Load-Modulated Gas-Powered Blockchain Mining at Remote Wells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Excess natural gas produced at remote oil and gas facilities is often vented to the atmosphere or burned via flaring, leading to environmental harm and lack of economic utility, as infrastructure for sales or power grid connection is often not feasible.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that utilizes combustible gas from oil or gas wells to power a blockchain mining device, incorporating a generator connected to the gas source and a controller to modulate power load based on gas availability, minimizing venting and flaring by redirecting gas to a blockchain mining apparatus.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of energy

If excess natural gas is vented to atmosphere or burned via flaring, then environmental harm is caused and economic utility is lost, but infrastructure for sales or power grid connection is not feasible at remote facilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy loss from vented or flared natural gasVSAvoidinfrastructure complexity for gas utilization

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of energyVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harmful waste product (excess natural gas that would be vented or flared) into a beneficial resource by using it to power blockchain mining operations. The gas is fed to a generator that produces electricity, which then powers mining devices, transforming an environmental hazard into an economically valuable energy source.

Inventive Principle:

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

Solution Approach 2:

The remote oil and gas facility becomes self-sufficient by using its own excess natural gas production to generate the electricity needed for blockchain mining operations. The system uses the facility's own waste gas resource to power its computational operations, eliminating the need for external power infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If natural gas is redirected to power blockchain mining operations, then economic utility is gained and gas waste is reduced, but gas availability must be managed to ensure continuous mining operations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveblockchain mining outputVSAvoidgas supply stability for mining operations

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements dynamic load modulation where the blockchain mining operations adjust their power consumption based on the variable natural gas availability from the well. The system monitors gas flow rates and dynamically scales mining intensity to match supply conditions, ensuring continuous operation without interruption when gas availability fluctuates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms that monitor natural gas production rates and use this information to adjust mining operations in real-time. When gas availability decreases, the system reduces mining load accordingly; when gas availability increases, mining intensity is increased, creating a self-regulating system that maintains reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of substance

If the mining load is sized at the low end of variable gas availability, then gas waste is minimized, but mining productivity is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenatural gas wasteVSAvoidblockchain mining output

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs periodic adjustment of mining load intensity that corresponds to the cyclical nature of gas availability from oil production. Rather than maintaining a fixed load, the system periodically scales operations up and down based on measured gas flow patterns, optimizing the balance between utilizing available gas and maintaining productive mining output.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

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

Reduces waste of natural gas by using it to power blockchain mining operations, providing an economically viable and environmentally friendly solution for gas utilization at remote facilities.

Implementation Method 1

a generator connected to the source of combustible gas; the generator powers a portable blockchain mine

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectromagnetic induction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

operating a natural gas aspirated prime mover fueled directly by the vented or flared gas source; a natural gas engine, the engine runs both a hydraulic pump and a generator

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCombustion: Combustion

Data Source

PatentUS12450671B2Blockchain mining system with load modulation

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 UPSTREAM DATA INC

AI summary

Methods and systems of operating a blockchain mining device using natural gas produced at a hydrocarbon production, storage, or processing site/facility. A generator may be retrofitted to an existing prime mover used to pump the well, and the generator may be used to power the blockchain mining device. Portable mining devices may be hooked up to a casinghead gas supply at a remote, isolated oil facility. Power loading levels may be modulated by adjusting mining transaction levels to correspond with combustible gas production levels.