Heat recovery and utilization from subsea field operations
AssigneeChevron U.S.A. Inc.
InventorsNikhil Dayanand, Brent D. Eilerts
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Abstract
A system for utilizing excess heat during a subsea field operation can include a subsea manifold configured to transfer a subterranean resource to a pipeline located subsea, where the subterranean resource radiates the excess heat after being transferred out of the subsea manifold. The system can also include a subsea power generation system that receives the excess heat from the subterranean resource as the subterranean resource is transferred from the subsea manifold to the pipeline, where subsea power generation system uses the excess heat to generate electrical power.
Claims20
A system for utilizing heat from a subterranean resource during a subsea field operation, the system comprising:
- a subsea manifold configured to transfer the subterranean resource from a subsea Christmas tree disposed subsea above a seabed atop a wellbore and adjacent to a pipeline located subsea, wherein the subterranean resource retains the heat while being transferred out of the subsea manifold disposed adjacent to the subsea Christmas tree, wherein at least some of the heat from the subterranean resource originates from a subterranean formation through which the wellbore is drilled, and wherein the subterranean resource is extracted from the subterranean formation through the wellbore and passed through the subsea Christmas tree before reaching the subsea manifold;
- and
- a subsea power generation system comprising a subsea heat exchanger and a turbine/generator, wherein the subsea heat exchanger is located subsea above the seabed, wherein the subsea heat exchanger is configured to receive the heat from the subterranean resource as the subterranean resource is transferred from the subsea manifold to the pipeline, wherein the subsea heat exchanger uses the heat to raise a temperature of a working fluid, and wherein energy from heating the working fluid is used by the turbine/generator to generate electrical power.
A subsea power generation system for generating electrical power subsea during a subsea field operation, the subsea power generation system comprising:
- a subsea heat exchanger configured to receive heat retained by a subterranean resource that is transferred from a subsea manifold to a pipeline located subsea, wherein the heat is used to heat a working fluid in the subsea heat exchanger to a heated state, wherein the subsea heat exchanger is located subsea above a seabed, wherein at least some of the heat from the subterranean resource originates from a subterranean formation through which a wellbore is drilled, and wherein the subterranean resource is extracted from the subterranean formation through the wellbore and passed through a subsea Christmas tree located subsea above the seabed before reaching the subsea manifold located subsea above the seabed;
- and
- a turbine/generator that receives the working fluid in the heated state from the subsea heat exchanger, wherein energy from the working fluid in the heated state is used by the turbine/generator to generate the electrical power subsea, and wherein the turbine/generator is located subsea above the seabed.
A method for utilizing heat during a subsea field operation, the method comprising:
- facilitating, by a subsea power generation system, transfer of the heat retained by a subterranean resource to a working fluid as the subterranean resource flows from a subsea manifold located subsea above a seabed to a subsea pipeline, wherein the subsea power generation system comprises a subsea heat exchanger and a turbine/generator, wherein the subsea heat exchanger is located subsea above the seabed, wherein the subsea heat exchanger is configured to receive the heat from the subterranean resource, wherein the subsea heat exchanger uses the heat to raise a temperature of the working fluid, wherein at least some of the heat from the subterranean resource originates from a subterranean formation through which a wellbore is drilled, and wherein the subterranean resource is extracted from the subterranean formation through the wellbore and passed through a subsea Christmas tree located subsea above the seabed before reaching the subsea manifold;
- directing the working fluid, heated by the heat, to a turbine/generator of the subsea power generation system;
- and
- sending electrical power, generated by the turbine/generator using energy from the working fluid, to a subsea electrical load.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.