Nuclear reactor integrated oil and gas production systems and methods of operation
AssigneeNatura Resources LLC
InventorDerek Haas
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Nuclear energy integrated hydrocarbon operation systems include a well site having a subsurface hydrocarbon well configured to produce a produced water output. The system further includes a deployable nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output. The system may further include a deployable desalination unit configured to produce a desalinated water output using the produced water output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor. The system may further include a deployable off-gas processing system configured to produce an industrial chemical using the off-gas output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor.
Claims24
A system comprising:
- a well site comprising a subsurface hydrocarbon well configured to produce a produced water output;
- a deployable, integral nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output, the deployable, integral nuclear reactor system comprising an integrally constructed vessel defining a critical volume within which a reactor core, a heat exchanger and molten fuel salt is disposed, wherein the reactor core is configured to moderate fission reactions of the molten fuel salt along a closed-loop circulation path within the integrally constructed vessel to produce the heat output;
- and
- a deployable desalination unit configured to produce a desalinated water output using the produced water output of the subsurface hydrocarbon well and the heat output of the deployable nuclear reactor and/or an electrical output derived therefrom.
A micro-grid comprising:
- a plurality of well sites clustered in a first geographical location, each well site of the plurality of well sites includes a subsurface hydrocarbon well configured to produce a produced water output;
- a deployable plant deployed proximal the first geographic location and comprising a deployable, integral nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output, the deployable, integral nuclear reactor system comprising an integrally constructed vessel defining a critical volume within which a reactor core, a heat exchanger and molten fuel salt is disposed, wherein the reactor core is configured to moderate fission reactions of the molten fuel salt along a closed-loop circulation path within the integrally constructed vessel to produce the heat output;
- and
- a network of pipes configured to deliver the produced water output from each well site of the plurality of well sites to the deployable plant,
- wherein the deployable plant is configured to produce a desalinated water output using the produced water output and the heat output from the nuclear reactor system and/or an electrical output derived therefrom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.