Centrifuge energy harvesting chamber
AssigneeThe Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
InventorsCharles Wang Wai Ng, Sina Baghbanrezvan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods related to centrifuge energy harvesting chambers (CEHCs) for gas production simulation are provided. Certain CEHCs may include a high-pressure chamber, high-pressure syringe pumps, cooling systems, an actuator and surcharge, backpressure control inside the wellbore, a heating element on the wellbore, water gas separation systems, and flow measurement systems. Certain CEHCs may also provide software operably connected to sensors and instrumentation, comprising a module to continuously, in real-time, periodically, or asynchronously, measure and monitor simulation variables.
Claims20
A centrifuge energy harvesting chamber (CEHC) comprising:
- a high-pressure chamber configured to sustain sufficient pressure and temperature for hydrate formation within a sediment bed in an operating centrifuge,
- one or more high-pressure pumps configured to sustain sufficient pore pressure and boundary pressure for hydrate formation around the sediment bed,
- a cooling system comprising a cooling coil inside the high-pressure chamber configured to cool the sediment bed inside the high-pressure chamber,
- an actuator configured to provide an activation force acting within the high-pressure chamber, and
- a surcharge plate to configured to load the sediment bed when acted upon by the activation force.
A method of gas production simulation, the method comprising the following steps:
- providing, within an operating centrifuge, a centrifuge energy harvesting chamber (CEHC) comprising:
- a high-pressure chamber,
- a sediment bed within the high-pressure chamber,
- a high-pressure pump operably connected to the high-pressure chamber,
- a cooling system operably connected to the high-pressure chamber,
- an actuator configured to provide an activation force, and
- a surcharge plate to configured to load the sediment bed when acted upon by the activation force;
- creating a centrifugal loading by operation of the centrifuge;
- pressurizing, by the high-pressure pump, the sediment bed within the high-pressure chamber to a first pressure sufficient for gas hydrate formation or maintenance;
- cooling, by the cooling system, the sediment bed within the high-pressure chamber to a first temperature sufficient for gas hydrate formation or maintenance at the first pressure;
- forming or maintaining gas hydrates within the sediment bed under centrifugal loading;
- performing, within the sediment bed and under the centrifugal loading, a simulation of hydrate dissociation, wellbore casing deformation, or seabed subsidence during gas production from hydrate-bearing soils.
A centrifuge energy harvesting chamber (CEHC) system comprising:
- a centrifuge,
- a high-pressure chamber mounted to the centrifuge,
- a sediment bed within the high-pressure chamber,
- a high-pressure pump comprising a multiplicity of syringe pumps, the high pressure pump operably connected to the high-pressure chamber and configured for repeated sequential operation of the multiplicity of syringe pumps to provide a continuous high-pressure fluid flow at an elevated gravity of the centrifuge,
- a cooling system operably connected to the high-pressure chamber,
- an actuator configured to provide an activation force, and
- a surcharge plate to configured to load the sediment bed when acted upon by the activation force.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.