U.S. patent application number 12/715053 was filed with the patent office on 2011-01-13 for device and method for flowing back wellbore fluids.
Invention is credited to Jeff Hebert.
Application Number | 20110005757 12/715053 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43426617 |
Filed Date | 2011-01-13 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110005757 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Hebert; Jeff |
January 13, 2011 |
DEVICE AND METHOD FOR FLOWING BACK WELLBORE FLUIDS
Abstract
A method for heating flowing back wellbore fluids or heating
fluids to treat wellbores or pipelines having a tubing string is
disclosed. The wellbore will intersect a hydrocarbon reservoir. The
method will include providing a diesel engine that produces heat as
a result of its operation. The engine will in turn produce a gas
exhaust, a water exhaust, and a hydraulic oil exhaust. The method
would further include channeling the exhaust to a series of heat
exchangers. The method may further include flowing a wellbore fluid
into the heat exchangers and heating the wellbore fluid in the
series of heat exchangers by heat transfer from the exhaust to the
wellbore fluid.
Inventors: |
Hebert; Jeff; (Youngsville,
LA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GARVEY SMITH NEHRBASS & NORTH, LLC
LAKEWAY 3, SUITE 3290, 3838 NORTH CAUSEWAY BLVD.
METAIRIE
LA
70002
US
|
Family ID: |
43426617 |
Appl. No.: |
12/715053 |
Filed: |
March 1, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
166/302 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E21B 43/24 20130101;
E21B 36/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
166/302 |
International
Class: |
E21B 36/00 20060101
E21B036/00 |
Claims
1. A method of heating fluid flowing out of a wellbore comprising:
providing an engine; producing a gas exhaust from said engine;
producing a water exhaust from said engine; providing a hydraulic
oil pump operatively connected to said engine; providing hydraulic
oil to the hydraulic oil pump for pumping said hydraulic oil;
channeling said gas exhaust to a gas exhaust heat exchanger;
channeling said water exhaust to a water exhaust heat exchanger;
providing a wellbore fluid; channeling said hydraulic oil to a
hydraulic oil heat exchanger; injecting said wellbore fluid into
said water exhaust heat exchanger, thereby heating said wellbore
fluid; injecting said wellbore fluid into said hydraulic oil heat
exchanger; and injecting said wellbore fluid into said gas exhaust
heat exchanger got heating said wellbore fluid to a desired
temperature.
2. The method in claim 1, wherein the engine is a diesel or other
hydrocarbon fuel driven engine.
3. The method in claim 1, further comprising the step of providing
an hydraulic oil back pressure controller, controlling the back
pressure on an hydraulic oil pump outlet.
4. The method in claim 1 wherein the heated wellbore fluid is
between 40.degree. F. and 300.degree. F.
5. The method in claim 1 wherein, the heated wellbore fluid breaks
down emulsions formed due to the cooling of the fluid during
flowback from the wellbore.
6. A method of heating fluid flowing out of a wellbore comprising
the steps of: providing an engine; producing a gas exhaust from
said engine; providing a hydraulic oil pump operatively connected
to said engine; providing hydraulic oil to an hydraulic oil pump,
pumping said hydraulic oil; providing hydraulic oil back pressure
controller, thereby controlling the back pressure on the hydraulic
oil pump outlet; channeling said gas exhaust to a gas exhaust heat
exchanger; injecting said heating fluid into an hydraulic oil heat
exchanger; injecting said heating fluid into said gas exhaust heat
exchanger for heating said heating fluid; injecting the heated
fluid into a heat exchanger whereby the heating fluid is the
heating medium for the exchanger; and injecting the wellbore fluid
into the exchanger of the previous step.
7. The method in claim 6, wherein the engine is a diesel or other
hydrocarbon fuel driven engine.
8. The method in claim 6, further comprising the step of providing
an hydraulic oil back pressure controller, controlling the back
pressure on an hydraulic oil pump outlet.
9. The method in claim 6, wherein the heated wellbore fluid is
between 40.degree. F. and 300.degree. F.
10. The method in claim 6, wherein the heated wellbore fluid breaks
down emulsions formed due to the cooling of the fluid during
flowback from the wellbore.
11. A method of heating fluid and treating a wellbore or pipeline
with the heated fluid, comprising the steps of: providing an
engine; producing a gas exhaust from said engine; channeling said
gas exhaust to a gas exhaust heat exchanger; injecting said heating
fluid into an hydraulic oil heat exchanger; injecting said heating
fluid into said gas exhaust heat exchanger for heating said heating
fluid; injecting the heated fluid into a heat exchanger whereby the
heating fluid is the heating medium for the exchanger; and
injecting the fluid into the exchanger of the previous step; and
pumping the fluid into the wellbore for treating the wellbore, or
pipeline for treating the pipeline.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,695, issued on Jun.
