LOAD CONTROL SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HYDROCARBON PUMP ENGINE
First Claim
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1. A method for reducing gas venting from a hydrocarbon production facility, the facility configured for production of oil using a pump powered by an engine and for production of gas, the method comprising the steps of:
- a. producing the oil and the gas to surface;
b. directing at least some of the gas to the engine to power the engine, the engine configured for operation within an optimal RPM range;
c. monitoring pressure of the gas being produced; and
d. in response to an increased pressure of the gas as determined by the monitoring of the gas pressure, increasing an external load on the engine to maintain the engine within the optimal RPM range while increasing engine throttle to burn the gas at the increased pressure.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Systems and methods for reducing produced gas venting from a hydrocarbon well, in which the engine driving the pump burns produced gas from the well, the engine made to increase its throttle to burn more gas in response to an increased gas pressure indicator, and an external load such as a generator directed to increase the load on the engine and maintain the engine operating within a desired revolutions-per-minute range to avoid redline condition.
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Citations
69 Claims
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1. A method for reducing gas venting from a hydrocarbon production facility, the facility configured for production of oil using a pump powered by an engine and for production of gas, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. producing the oil and the gas to surface; b. directing at least some of the gas to the engine to power the engine, the engine configured for operation within an optimal RPM range; c. monitoring pressure of the gas being produced; and d. in response to an increased pressure of the gas as determined by the monitoring of the gas pressure, increasing an external load on the engine to maintain the engine within the optimal RPM range while increasing engine throttle to burn the gas at the increased pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An engine load control system for use with a hydrocarbon production facility, the facility configured for production of oil and gas, the system comprising:
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a pump for producing the oil; an engine connected to the pump for powering the pump, the engine powered at least partly by the gas produced by the facility, the engine configured for operation within an optimal RPM range having an upper level, the engine comprising a monitor for detecting RPM of the engine; a gas supply subsystem for supplying the gas to the engine, the gas supply subsystem comprising a sensor for detecting pressure of the gas in the gas supply subsystem; a generator connected to the engine for providing a load on the engine; and a programmable logic controller configured to receive an RPM signal from the monitor and a gas pressure signal from the sensor, the controller configured to control the RPM of the engine and operation of the generator; wherein when the gas pressure signal indicates an increase in pressure of the gas, the controller directs the engine to increase engine throttle to burn the gas at the increased pressure; and wherein when the RPM signal indicates that the engine has reached the upper level of the optimal RPM range due to the increased engine throttle, the controller directs the generator to operate so as to increase the load on the engine and consequently maintain the engine within the optimal RPM range while the gas is burned at the increased pressure. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A method for reducing gas venting from a hydrocarbon production facility, the facility configured for production of oil using an engine-powered pump and for production of gas, the method comprising the steps of:
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a. producing the oil and the gas to surface; b. directing the gas to the engine to power the engine; c. operating the engine within an optimal RPM range; d. monitoring RPM of the engine; e. monitoring pressure of the gas available to be directed to the engine; f. in response to an increased pressure of the gas available to the engine as determined by the monitoring of the pressure of the gas, increasing the engine throttle to burn the increased pressure of the gas; and g. in response to the RPM of the engine consequently reaching an upper level of the optimal RPM range as determined by the monitoring of the RPM of the engine, increasing an external load on the engine to maintain the engine within the optimal RPM range while burning the gas at the increased pressure. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A system for maintaining operation of an engine within a predetermined engine RPM range, the engine powered at least in part by produced subsurface gas and for powering a pump for producing subsurface oil, the system comprising:
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a programmable logic controller for setting the predetermined engine RPM range, the range comprising an upper level; a gas supply subsystem for directing the produced gas to the engine for powering the engine, the gas supply subsystem comprising a sensor for detecting pressure of the gas in the gas supply subsystem and a gas pressure signal generator for sending a gas pressure signal to the programmable logic controller; an engine RPM control subsystem comprising a monitor for detecting RPM of the engine and an engine RPM signal generator for sending an engine RPM signal to the programmable logic controller; and an external load subsystem connected to the engine for providing a load on the engine; wherein when the gas pressure signal indicates an increase in pressure of the gas available for consumption by the engine, the programmable logic controller directs the engine to increase throttle to burn the gas at the increased pressure; and wherein when the engine RPM signal indicates that the engine has reached the upper level of the range due to the increased throttle, the programmable logic controller directs the external load subsystem to provide the load on the engine and consequently maintain the engine within the predetermined engine RPM range while the gas is burned at the increased pressure. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53)
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54. An engine load control system for use with a hydrocarbon production facility, the facility configured for production of oil and gas, the system comprising:
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a pump for producing the oil; an engine connected to the pump for powering the pump, the engine powered at least partly by the gas produced by the facility, the engine configured for operation within an optimal RPM range; a gas supply subsystem for supplying the gas to the engine, the gas supply subsystem comprising a sensor for detecting pressure of the gas in the gas supply subsystem; a generator connected to the engine for providing a load on the engine; a governor connected to the engine to control RPM of the engine; and a programmable logic controller configured to receive a gas pressure signal from the sensor; wherein when the gas pressure signal indicates an increase in pressure of the gas, the controller directs the generator to increase the load on the engine to burn the gas at the increased pressure, and the governor maintains the RPM of the engine within the optimal RPM range while the gas is burned at the increased pressure. - View Dependent Claims (55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 66, 67, 68, 69)
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Specification