Deployable Nuclear Reactor Integration for Well-Site Waste Repurposing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional hydrocarbon operations require substantial electrical power and generate significant off-gas and produced water waste streams that are not effectively repurposed, with diesel generators being costly and unreliable, and existing nuclear energy systems are impractical for integration with hydrocarbon operations.

Innovation Solution

Integration of a deployable nuclear reactor system that produces thermal and electrical energy for hydrocarbon operations, and repurposes off-gas and produced water into valuable products like desalinated water and industrial chemicals using modular, deployable units such as desalination and off-gas processing systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If diesel generators are used to provide electrical power for hydrocarbon operations, then power needs are met, but cost and reliability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveelectrical powerVSAvoidreliability

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces diesel generator-based mechanical power systems with nuclear reactor-based power systems. The nuclear reactor provides both thermal energy and electrical power, eliminating the need for diesel generators and their associated reliability and cost issues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The nuclear reactor system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it generates electrical power for hydrocarbon operations, provides thermal energy for desalination and chemical processing, and enables waste stream repurposing. This multi-functionality replaces what would otherwise require separate systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If conventional nuclear energy systems are used to support hydrocarbon operations, then reliable and affordable energy is provided, but practicality and feasibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidadaptability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the nuclear power system into modular, deployable units that can be transported and installed at remote well sites. This modularity makes conventional nuclear systems practical for hydrocarbon operations by breaking down the complex infrastructure into manageable, relocatable components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The nuclear reactor system is designed to be deployable and relocatable, transitioning from static conventional nuclear infrastructure to dynamic, mobile units that can be positioned at hydrocarbon well sites as needed, enhancing adaptability to different operational locations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-generated harmful factors

If flaring and waste-water injection techniques are used to deal with off-gas and produced water, then waste streams are managed, but resource repurposing and commercial value deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste stream managementVSAvoidresource loss

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-generated harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts harmful waste streams (off-gas and produced water) into beneficial resources. Off-gas is processed to produce hydrogen and industrial chemicals, while produced water is desalinated for reuse, transforming waste management into value creation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of discarding waste streams through flaring or injection, the system recovers valuable resources: hydrogen and chemicals from off-gas, and fresh water from produced water, enabling resource循环利用 and eliminating loss.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

4Adaptability or versatility

If substantial energy input is provided to repurpose waste streams, then resource utilization improves, but energy consumption and operational cost deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresource utilizationVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges waste stream processing with nuclear reactor operations by using the reactor's thermal and electrical output to power desalination and chemical processing units. This integration eliminates the need for separate, additional energy inputs that would otherwise be required for waste repurposing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The nuclear reactor system serves itself by using its own generated energy (thermal and electrical) to process the waste streams produced by hydrocarbon operations. The system is self-sufficient, requiring no external energy input for waste repurposing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Provides reliable and affordable energy for hydrocarbon operations while effectively treating and repurposing waste streams into useful products, reducing the need for costly and inefficient diesel generators.

Implementation Method 1

a deployable nuclear reactor system configured to produce a heat output

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectNuclear fission: Nuclear Fission

Implementation Method 2

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

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal desalination: Evaporation

Data Source

PatentUS20260015922A1Nuclear reactor integrated oil and gas production systems and methods of operation

Publication Date: 2026.01.15 NATURA RESOURCES LLC

AI summary

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.