13, 2000, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference
thereto herein.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not applicable
REFERENCE TO A "MICROFICHE APPENDIX"
[0003] Not applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0004] This invention relates to an apparatus and method for
treating the flowback of wellbore fluids. This invention relates to
an apparatus and method for heating the fluids flowing from a
wellbore to break emulsions and gas hydrates or any obstructions
that would have formed due to the cooling of the fluid as it flows
from the wellbore. The invention also relates to an apparatus and
method for treating the flowback of wellbore fluids as well as the
treatment of pipelines and wellbores.
[0005] In order to heat these types of compounds, operators utilize
an open or enclosed flame. However, government regulations have
either banned or limited the use of open or enclosed flames on
offshore locations and some land locations. Thus, there is a need
for a thermal fluid unit that will treat a wellbore fluid without
the need for having an open flame. There is also a need for a
method of treating wellbore fluid with this heat
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] A method of heating a fluid flowing from a wellbore and
injecting heated fluid into a wellbore or pipeline having a tubing
string is disclosed. The wellbore will intersect a hydrocarbon
reservoir. The method will comprise providing a diesel engine that
produces heat as a result of its operation. The engine will in turn
produce a gas exhaust, a water exhaust, and a hydraulic oil
exhaust. These three exhaust or any combination of the three can be
used to transfer heat to a heat exchanger.
[0007] The invention also relates to an apparatus and method for
treating the flowback of wellbore fluids as well as the treatment
of pipelines and wellbores.
[0008] The method would further include channeling the gas exhaust
to a gas exhaust heat exchanger. The method may also include
producing a hydraulic oil exhaust from the diesel engine and
channeling the hydraulic oil exhaust to a hydraulic oil heat
exchanger. Next, the wellbore fluid is directed into the hydraulic
oil heat exchanger, and the compound is heated in the hydraulic oil
heat exchanger.
[0009] In this process, the water exchanger has been removed. The
purpose of removing the water exchanger is to achieve higher
temperature without overheating the engine. This provides a much
more efficient unit.
[0010] The method may further comprise flowing the wellbore fluid
into the gas exhaust heat exchanger and heating the wellbore fluid
in the gas exhaust heat exchanger. The operator may then flow the
wellbore fluid into their upstream facilities. Any combination of
these three can be used to transfer heat from the diesel engine to
the exchanger thus heating the wellbore fluid.
[0011] A second method for heating a fluid flowing from a wellbore
and injecting heated fluid into a wellbore or pipeline having a
tubing string is enclosed. The wellbore will intersect a
hydrocarbon reservoir. The method will comprise providing a diesel
engine that produces heat as a result of its operation. The method
is similar to that of the first except the heat generated by the
diesel engine is used to heat a fluid circulated from a reservoir
on the unit. This heated, circulated fluid is then used to heat a
separate heat exchanger. The purpose of this isolated heat exchange
system is to provide the flowback operations with two barriers of
protection before wellbore fluid is exposed to the extreme heat of
the engine gas exchanger.
[0012] Also disclosed herein is an apparatus for heating a wellbore
fluid flowing from an oil and gas wellbore and injecting heated
fluid into a wellbore or pipeline. The apparatus comprises a diesel
engine that produces a heat source while in operation. The engine
has a gas exhaust line, and a gas heat exchanger means, operatively
associated with the gas exhaust line, for exchanging the heat of
the gas with a set of gas heat exchange coils.
[0013] Also included will be a wellbore fluid supply reservoir,
with the wellbore fluid supply reservoir comprising a first fluid
feed line means for supplying the fluid to the water heat exchanger
means. Also included will be a second fluid feed line means for
supplying the fluid to the gas heat exchanger means so that heat is
transferred to the fluid.
[0014] The engine will also include a hydraulic oil line, and the
apparatus further comprises a hydraulic oil heat exchanger means,
operatively associated with the hydraulic oil line, for exchanging
the heat of the hydraulic oil with a set of hydraulic oil heat
exchange coils. The fluid supply reservoir further comprises a
third fluid feed line means for supplying the fluid to the
hydraulic oil heat exchanger means so that the fluid is transferred
the heat.
