Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material – With separation of materials – Separation below surface of earth or water
Reexamination Certificate
1998-12-10
2001-04-03
Lillis, Eileen D. (Department: 3673)
Mining or in situ disintegration of hard material
With separation of materials
Separation below surface of earth or water
C299S009000, C299S017000, C037S322000, C037S329000, C037S343000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06209965
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the recovery of methane (natural gals) by sub-sea mining of clathrates.
2. Description of the Art Practices
U.S. Pat. No. 5,660,603 issued to Elliot et al., Aug. 26,1997 discusses a process for separating components of gas mixtures which have different hydrate forming characteristics using an aqueous liquid to absorb one of the gases preferentially by attaining conditions slightly above the catastrophic point at which gas hydrates form. Specifically, the separation of gas mixtures containing light hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide is accomplished without significantly reducing the pressure of the carbon dioxide or without requiring significant amounts of heat energy for regeneration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,904 issued Dec. 12, 1995 to Guo et al., discloses a method of forming clathrate hydrates further by pressurizing a hydrate-forming gas, cooling liquid water below the gas-water-hydrate equilibrium curve, combining the hydrate-forming gas and the liquid water while locally supercooling the gas, and thereby forming a clathrate hydrate.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,462 issued Mar. 15, 1983 to Elliott et al., describes a method and apparatus for producing gaseous hydrocarbons from formations comprising solid hydrocarbon hydrates located under either a body of land or a body of water. In the Elliott et al., process warm brine or water brought down from an elevation above that of the hydrates, through a portion of the apparatus, passes in contact with the hydrates and melts them. The liquid then continues up another portion of the apparatus, carrying entrained hydrocarbon vapors in the form of bubbles, which can easily be separated from the liquid. After a short startup procedure, the process and apparatus are substantially self-powered by virtue of pressure differences. A related disclosure to U.S. Pat. No. 4,376,462 issued Mar. 15, 1983 to Elliott et al., is found in Elliott et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 4,424,858 issued Jan. 10, 1984.
An article in the Journal of Petroleum Geology, vol. 19(1). January 1996, pp. 41-56
OCEANIC METHANE HYDRATES: A “FRONTIER” GAS RESOURCE
authored by Max et al., discusses the chemistry of methane hydrates. Max et al., article discloses that methane hydrates are ice-like compounds consisting of natural gas (mainly methane) and water, whose crystal structure effectively compresses the methane; each cubic meter of hydrate can yield over 150 cubic meters of methane. The hydrates cement sediments and impart considerable mechanical strength; the fill porosity and restrict permeability.
An article entitled
Methane Hydrate, A Special Clathrate: Its Attributes and Potential
by Max et al., dated Feb. 28, 1997 discusses the recovery and processing of methane hydrate. Similar disclosures are also made by Max et al., in an article entitled
Oceanic Gas Hydrate: Guidance for Research and Programmatic Development
for work done at the Naval Research Laboratory bearing a date of Dec. 31, 1997. Further disclosures are made by Max et al., in a chapter entitled
Natural gas hydrates: Arctic and Nordic Sea potential in Arctic Geology and Petroleum Potential
edited by T. O. Vorren et al.
The need remains for effective processes to be developed to allow the hydrocarbon gas trapped in the ice like stricture of the clathrate and the sediment to be effectively mined and separated. The present invention deals with one such effective method of the recovery of the hydrocarbon gases from the sea floor.
To the extent that the foregoing references are relevant to the present invention, they are herein specifically incorporated by reference. Measurements herein are stated in degrees of approximation and where appropriate the word “about” may be inserted before any measurement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Described herein is an apparatus, according to the present invention, for recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon containing clathrate, the apparatus comprising:
mining means, for when said apparatus is in operation, disrupting a clathrate rich portion comprising the hydrocarbon containing clathrate and sediment from the surrounding strata,
transporting means for moving a clathrate rich portion comprising the hydrocarbon containing clathrate and sediment,
conduit means for receiving the hydrocarbon containing clathrate and sediment; and,
injection means having a point of injection for injecting an injection gas into said conduit.
Also described is a pressure- and/or temperature-related method of recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing clathrate including the steps of:
disrupting a clathrate rich portion comprising the hydrocarbon containing clathrate and sediment from the surrounding strata,
transporting said clathrate rich portion into a conduit,
said conduit extending between a first region of high pressure and a second region of lower pressure,
injecting an injection gas into said conduit to aid in moving said clathrate rich portion from the region of high pressure to the region of low pressure,
separating at least a portion of the sediment in said clathrate rich portion from said hydrocarbon containing clathrate; and,
recovering said hydrocarbon from said hydrocarbon containing clathrate.
The present invention further describes a temperature-related method of recovering hydrocarbons from a hydrocarbon-containing clathrate including the steps of:
disrupting a clathrate rich portion comprising the hydrocarbon containing clathrate and sediment from the surrounding strata,
transporting said clathrate rich portion into a conduit,
said conduit extending between a first region of low temperature and a second region of high temperature,
injecting an injection gas into said conduit to aid in moving said clathrate rich portion from the region of low temperature to the region of high temperature,
separating at least a portion of the sediment in said clathrate rich portion from said hydrocarbon containing clathrate; and,
recovering said hydrocarbon from said hydrocarbon containing clathrate.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4053181 (1977-10-01), Saito
patent: 4322897 (1982-04-01), Brassfield
patent: 4376462 (1983-03-01), Elliott et al.
patent: 4424858 (1984-01-01), Elliott et al.
patent: 5473904 (1995-12-01), Guo et al.
patent: 5660603 (1997-08-01), Elliot et al.
patent: 5950732 (1999-09-01), Agee et al.
patent: 5970635 (1999-10-01), Wilmoth
Journal of Petroleum Geology, vol. 19(1), Jan. 1996, pp. 42-56,Oceanic Methane Hydrates: A “Frontier” Gas Resource, authored by Max, et al., (In Spec at P. 2).
Methane Hydrate, A Special Clathrate: Its Attributes and Potential, dated Feb. 28, 1997, (In Spec at P. 2).
Oceanic Gas Hydrates: Guidance for Research and Programmatic Development, Max, et al., Dec. 31, 1997 (In Spec at P. 2) .
Natural Gas Hydrates: Artic and Nordic Sea Potential, in Arctic Geology and Petroleum Potential, edited by T. O. Vorren, et al. (In Spec at P. 2).
“Marine and Continential Gas Hydrates: Development of a Potential Strategic Energy Source,” Geosciences and Geotechnology Center, Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, NM, white paper submitted to U.S. Senator Robert Graham, Jul. 31, 1997. (Discusses the clathrate resource and mining opportunities.)
Borns David J.
Hinkebein Thomas E.
Lynch Richard W.
Northrop David A.
Bieg Kevin W.
Elliot Russell D.
Kreck John
Lillis Eileen D.
Sandia Corporation
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