Patent ID: 8142547

Claim:
A method of removing gas in a first fluid phase and routing the removed gas into a second fluid phase, comprising the steps of: a) defining a first fluid flow path through a housing; b) defining a second fluid flow path through the housing, the second fluid flow path being isolated from the first fluid flow path; c) installing a separator membrane in the housing such that the separator membrane separates the first and second fluid flow paths and such that the separator membrane is in a stretched condition and has a thicker peripheral portion and a thinner center portion; d) causing a first fluid containing target compounds to flow through the first fluid flow path and over a first side of the separator membrane, and causing a second fluid to flow through the second fluid flow path and over a second side of the separator membrane, wherein the first fluid is at a higher pressure than the second fluid; and e) causing target compounds from the first fluid to pass through the separator membrane and routing said target compounds into said second fluid flow path.