USING HEAT FROM PRODUCED FLUIDS OF OIL AND GAS OPERATIONS TO PRODUCE ENERGY
First Claim
1. A process for generating a heated working fluid that is capable of converting energy comprising:
- a) gathering a heat containing fluid comprising at least one or more hydrocarbons from an oil or gas operation wherein said heat-containing fluid comprises at least a substantially vapor phase and a substantially liquid phase;
b) separating said substantially vapor phase from said substantially liquid phase;
c) employing a vapor heat exchanger and a liquid heat exchanger to exchange at least a portion of the heat contained in each of said phases to a working fluid thereby producing a heated working fluid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The instant invention pertains to new processes and apparatuses which can effectively and efficiently convert heat contained in wellhead fluids comprising hydrocarbons to a useful energy source like electricity. The process generally comprises first producing a heat containing fluid comprising one or more hydrocarbons from a wellhead and then passing said heat containing fluid to one or more heat exchangers. The one or more exchanger exchange at least a portion of the heat contained in said heat containing fluid to a working fluid thereby producing a heated working fluid capable of converting energy.
51 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A process for generating a heated working fluid that is capable of converting energy comprising:
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a) gathering a heat containing fluid comprising at least one or more hydrocarbons from an oil or gas operation wherein said heat-containing fluid comprises at least a substantially vapor phase and a substantially liquid phase; b) separating said substantially vapor phase from said substantially liquid phase; c) employing a vapor heat exchanger and a liquid heat exchanger to exchange at least a portion of the heat contained in each of said phases to a working fluid thereby producing a heated working fluid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A process for generating a heated working fluid that is capable of converting energy comprising:
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a) gathering a heat containing fluid comprising one or more hydrocarbons from an oil or gas operation; b) passing said heat containing fluid to one or more heat exchangers to exchange at least a portion of the heat contained in said heat containing fluid in a manner capable of converting energy. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An apparatus for generating a heated working fluid that is capable of converting energy comprising:
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a) a gathering device capable of producing a heat containing fluid comprising one or more hydrocarbons wherein said heat-containing fluid comprises at least a substantially vapor phase and a substantially liquid phase; b) a separator operably connected to gathering device wherein said separator is capable of separating said substantially vapor phase from said substantially liquid phase; c) a vapor heat exchanger operably connected to the separator to accept the substantially vapor phase from the separator and exchange at least a portion of the heat contained in said substantially vapor phase to a working fluid thereby producing a heated working fluid capable of converting energy; d) a liquid heat exchanger operably connected to the separator to accept the substantially liquid phase from the separator and exchange at least a portion of the heat contained in said substantially liquid phase to a working fluid thereby producing a heated working fluid capable of converting energy; e) one or more pipes operably connected to the vapor heat exchanger, the liquid heat exchanger, or both to transfer the heated working fluid that is capable of converting energy to a source capable of using said energy. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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34. A process comprising exploring for hydrocarbons, locating an aquifer comprising one or more heat containing fluids, and extracting heat from said one or more heat containing fluids to produce energy.
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35. An apparatus for generating a heated working fluid that is capable of converting energy comprising:
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a) a gathering device capable of producing a heat containing fluid comprising one or more hydrocarbons; b) one or more welded plate heat exchangers operably connected to the gathering device to accept the heat containing fluid and exchange at least a portion of the heat contained in said heat containing fluid to a useful energy source in a closed loop system; e) one or more links operably connected to the one or more heat exchangers to transfer the useful energy source to an apparatus or process in need of energy.
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Specification