Applying latest Oracle Patch 22502456 Database Patch Set Update : 11.2.0.4.160419 for Oracle Run Time Client errors out

When trying to apply patch 22502456 to Oracle Runtime client using latest OPatch version 11.2.0.3.12
it fails with the following error. This patch is also included in combo patch : 22738777 - COMBO OF OJVM COMPONENT 11.2.0.4.160419 DB PSU + DB PSU 11.2.0.4.1604 (APR2016)


Verifying environment and performing prerequisite checks...
Skip patch 20760982 from list of patches to apply: This patch is not needed.
UtilSession failed: null
Log file location:
OPatch failed with error code 73
Log file error shows this.
[May 9, 2016 3:46:33 PM]     OUI-67073:UtilSession failed: null
[May 9, 2016 3:46:33 PM]     Finishing UtilSession at Mon May 09 15:46:33 EDT 2016
[May 9, 2016 3:46:33 PM]     Log file location: /opt/oracle/product/11.2.0.4/cfgtoollogs/opatch/opatch2016-05-09_15-46-25PM_1.log
[May 9, 2016 3:46:33 PM]     Stack Description: java.lang.NullPointerException
[May 9, 2016 3:46:33 PM]     StackTrace: java.lang.StringBuffer.<init>(StringBuffer.java:104)
[May 9, 2016 3:46:33 PM]     StackTrace: oracle.opatch.UtilSession.process(UtilSession.java:337)
[May 9, 2016 3:46:33 PM]     StackTrace: oracle.opatch.OPatchSession.main(OPatchSession.java:2580)
[May 9, 2016 3:46:33 PM]     StackTrace: oracle.opatch.OPatch.main(OPatch.java:634)


Oracle support is able to reproduce this issue however currently no workaround is provided.
They have internally 2 bugs opened to address this issue.


Bug 22932939 -- OPATCH FAILS TO PATCH RUNTIME CLIENT ENVIRONMENTS
Bug 22740194 - INSTALLATION OF 11.2.0.4.7 AND LATER PSU FAILS IN RUNTIME CLIENT ENVIRONMENT