[0015] In one embodiment, the gas exhaust line has operatively
associated there with a catalytic converter member and the gas heat
exchanger means has a gas output line containing a muffler to
muffle the gas output.
[0016] The apparatus may also contain a hydraulic oil line that has
operatively associated there with a hydraulic oil pump means for
pumping hydraulic oil from the engine into the hydraulic oil heat
exchanger and further associated therewith a hydraulic back
pressure control means for controlling the back pressure of the
engine.
[0017] An advantage of the present invention includes that it
effectively heats fluids flowing from a wellbore this heat will
break emulsions and gas hydrates that occur from cooling of the
fluid. Another advantage is that fluids are heated in a single pass
with continuous flow at temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit up
to and exceeding 300 degrees Fahrenheit without the aid of an open
or enclosed flame.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0018] For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and
advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the
following detailed description, read in conjunction with the
following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like
elements and wherein:
[0019] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic illustration of the prior art
which covers the subject matter of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 2 is a first embodiment of the present invention in
schematic illustration;
[0021] FIG. 3 is a second embodiment of the system of the present
invention in schematic illustration;
[0022] FIG. 4 illustrates a diagram of the fluids flowing back from
a wellbore; and
[0023] FIG. 5 illustrates a diagram of heating a fluid and
injecting it into a pipeline or wellbore.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0024] Prior to a discussion of the system of the present
invention, reference is made to the prior art, which is disclosed
in FIG. 1 herein. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 10 in the
prior art of the type of systems related to the present invention.
As seen in FIG. 1, the fluid (Arrow 12) to be heated is fed into a
4 inch by 3 inch centrifugal pump 14 and pumped through a 2 inch
line 16 into the water heat exchanger 18. The water heat exchanger
18 is heated by water from the diesel engine 20. Heat is generated
as a function of the engines operation and the heat is transferred
to water, thereby cooling the engine 20. The water is then pumped
from engine 20 by a water pump 22 into the water heat exchanger 18
where the water comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger for
carrying the fluid to be heated, and transfers the heat from the
water to the tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The engine water
then exits the exchanger 18 and encounters a temperature control
valve 24 which can either send the water to the engine 20, if it is
cool enough, or divert it to a radiator 26 to remove more heat from
the water and render it cooler.
[0025] The fluid to be heated then exits the water exchanger 18 and
enters the hydraulic oil exchanger 28. The hydraulic oil exchanger
28 is heated by oil kept in a hydraulic oil tank 30. The oil is
then pumped by a hydraulic oil pump 32, which shears the oil and
increases the temperature in the oil, into the heat exchanger 28.
The oil comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger 28 (carrying
the fluid to be heated) and transfers the heat to the tubes,
thereby heating the fluid. The hydraulic oil then exits the
exchanger 28 and encounters a temperature control valve 34 which
can either send the oil to the tank 30, if it is cool enough, or
divert it to an additional heat exchanger 36 to lose additional
heat and be rendered cooler before entering the tank 30.
[0026] The fluid to be heated then exits the oil exchanger 28 and
enters the engine exhaust exchanger 38. The engine exhaust
exchanger 38 is heated by exhaust gas from the diesel engine 20.
Heat is generated as a function of the engines operation and is
discharged into the engine exhaust heat exchanger 38. The gas comes
in contact with tubes in the exchanger 38 (carrying the fluid to be
heated) and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby heating the
fluid. The engine gas exhaust then exits the exchanger 38 and is
vented to the atmosphere at 40. The heated process fluid then exits
the unit 10.
[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a first embodiment of the system of the
present of the present invention by the numeral 100. As seen in
FIG. 2, the fluid to be heated is fed into a 4 inch by 3 inch
centrifugal pump 114 and pumped through a 2 inch line 112 into the
hydraulic oil exchanger 118. The hydraulic oil exchanger 118 is
heated by oil kept in a hydraulic oil tank 120. The oil is then
pumped by a hydraulic oil pump 122, which shears the oil and
increases the temperature in the oil, into the heat exchanger 118.
The oil comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger 118, while
carrying the fluid to be heated, and transfers the heat to the
tubes, thereby heating the fluid to a temperature of between 40 and
300 degrees F. The hydraulic oil then exits the exchanger 118 and
encounters a temperature control valve 124 which can either send
the oil to the tank 120, if it is sufficiently cool, or divert it
to a second heat exchanger 126 to lose additional heat and be
rendered cooler, before entering the tank 120.
[0028] The fluid to be heated then exits the oil exchanger 118 and
enters the engine exhaust exchanger 128. The engine exhaust
exchanger 128 is heated by exhaust gas from the diesel engine 130.
