Method and apparatus for generating pollution free electrical energy from hydrocarbons

• US 20040011523A1
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Randolph H. Schneider, Steven A. Sarada
• Original Assignee: Production Resource Group LLC
• Inventors: Sarada, Steven A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,820,689 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 166/244.1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0057 Disposal of a fluid by injection into a subterranean formation

Abstract

The present invention relates to the generation of substantially pollution free energy by utilizing hydrocarbons to create electrical energy, while reinjecting exhaust fumes or other byproducts into a subterranean formation. Thus, remote, low reserve oil and gas fields may be exploited and produced without requiring the construction of expensive gas transmission lines.

Claims

1. A method for generating substantially pollution free electrical power from a hydrocarbon wellbore, comprising the steps of:

a) producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean formation;

b) separating non-combustible constituents from said hydrocarbon fluids;

c) generating electrical energy from said hydrocarbon fluids;

d) transmitting said electrical energy into a local electrical transmission line; and

e) injecting a waste byproduct exhaust gas from said generating electrical energy step into at least one of said subterranean formation or a secondary subterranean formation.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of metering said hydrocarbon fluids prior to said generating electrical energy step.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of treating said waste byproduct gas prior to said injecting step, wherein water is substantially removed from said waste byproducts gas.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the pressure in said subterranean formation is enhanced by injecting said waste byproducts into the subterranean formation.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said injecting a waste byproduct gas step comprises compressing said waste byproduct gas from a low pressure to a high pressure which exceeds the pressure of said subterranean formation or said secondary subterranean formation.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of injecting said separated non-combustible constituents into a subterranean formation.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of separating water and other liquid phase byproducts from said waste byproducts prior to said injecting step.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting said electrical energy step comprises interconnecting a conductive electrical line between a generator to said local electrical transmission line.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said transmitting said electrical energy step further comprises transforming said electrical energy from a first voltage to a second voltage which is compatible with said electrical transmission line.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said hydrocarbon wellbore is used for both the production of said hydrocarbons and the injection of waste byproduct gas.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a production packer is positioned within said hydrocarbon wellbore to isolate the subterranean formation from the secondary subterranean formation.

12. A method for generating substantially pollution free electrical energy for local distribution and use, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a wellbore which extends from a surface location to a subterranean formation which contains hydrocarbons;

b) producing the hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation to the surface location;

c) separating non-combustible water constituents from said hydrocarbons;

d) operating an engine at least partially with said hydrocarbons to generate electrical energy and create a waste exhaust gas;

e) transmitting said electrical energy into an electrical transmission line;

f) scrubbing said waste exhaust gas to substantially remove water from said waste exhaust gas;

g) compressing said waste exhaust gas to increase a pressure of said waste exhaust gas; and

h) injecting said waste exhaust gas into the subterranean formation or a secondary formation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said wellbore which produces said hydrocarbons is further utilized for the injection of said exhaust gas.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of injecting said water separated from said hydrocarbons into a subterranean formation.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of storing said waste exhaust gas in a storage vessel prior to said step of injecting said waste exhaust gas.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of providing a wellbore comprises drilling a well into said subterranean formation and running at least one string of production piping to facilitate the extraction of said hydrocarbons.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein said step of providing a wellbore comprises utilizing a pre-existing wellbore which penetrates said subterranean formation.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein said separating step comprising flowing said hydrocarbons and said non-combustible water constituents through at least one vessel which utilizes in part a gravitational force to separate said hydrocarbons and said non-combustible water constituents.

19. The method of claim 12, wherein said transmitting said electrical energy step further comprises providing a transformer to selectively alter the amount of voltage associated with said electrical energy.

20. A method for exploiting a hydrocarbon reservoir in a remote location without producing exhaust gas byproducts to the atmosphere, comprising the steps of:

a) providing a wellbore which extends from a surface location to the hydrocarbon reservoir positioned below the earth'"'"'s surface;

b) extracting a produced hydrocarbon from said hydrocarbon reservoir to said surface location;

c) removing any non-volatile constituent parts from said produced hydrocarbon;

d) utilizing said produced hydrocarbon to generate electrical energy;

e) transmitting said electrical energy into an electrical transmission line; and

f) injecting a waste exhaust gas created from generating said electrical energy into said hydrocarbon reservoir or a secondary subterranean formation.