Method for removing H2S and CO2 from crude and gas streams

• US 6,447,577 B1
• Filed: 02/23/2001
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Intevep, S.A. (PDVSA Gas SA)
• Original Assignee: S. A. Intevep
• Inventors: Araujo, Mariela, Ranson, Aaron, Espin, Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Simmons, David A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lawrence, Frank M.
• Application Number:
  US09/791,178
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 951/07, 95/90, 951/35, 951/36, 951/39, 210/667, 210/747, 502/325, 502/328, 502/340, 166/265, 166/266, 166/276, 166/279
• US Class Current: 95/136
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 25/00 Refining of hydrocarbon oils in the absence of hydrogen, with solid sorbents
• CPC Class Codes: C10G 25/003 Specific sorbent material, not covered by C10G25/02 or C10G25/03

Abstract

A method for removing at least one contaminant selected from consisting of H₂S and CO₂ from hydrocabon streams, including the steps of providing a stream of hydrocarbon containg the at least one contaminant; the positioning metal-containing nanoparticles in the streams, the metal-containing nanoparticles being selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal hydroxides and combination thereof, whereby the nanoparticles absorb the contaminants from the stream.

Claims

1. A method for removing at least one contaminant selected from the group consisting of H₂S and CO₂ from hydrocarbon streams, comprising the steps of:

providing a stream of hydrocarbon containing said at least one contaminant; and

positioning metal-containing nanoparticles in a subterranean location said stream, said metal-containing nanoparticles being selected from the group consisting of metal oxides, metal hydroxides and combinations thereof, whereby said nanoparticles adsorb said at least one contaminant from said stream.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said stream is established from a hydrocarbon producing subterranean formation to a hydrocarbon producing well, and further comprising the steps of forming fractures in said formation and positioning said nanoparticles in said fractures.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said forming step comprises injecting a fracturing fluid through said well into said formation, and following said fracturing fluid with a fluid carrying said nanoparticles whereby said nanoparticles are positioned in said fractures.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said hydrocarbon stream is selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon gas, crude and mixtures thereof.