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US 12,110,878 B2Granted
Systems and methods for generation of electrical power at a drilling rig
AssigneeICE Thermal Harvesting, LLC
InventorsAdrian Benjamin Bodishbaugh, Carrie Jeanne Murtland
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Embodiments of systems and methods for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig are disclosed. During a drilling operation, heat generated by drilling fluid flowing from a borehole, exhaust from an engine, and/or fluid from an engine's water (or other fluid) jacket, for example, may be utilized by corresponding heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer to a working fluid. The heated working fluid may cause an ORC unit to generate electrical power.
Claims16
A method for increasing performance of one or more of engine, generator set, or bottom-hole assembly, the method comprising:
- sensing a temperature of a flow of drilling fluid from a borehole;
- determining electrical power utilized by drilling rig equipment and generated by a generator set driven by an engine;
- and
- in response to one or more of (a) a determination that the temperature of the flow of drilling fluid from the borehole exceeds an operating range, (b) a determination that ambient temperature exceeds an ambient temperature threshold of a drilling rig, (c) a determination that the electrical power utilized by the drilling rig equipment exceeds a power requirement threshold, or (d) a determination that ambient temperature exceeds an engine operating range:
- adjusting one or more of (1) a first working fluid flow control device to control a flow of working fluid to a drilling fluid heat exchanger, the drilling fluid heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the drilling fluid to the flow of the working fluid, thereby to cause a power generation unit to generate electrical power, (2) a second working fluid flow control device to control a flow of working fluid to an exhaust heat exchanger, the exhaust fluid heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from exhaust generated by the engine to the flow of the working fluid, thereby to cause a power generation unit to generate electrical power, or (3) a third working fluid flow control device to control a flow of working fluid to a fluid jacket heat exchanger, the fluid jacket fluid heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the fluid of the fluid jacket to the flow of the working fluid, thereby to cause a power generation unit to generate electrical power.
2 more elements
A method for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig, the method comprising:
- operating a drilling rig to form a borehole in a subsurface formation;
- during operation of the drilling rig, selecting one or more fluids from one or more corresponding heat sources based on ambient temperature of the drilling rig, the one or more fluids selected to flow to one or more corresponding heat exchangers, each of the one or more corresponding heat exchangers positioned to transfer heat from one or more corresponding fluids to a flow of a working fluid to generate a heated working fluid, thereby to cause a power generation unit to generate electrical power;
- and
- in response to a determination that ambient temperature of a drilling rig exceeds an engine operating range, adjusting an amount of flow of the one or more fluids to the one or more corresponding heat exchangers.
1 more element
A method for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig, the method comprising:
- sensing a temperature of engine exhaust;
- sensing a temperature of a flow of fluid from an engine fluid jacket;
- sensing a temperature of a working fluid flowing from each of one or more corresponding heat exchangers;
- and
- selecting, based on one or more of (a) engine optimization, (b) electrical power output maximization, (c) electrical power utilization at the drilling rig (d) the temperature of the engine exhaust, (e) the temperature of the flow of fluid from the engine fluid jacket, or (f) the temperature of the working fluid flowing from each of the one or more corresponding heat exchangers, diversion of an amount of one or more of (1) the engine exhaust, via a first heat exchanger supply valve, from an engine exhaust conduit to a first heat exchanger or (2) fluid, via a second heat exchanger supply valve, from the engine fluid jacket to a second heat exchanger, each of the first heat exchanger and the second heat exchanger positioned to transfer heat from the engine exhaust and fluid to the flow of the working fluid to generate a heated working fluid, thereby to cause a power generation unit to generate electrical power.
2 more elements
A method for increasing performance of one or more of engine, generator set, or bottom-hole assembly, the method comprising:
- determining electrical power utilized by drilling rig equipment and generated by a generator set driven by an engine;
- and
- in response to one or more of (a) ambient temperature in the vicinity of a drilling rig exceeding an ambient temperature threshold or (b) the electrical power utilized by the drilling rig equipment exceeding a power requirement threshold:
- adjusting one or more of (1) a first working fluid flow control device to control a flow of working fluid to an exhaust heat exchanger, the exhaust fluid heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from exhaust generated by the engine to the flow of the working fluid, thereby to generate electrical power, or (2) a second working fluid flow control device to control a flow of working fluid to a fluid jacket heat exchanger, the fluid jacket fluid heat exchanger configured to transfer heat from the fluid of the fluid jacket to the flow of the working fluid, the fluid jacket configured to cool the one or more engines, the transferred heat to cause a power generation unit to generate electrical power.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.