Remote power solution

• US 9,394,770 B2
• Filed: 01/30/2013
• Issued: 07/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baker Hughes Incorporated (Baker Hughes Company)
• Original Assignee: Ge Oil & Gas Esp, Inc. (General Electric Company)
• Inventors: Boot, John Christopher, Szudajski, Thomas Giles, Ross, Benjamin Earl
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuevas, Pedro J
• Application Number:
  US13/754,358
• Publication Number:
  US 20140209289A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,266 Days
• Field of Search: 322/32, 322/36, 290/40.C, 290/40.R
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 41/0085 Adaptations of electric power generating means for use in boreholes
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 43/128 Adaptation of pump systems with down-hole electric drives
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 4/00 Circuit arrangements for mains or distribution networks not specified as ac or dc

Abstract

An independent power system provides electrical power to an electric submersible pumping system positioned in a well that produces petroleum products. The independent power system includes a generator and an engine connected to the generator. The engine is preferably provided with combustible gases from the petroleum products of the well. The independent power system further includes an integrated control system that is connected to the electric submersible pumping system and the generator. The independent power system is configured to balance the loads created by the electric submersible pumping system with the output from the electrical generator.

Claims

1. A process for providing electrical power from a generator to one or more electrical loads that are not connected to an established power grid, the process comprising the steps of:

generating electrical power with a generator;

monitoring the demand of the electrical loads;

adjusting the output of an electrical generator with the integrated control system to accommodate the demand of the electrical loads, and

predicting a change in the demand of the electrical loads with an integrated control system.

2. The process of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical loads are selected from the group consisting of submersible pumps, surface pumps, water processing equipment, battery pumps, waste treatment equipment, lighting, drilling equipment, auxiliary electrical equipment and transfer pumps.

3. The process of claim 2, wherein the one or more electrical loads is an electric submersible pumping system, and wherein the step of monitoring the demand of the electrical loads comprises monitoring in real-time the operational characteristics of the electric submersible pumping system.

4. The process of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

using a variable frequency drive to adjust the operational speed of the electric submersible pumping system.

5. The process of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

using a variable frequency alternator to adjust the operational speed of the electric submersible pumping system.

6. The process of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

detecting a decrease in the demand of the one or more electrical loads; and

activating a load bank to draw power from the generator.

7. The process of claim 1, wherein the one or more electrical loads is two electric pumping systems, and wherein the step of monitoring the demand of the electrical loads comprises monitoring in real-time the operational characteristics of the two electric pumping systems.

8. The process of claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

providing a pair of matched variable frequency drives, wherein each of the pair of matched variable frequency drives is connected to a separate one of the two electric pumping systems; and

operating the pair of matched variable frequency drives to cancel harmonics generated by the non-linear loads produced by each of the variable frequency drives.

9. An independent power system comprising:

a generator that produces an electrical power output;

a driver connected to the generator;

an electrical load that places an electrical demand on the generator; and

an integrated control system connected to the electrical load and the generator;

wherein the integrated control system is configured to predict a change in the demand of the electrical load and automatically balance the output from the generator with the demand of the electrical load.

10. The independent power system of claim 9, wherein the electrical load is selected from the group consisting of submersible pumping systems, surface pumping systems, water processing equipment, battery pumps, waste treatment equipment, lighting, drilling equipment, auxiliary electrical equipment and transfer pumps.

11. The independent power system of claim 10, wherein the electrical load is an electrical pumping system, and wherein the independent power system further comprises:

a variable frequency drive in electrical communication with the generator and the electrical pumping system; and

wherein the operational speed of the electrical pumping system is adjusted by controlling the variable frequency drive.

12. The independent power system of claim 10, wherein the generator comprises a variable frequency alternator and wherein the variable frequency alternator is configured to provide current at a selected frequency to the electrical pumping system.

13. The independent power system of claim 9 further comprising:

a data communication system configured to relay information about the operational characteristics of the independent power system and the electrical loads; and

a back-up power supply connected to the data communication system.

14. The independent power system of claim 9, wherein the driver is an engine that is selected form the group consisting of reciprocating engines and turbine engines.

15. The independent power system of claim 9, further comprising:

a load bank; and

wherein the integrated control system can activate the load bank to draw power from the generator to balance the output of the generator with the sum of the demand from the load bank and the demand from the electrical load.