Method and apparatus for generating pollution free electrical energy from hydrocarbons

• US 6,820,689 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Issued: 11/23/2004
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bagnell, David
• Assistant Examiner(s): BOMAR, THOMAS S
• Application Number:
  US10/199,430
• Publication Number:
  US 20040011523A1
• Time in Patent Office: 859 Days
• Field of Search: 166/267, 166/266, 166/244.1, 166/401, 166/269, 60/391.2, 60/395, 60/395.2
• US Class Current: 166/266
• 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 for interconnection to local transmission lines positioned between an electrical generating facility and an end user, while re-injecting exhaust fumes or other byproducts into a subterranean formation.

Claims

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

a) producing hydrocarbon fluids from a subterranean formation to a surface location;

b) separating non-combustible constituents from said hydrocarbon fluids and said surface location, wherein water is substantially removed from said hydrocarbon fluids;

c) generating electrical energy from said hydrocarbon fluids substantially onsite in the vicinity of the wellbore;

d) transforming said electrical energy from a first voltage to a second voltage which is compatible with a local electrical transmission line;

e) transmitting said electrical energy into said local electrical transmission line which is located between an offsite electrical power generating facility and an end user; and

f) injecting a waste byproduct exhaust gas from said generating electrical energy substantially onsite 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, wherein the pressure in said subterranean formation is enhanced by injecting said waste byproducts into the subterranean formation.

4. The method of claim 3, 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.

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

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein a production packer is positioned within said hydrocarbon wellbore to isolate the subterranean formation from the secondary subterranean formation.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of gathering substantially all waste byproduct exhaust gases prior to said injecting step, wherein said facility emits substantially no gas or exhaust into the atmosphere.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of metering said electrical energy prior to said transmitting electrical energy step, wherein a total accounting of the electrical energy transmitted may be determined.

12. A method for generating substantially pollution free electrical energy for local distribution and use from an isolated, stand alone hydrocarbon source, 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 at said surface location;

d) operating an engine at least partially with said hydrocarbons to generate electrical energy substantially onsite in the vicinity of the wall bore and create a first waste exhaust gas;

e) transmitting said electrical energy into an electrical transmission line which is located between an offsite electrical power generating facility and an end user;

f) metering said electrical energy which is generated substantially onsite to provide an accounting of the electrical energy transmitted;

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

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

i) capturing a second waste exhaust gas from said compressing step;

j) injecting said first waste exhaust gas and said second exhaust gas into the subterranean formation or a secondary formation, wherein substantially no waste exhaust gas from said ooerating an engine and compressing said waste exhaust gas steps is discharged into the atmosphere.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein said wellbore which produces said hydrocarbons is further utilized for the injection of said waste 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 while providing electrical power to a local electrical transmission grid, 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 at the surface location;

d) utilizing said produced hydrocarbon to generate electrical energy at the remote location;

e) transforming said electrical energy from a first voltage to a second voltage which is compatible with said local electrical transmission line.

f) transmitting said electrical energy into a local electrical transmission line which is located between an offsite electrical power generating facility and an end user; and

g) injecting a waste exhaust gas created from generating said electrical energy at said remote location into said hydrocarbon reservoir or a secondary subterranean formation, wherein substantially no waste exhaust gas is emitted into the atmosphere.