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US 12,140,124 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.
Claims13
A method for generating power, the method comprising:
- pumping drilling fluid from a drilling fluid container to a drill pipe associated with a drilling rig, the drilling fluid to flow through the drill pipe to a location that generates a heated drilling fluid from flow of the drilling fluid, the heated drilling fluid to flow to a drilling fluid return pipe;
- diverting one or more of:
- (1) the heated drilling fluid to a first heat exchanger connected to a working fluid manifold and positioned to transfer heat from the heated drilling fluid to a flow of a first portion of a working fluid, thereby to generate a cooled drilling fluid and a heated first portion of the working fluid, the heated first portion of the working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power, (2) exhaust produced by one or more engines, to a second heat exchanger connected to the working fluid manifold, the second heat exchanger positioned to transfer heat from the exhaust to a flow of a second portion of the working fluid to generate a heated second portion of the working fluid, the heat second portion of the working fluid to cause a generator to generate electrical power, or (3) heated coolant from a water jacket associated with the one or more engines to a third heat exchanger connected to the working fluid manifold, the third heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heated coolant to a flow of a third portion of the working fluid to generate a heated third portion of the working fluid, the heated third portion of the working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power;
- determining an exhaust thermal mass of the exhaust produced by the one or more engines;
- determining an ambient temperature of the drilling rig;
- in response to one or more of (1) a determination that the exhaust thermal mass of the exhaust from the one or more engines is outside of an exhaust thermal mass range, or (2) a determination that an ambient temperature exceeds an engine operating range, adjusting flow of the exhaust from the one or more engines to the second heat exchanger;
- and
- returning the cooled drilling fluid to the drilling fluid container.
5 more elements
A method for generating power at a drilling rig, the method comprising:
- receiving a heated drilling fluid from a fluid channel;
- diverting one or more of:
- (1) the heated drilling fluid to a first heat exchanger connected to a working fluid manifold, the first heat exchanger positioned to transfer heat from the heated drilling fluid to a flow of a first portion of a working fluid, thereby to generate a cooled drilling fluid and a heated first portion of working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power, (2) exhaust produced by one or more engines to a second heat exchanger connected to the working fluid manifold, the second heat exchanger positioned to transfer heat from the exhaust to a flow of a second portion of the working fluid, thereby to generate a heated second portion of the working fluid, the heated second portion of the working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power, or (3) heated coolant from a water jacket associated with the one or more of the engines to a third heat exchanger connected to the working fluid manifold, the third heat exchanger to transfer heat from the heated coolant to a flow of a third portion of the working fluid, thereby to generate a heated third portion of the working fluid, the heated third portion of the working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power;
- determining an exhaust thermal mass of the exhaust produced by the one or more engines;
- determining electrical power utilized by a drilling fluid chiller;
- in response to one or more of (1) a determination that the exhaust thermal mass of the exhaust from the one or more engines is outside of an exhaust thermal mass range, or (2) a determination that the electrical power utilization of the drilling fluid chiller exceeds an operating range, adjusting flow of the exhaust from the one or more engines to the second heat exchanger;
- and
- returning the cooled drilling fluid to a drilling fluid container.
5 more elements
A method for generating power, the method comprising:
- pumping drilling fluid from a drilling fluid container through a drill pipe to adjacent a location that generates a heated drilling fluid from flow of the drilling fluid;
- determining a temperature of the heated drilling fluid;
- determining one or more of:
- (1) a temperature of a flow of a first portion of a working fluid from a first heat exchanger connected to a working fluid manifold, the flow of the first portion of the working fluid to flow through the first heat exchanger, the first heat exchanger positioned to allow the heated drilling fluid to flow therethrough, the first heat exchanger to facilitate transfer of heat from heated drilling fluid to the flow of the first portion of the working fluid, thereby to generate a cooled drilling fluid and a heated first portion of the working fluid, the heated first portion of the working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power or, (2) a temperature of a flow of a second portion of the working fluid from a second heat exchanger connected to the working fluid manifold, the flow of the second portion of the working fluid to flow through the second heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger to facilitate transfer of heat from exhaust produced by one or more engines to the flow of the second portion of the working fluid, thereby to generate a heated second portion of the working fluid, the heated second portion of the working fluid positioned to cause a generator to generate electrical power;
- determining an exhaust thermal mass of the exhaust produced by the one or more engines;
- determining electrical power utilized by a drilling fluid chiller;
- adjusting flow of fluid supplied to one or more of (1) a first heat exchanger to allow continuous diversion of the heated drilling fluid to the first heat exchanger, or 2) a second heat exchanger, thereby to (a) prevent or (b) allow flow of the exhaust from the one or more engines to the second heat exchanger;
- and
- returning the cooled drilling fluid to the drilling fluid container.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.