DETAILED ACTION
Notice of Pre-AIA or AIA Status
The present application, filed on or after March 16, 2013, is being examined under the first inventor to file provisions of the AIA .
Drawings
The drawings were received on October 24, 2024. These drawings are accepted.
Claim Rejections - 35 USC § 112
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112(b):
(b) CONCLUSION.—The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor regards as the invention.
The following is a quotation of 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph:
The specification shall conclude with one or more claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming the subject matter which the applicant regards as his invention.
Claims 1-12 are rejected under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), second paragraph, as being indefinite for failing to particularly point out and distinctly claim the subject matter which the inventor or a joint inventor (or for applications subject to pre-AIA 35 U.S.C. 112, the applicant), regards as the invention.
Regarding claim 1: As both lines 3 and 8 recite “a relative humidity” of the natural gas feed stream, it is unclear if both recitations are referring to the same or different parameters. For the purpose of examination, lines 3 and 8 are being treated as referring to the same relative humidity.
Regarding claims 2-12: These claims are considered indefinite due to their dependence on claim 1.
Allowable Subject Matter
Claims 13-17 are allowed.
Claims 1-12 would be allowable if rewritten or amended to overcome the rejection(s) under 35 U.S.C. 112(b) or 35 U.S.C. 112 (pre-AIA ), 2nd paragraph, set forth in this Office action.
The following is a statement of reasons for the indication of allowable subject matter:
Chinn et al. (US 2010/0186586, Chinn) and Chinn et al. (US 2019/0105601, Chinn2) are considered the closest prior art.
Chinn discloses process and system for separating H2S and CO₂ out of a natural gas feed stream Abstract, [0063], [0066], comprising:
flowing the natural gas feed stream 42 out of a gas liquid separator at a pressure of at least 20 bar [0051], [0191], a temperature of at least 30 °C [0167], and a relative humidity;
feeding the natural gas feed stream from the gas liquid separator to a polymeric membrane of a membrane separation system [0051], [0063], the polymeric membrane having a H₂S/CH₄ selectivity of greater than 20 [0046] and CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of at least 5 at the pressure, temperature, and at the relative humidity of the natural gas feed stream [0167], [0191]; and
selectively permeating at least some of the CO₂ and the H2S of the natural gas feed stream from the gas liquid separator through the polymeric membrane to produce a permeate stream 43 having concentrated CO₂ and H2S relative to the natural gas feed stream [0063]-[0066], and thereby producing a retentate stream 46 that does not permeate through the polymeric membrane [0063]-[0066], and wherein the retentate stream has a higher concentration of CH₄ and a lower concentration of CO₂ and H2S relative to the natural gas feed stream [0063]-[0066], [0197].
Chinn2 discloses process and system for separating H2S and CO₂ out of a natural gas feed stream Abstract, [0017]-[0020], comprising:
flowing the natural gas feed stream 1 out of a gas liquid separator 12 at a pressure of at least 20 bar [0017], [0032], a temperature of at least 30 °C [0026], and a relative humidity, wherein the natural gas feed stream from the gas liquid separator has a H₂S/CO₂ ratio of 3 or greater [0008];
feeding the natural gas feed stream from the gas liquid separator to a polymeric membrane 26 of a membrane separation system [0017]-[0020], [0025], the polymeric membrane having a H₂S/CH₄ selectivity of at least 10 [0026] and CO₂/CH₄ selectivity of at least 5 at the pressure, temperature, and at the relative humidity of the natural gas feed stream [0027], [0042]; and
selectively permeating at least some of the CO₂ and the H2S of the natural gas feed stream from the gas liquid separator through the polymeric membrane to produce a permeate stream 29 having concentrated CO₂ and H2S relative to the natural gas feed stream [0017]-[0020], [0025], and thereby producing a retentate stream 28 that does not permeate through the polymeric membrane [0025], and wherein the retentate stream has a higher concentration of CH₄ and a lower concentration of CO₂ and H2S relative to the natural gas feed stream [0025].
Regarding claim 1: The prior art of record fails to disclose or suggest a process for separating H2S and CO2 from a natural gas feed stream by passing the natural gas feed stream through a gas liquid separator and to a polymeric membrane of a membrane separation system with a H2S/CH4 selectivity of at least 10 and CO2/CH4 selectivity of at least 5 at the pressure, temperature, and at a relative humidity of the natural gas feed stream, wherein the natural gas feed stream has a relative humidity of at least 30% as recited in the claimed combination and method.
Paragraph [0025] of the instant disclosure provides criticality to the high level of humidity of the gas feed with respect to the membrane separation system. As such, the value of the relative humidity could not be said to be obvious.
Regarding claims 2-12: These claims are considered allowable due to their dependence on claim 1.
Regarding claim 13: The prior art of record fails to disclose or suggest a system for separating H2S and CO2 from a natural gas feed stream by passing the natural gas feed stream through a gas liquid separator and to a polymeric membrane of a membrane separation system with a H2S/CH4 selectivity of at least 10 and CO2/CH4 selectivity of at least 5 at the pressure, temperature, and at a relative humidity of the natural gas feed stream, wherein the natural gas feed stream has a relative humidity between 30% and 95% as recited in the claimed combination and method.
Paragraph [0025] of the instant disclosure provides criticality to the high level of humidity of the gas feed with respect to the membrane separation system. As such, the value of the relative humidity could not be said to be obvious.
Regarding claims 14-17: These claims are considered allowable due to their dependence on claim 13.
Conclusion
Any inquiry concerning this communication or earlier communications from the examiner should be directed to JENNIFER H GAY whose telephone number is (571)272-7029. The examiner can normally be reached Monday through Thursday, 6-3:30 and every other Friday 6-11.
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If attempts to reach the examiner by telephone are unsuccessful, the examiner’s supervisor, Anita Y Coupe can be reached at (571)270-3614. The fax phone number for the organization where this application or proceeding is assigned is 571-273-8300.
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/JENNIFER H GAY/Primary Examiner, Art Unit 3619
JHG
9/1/2026
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