby producing an intermediate hydrocarbon mixture containing olefins and C21+ normal paraffins. The intermediate hydrocarbon mixture is subsequently contacted with a hydroisomerization catalyst and an olefin saturation catalyst, thereby resulting in a product containing no greater than about 25 wt % olefins and containing no greater than about 5 wt % C21+ normal paraffins. The hydroisomerization and olefin saturation catalysts may be in separate beds or mixed in a single bed downstream of the synthesis gas conversion catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Applicant: Chevron U.S.A.
    Inventors: Charles L. Kibby, Robert J. Saxton, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20110306685
    Abstract: A method is provided for converting synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbon mixtures useful as distillate fuel and/or lube base oil containing no greater than about 25 wt % olefins and containing no greater than about 5 wt % C21+ normal paraffins. The synthesis gas is contacted with a synthesis gas conversion catalyst comprising a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis component and an acidic component in an upstream catalyst bed thereby producing a wax-free liquid containing a paraffin component and an olefin component. The olefin component is saturated by contacting the liquid with an olefin saturation catalyst in a downstream catalyst bed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 10, 2010
    Publication date: December 15, 2011
    Inventors: Charles L. Kibby, Robert J. Saxton, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20110240288
    Abstract: A process and system are described for the processing of gas associated with crude oil production, i.e. associated gas. A separation complex is used to separate produced fluids produced from a hydrocarbon reservoir into crude oil, liquefied petroleum gas, water, and natural gas. At least a portion of the natural gas is converted into synthesis gas in a synthesis gas generator. A combination of a synthesis gas conversion catalysts and hydroconversion catalysts are used in a synthesis gas reactor to convert the synthesis gas into a liquid effluent stream containing liquefied petroleum gas and a synthetic crude oil. The liquefied petroleum gas and synthetic crude oil from the synthesis gas reactor is sent to the separation complex. Liquefied petroleum gas is separated both from the synthetic crude oil and a natural crude oil obtained from the produced fluids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2010
    Publication date: October 6, 2011
    Inventors: Charles Leonard Kibby, Dennis J. O'Rear, Robert James Saxton, Tapan K. Das, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan
  • Patent number: 7973087
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting a feed comprising synthesis gas to liquid hydrocarbons within a single reactor at essentially common reaction conditions. The synthesis gas contacts a catalyst bed comprising a mixture of a synthesis gas conversion catalyst on a support containing an acidic component and a dual functionality catalyst including a hydrogenation component and a solid acid component. The hydrocarbons produced are liquid at about 0° C., contain at least 25% by volume C10+ and are substantially free of solid wax.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2011
    Assignee: Chevron U.S.A. Inc.
    Inventors: Charles L. Kibby, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Tapan K. Das, Robert J. Saxton, Allen W. Burton, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20110160315
    Abstract: A process is disclosed for converting synthesis gas to a liquid hydrocarbon mixture useful as distillate fuel and/or lube base oil which is substantially free of solid wax. A synthesis gas feed is contacted with a synthesis gas conversion catalyst in an upstream bed and a hydroisomerization catalyst containing a metal promoter and an acidic component in a downstream bed within a single reactor at essentially common reaction conditions. A Fischer-Tropsch wax is formed over the synthesis gas conversion catalyst and said wax is subsequently hydroisomerized over the hydroisomerization catalyst, thereby resulting in a liquid hydrocarbon mixture having a desirable product distribution.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Inventors: Charles L. Kibby, Robert J. Saxton, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Tapan K. Das
  • Publication number: 20110124750
    Abstract: A method for performing synthesis gas conversion is disclosed which comprises contacting synthesis gas with a hybrid Fischer-Tropsch catalyst formed by impregnating a ZSM-12 zeolite extrudate using a solution, for example, a substantially non-aqueous solution, comprising a cobalt salt and activating the impregnated zeolite extrudate by a reduction-oxidation-reduction cycle. The method results in reduced methane yield and increased yield of liquid hydrocarbons substantially free of solid wax.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2009
    Publication date: May 26, 2011
    Inventors: Charles L. Kibby, Kandaswamy Jothimurugesan, Tapan K. Das, Robert J. Saxton, Allen W. Burton, JR.