Heat is generated as a function of the engines operation and is
discharged into the engine exhaust heat exchanger 128. The gas
comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger 128 (carrying the
fluid to be heated) and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby
heating the fluid. The engine gas exhaust then exits the exchanger
128 and is vented to the atmosphere at 132 at a temperature of
between 40 and 300 degrees F. The heated process fluid then exits
the unit 100.
[0029] FIG. 3 illustrates a second embodiment of the system of the
present of the present invention by the number 200. As seen in FIG.
3, the circulating fluid to be heated is fed from a heating fluid
holding tank 202 into a 4 inch by 3 inch centrifugal pump 204 and
pumped through a 2 inch line 204 and enters the hydraulic oil
exchanger 206. The hydraulic oil exchanger 206 is heated by oil
kept in a hydraulic oil tank 208. The oil is then pumped by a
hydraulic oil pump 210, which shears the oil and increases the
temperature in the oil, into the heat exchanger 206. The oil comes
in contact with tubes in the exchanger 206, which is carrying the
fluid to be heated, and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby
heating the fluid. The hydraulic oil then exits the exchanger 206
and encounters a temperature control valve 212 which can either
send the oil to the tank 208, if it is sufficiently cool, or divert
it to a heat exchanger 214 to lose additional heat and cool off
before entering the tank 208.
[0030] The circulating fluid to be heated then exits the oil
exchanger 206 and enters the engine exhaust exchanger 216. The
engine exhaust exchanger 216 is heated by exhaust gas from the
diesel engine 218. Heat is generated as a function of the engines
operation and is discharged into the engine exhaust heat exchanger
216. The gas comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger 216
(carrying the fluid to be heated) and transfers the heat to the
tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The engine gas exhaust then exits
the exchanger and is vented to the atmosphere at 218.
[0031] The heated circulating fluid then enters the process fluid
heat exchanger 220. The process fluid exchanger 220 is heated by
the circulating fluid exiting from the exhaust box 216. The heated
circulating fluid comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger 220
(carrying the fluid to be heated) and transfers the heat to the
tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The circulating fluid then exits
the exchanger 220 and returns to the heated fluid holding tank
202.
[0032] The process fluid enters the unit and is pumped by a
centrifugal pump 222 to the process fluid heat exchanger 220. The
fluid passes through the tubes in the exchanger 220 which has been
heated.
[0033] FIG. 4 illustrates the steps in the process of flowing the
fluids back from the wellbore 230. As illustrated in FIG. 4, the
fluid (Arrow 232) flows from a hydrocarbon reservoir 234. The fluid
232 then flows through a set of tubulars 236 located in the
wellbore 230 and exits through a wellhead 238. The wellbore fluid
232 flows into the thermal unit 240 where it is heated.
[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates next the heating of the fluid 232, and
injecting it into a pipeline or wellbore 230. The fluid 232 is
pumped from a tank 242 into the thermal unit 240 where it is
heated. The fluid 232 is then pumped through a wellhead 238 into
the wellbore 230 containing the tubulars 236. The heated fluid 232
is then used to treat a wellbore or pipe line. The fluid heated by
the thermal unit 240 is heated to a temperature of between 40 and
300 degrees F. The wellbore is intersected by a hydrocarbon
reservoir 244.
[0035] The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for
use in the present invention.
TABLE-US-00001 PARTS LIST Part Number Description 10 system/unit 12
arrow 14 centrifugal pump 16 line 18 water heat exchanger 20 diesel
engine 22 water pump 24 temperature control valve 26 radiator 28
hydraulic oil exchanger 30 hydraulic oil tank 32 hydraulic oil pump
34 temperature control valve 36 additional heat exchanger 38 engine
exhaust exchanger 40 atmosphere 100 system/unit 114 centrifugal
pump 118 hydraulic oil exchanger 120 hydraulic oil tank 122
hydraulic pump 124 temperature control valve 126 second heat
exchanger 128 engine exhaust exchanger 130 diesel engine 132
atmosphere 200 system/unit 202 holding tank 204 centrifugal pump
206 hydraulic oil exchanger 208 hydraulic oil tank 210 hydraulic
oil pump 212 temperature control valve 214 heat exchanger 216
engine exhaust heat exchanger/box 218 diesel engine 220 fluid heat
exchanger 222 centrifugal pump
[0036] All measurements disclosed herein are at standard
temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated
otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human
being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise.
[0037] The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example
only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by
the following claims.
* * * * *