Process for the reduction or elimination of hydrogen sulphide

• US 7,078,005 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2001
• Issued: 07/18/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Statoil ASA (Asa Equinor), MI LLC (Schlumberger NV)
• Original Assignee: M-I LLC (SLB)
• Inventors: Smith, Hubern Larry, Johnsen, Anne Faistrup, Knudsen, Børre Leif
• Primary Examiner(s): Johnson, Edward M.
• Application Number:
  US10/250,436
• Publication Number:
  US 20040096382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,670 Days
• Field of Search: 502/401, 502/402, 423/221, 423/242.1, 423/242.3, 423/242.4, 423/226, 423/228
• US Class Current: 423/226
• CPC Class Codes: C10L 3/10 Working-up natural gas or synthetic natural gas

Abstract

The invention provides a process for reducing the level of hydrogen sulphide in a liquid or gas by treatment of the liquid or gas with an H₂S-scavenger product derivable by the reaction of a carbonyl group-containing compound with an alcohol, thiol, amide, thioamide, urea or thiourea. The carbonyl group-containing compound is preferably formaldehyde, and preferably the product is derivable by reaction of formaldehyde with an amine-free alcohol or urea selected from ethylene glycol, propylene glycol, glycerol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, ethyl alcohol, n-butanol, a sugar, a low molecular weight polyvinyl alcohol, castor oil fatty acid and urea. More especially, the scavenger product is used with an amine, especially monoethanolamine.

Claims

1. A process for reducing the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid, the process comprising:

contacting the fluid with a hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is composed of a solvent and 1,6-dihydroxy-2,5-dioxahexane.

2. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent the solvent is selected from the group consisting toluene, xylene, heavy aromatic naphtha, de-aromatized petroleum distillate, water, mono-alcohols and di-alcohols having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and mixtures of these.

3. A process as claimed in claim 2, wherein the reaction product is present in an amount of at least 10% by weight in solution.

4. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent includes an amine.

5. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent includes an amine.

6. A process as claimed in claim 4, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent includes monoethanolamine.

7. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the solvent is water and wherein the water has a pH in the range of from 4 to 11.

8. A process as claimed in claim 7, wherein the solvent is water and wherein the water has a pH in the range of from 10 to 10.5.

9. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid comprising of liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon.

10. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the hydrogen sulphide level in a fluid that is a gas.

11. A process as claimed in claim 10, wherein the gas contains water or a liquid hydrocarbon.

12. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid selected from the group consisting of natural gas or oil.

13. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid that is a refined fuel.

14. a process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid comprising sewage gas.

15. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent further comprises N.N-bis-(hydroxymethyl)urea.

16. A process as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent further comprises butoxymethanol.

17. A process for reducing the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid, the process comprising:

contacting the fluid with a hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is composed of;

a solvent;

1,6-dihydroxy-2,5-dioxahexane; and

N.N-bis-(hydroxymethyl)urea.

18. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent further comprises butoxymethanol.

19. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the solvent is selected from the group consisting toluene, xylene, heavy aromatic naphtha, de-aromatized petroleum distillate, water, mono-alcohols and di-alcohols having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and mixtures of these.

20. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is present in an amount of at least 10% by weight in the solution.

21. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is substantially water-free.

22. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent includes an amine.

23. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the solvent is water and wherein the water has pH in the range of from 4 to 11.

24. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the solvent is water and wherein the water has a pH in the range of from 10 to 10.5.

25. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid comprising of the liquid or gaseous hydrocarbon.

26. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the hydrogen sulphide level in a fluid that is a gas.

27. A process as claimed in claim 26, wherein the gas contains water or a liquid hydrocarbon.

28. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid selected from the group consisting of natural gas or oil.

29. A process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid that is a refined fuel.

30. a process as claimed in claim 17, wherein the hydrogen sulphide scavenging agent is used to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide in a fluid comprising sewage gas.