Dilution Skid for Solid Chemical Injection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for inhibiting contaminant deposition in oilfield tubulars are costly and inefficient, as they require large volumes of liquid solvents and involve complex formulations tailored to specific contaminants, leading to increased storage, transport, and safety concerns.
Innovation Solution
A system for on-site fluidification and mixing of solid or high-viscosity chemicals with solvents, allowing for the creation of a diluted, fluidified chemical that can be injected into oilfield tubulars, reducing the need for large solvent volumes and enabling efficient delivery of inhibitors and dispersants to prevent precipitation and deposition.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If liquid solvents are used to inhibit contaminant deposition, then the effectiveness of preventing foulant precipitation is improved, but the cost of transport, storage, and safety increases substantially
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state parameter of the chemical inhibitor from liquid to solid form. Solid inhibitors are shipped and stored in solid form, reducing volume and safety concerns, then melted on-site to liquid form for injection into the production stream, achieving both cost reduction and effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes phase transition (melting) of the chemical inhibitor. The solid chemical is heated and transitions to liquid phase on-site, allowing it to be pumped and injected into the production stream where it dissolves and functions as intended, thus resolving the contradiction between storage efficiency and functional effectiveness
2Ease of operation
If large volumes of liquid solvent are used to maintain inhibitor in liquid state, then the inhibitor can be delivered effectively, but the volume required for transport and storage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state of the inhibitor from liquid to solid, eliminating the need for large volumes of carrier solvent. The solid inhibitor is shipped concentrated, then melted on-site to the exact volume needed for injection, significantly reducing transport and storage volume while maintaining delivery effectiveness
Solution Approach 2:
The patent performs the phase change (melting) and dilution actions on-site before injection rather than preparing large volumes of pre-diluted liquid inhibitor for transport. This preliminary action is taken at the point of use, reducing the volume that needs to be transported and stored
3Ease of manufacture
If solid chemical is used to reduce transport and storage costs, then the economy and safety are improved, but the solid chemical cannot be directly injected or maintain liquid form at ambient temperature
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs phase transition (melting) of the solid chemical inhibitor on-site. The solid chemical is heated in a melting chamber, transitions to liquid phase, and is then pumped through injection lines into the production stream, thereby enabling solid chemicals to be used economically while maintaining injectability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a heating/melting chamber as an intermediary device between storage and injection. This intermediary system temporarily holds the solid chemical, melts it to liquid form, and delivers it to the injection point, thus bridging the gap between the economic benefits of solid form and the operational requirements of liquid injection
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
This approach minimizes energy use, reduces storage and transport costs, and provides a safer, more efficient method for maintaining oil flow by accurately delivering inhibitors and dispersants directly to the oilfield fluid stream, addressing the limitations of existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a heating component adapted to emit heat, positioned adjacent to the outlet and separated from a majority volume of the open interior volume and a majority portion of the wall, wherein the majority volume and majority portion extend away from the heating component, such that only a portion of the majority volume and a portion of the majority portion are oriented toward the heating component
Implementation Method 2
a pressure component operably connected to the receptacle and adapted to apply pressure on at least a portion of the chemical in the open interior volume
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods and apparatus for injecting a diluted solid chemical, a diluted highly viscous fluid, or a diluted fluidified solid for inhibiting, decreasing or preventing precipitation and/or deposition of foulants and/or contaminants in oilfield tubulars. The use of solid chemicals or highly viscous fluids providing ease of shipment, greater economy in storage, shipment and delivery and increased ease of use.