Green Boiler Closed Loop System for EOR
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR) methods, such as steam flooding and in-situ combustion, rely on burning fossil fuels for heat generation, leading to atmospheric pollution and waste of thermal energy, while flaring gas completely wastes thermal energy and contaminates the atmosphere.
Innovation Solution
Burning crude oil or natural gas extracted from an underground reservoir to generate thermal energy, which is transferred to brine for heating the reservoir, or converted to mechanical work, and used to inject heated brine or energized resistive cables to enhance oil recovery, thereby reducing viscosity and improving flow rates without external energy sources or emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If fossil fuels are burned for heat generation in EOR processes, then thermal energy is provided for steam flooding and in-situ combustion, but atmospheric pollution increases and thermal energy is wasted through exhaust emissions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent converts the harmful exhaust gases (CO2, H2S, and other flue gases) produced during combustion into beneficial injection fluids for the reservoir. The exhaust gases are mixed with brine to create heated brine-gas mixtures that are injected into the reservoir for both thermal energy transfer and pressure maintenance, transforming the pollution problem into a recovery enhancement solution
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of discarding the exhaust gases into the atmosphere, the system recovers and utilizes them by mixing with brine and injecting into the reservoir. This recovers the thermal energy in the exhaust gases and prevents atmospheric pollution simultaneously
2Object-generated harmful factors
If gas is flared at oil production sites, then thermal energy is eliminated, but thermal energy is completely wasted and atmospheric contamination increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prevents gas flaring by capturing the gas and converting it into a useful resource. The gas is mixed with brine and injected into the reservoir, where it provides both thermal energy and pressure support, transforming the harmful flaring process into a beneficial EOR technique
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses the associated gas from oil production to serve the reservoir by providing thermal energy and pressure maintenance through the heated brine-gas injection, making the gas self-utilizing rather than waste
3Productivity
If external energy sources are used for heating the reservoir, then oil recovery rates are improved, but energy costs increase and environmental impact worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the reservoir's own resources (crude oil and natural gas extracted from the reservoir) to provide the thermal energy needed for heating, making the system self-sufficient and eliminating external energy requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The extracted crude oil and natural gas serve multiple functions: they are used as fuel for combustion to generate thermal energy, and the resulting exhaust gases are mixed with brine for injection into the reservoir, providing both heating and pressure maintenance in a single integrated process
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 method enhances oil recovery rates while being environmentally benign by utilizing the reservoir's resources to generate heat, reducing viscosity, and increasing flow rates without flaring gas or releasing pollutants, thus offering a comprehensive and sustainable EOR approach.
Implementation Method 1
burning crude oil or natural gas extracted from an underground reservoir, or burning both crude oil and natural gas extracted from an underground reservoir, for providing thermal energy
Implementation Method 2
a heat exchanger for receiving the separated brine and the heated fluid for transferring heat from the heated fluid to the separated brine
Implementation Method 3
a heat engine for converting the thermal energy to mechanical work
Implementation Method 4
an electric generator for converting the mechanical work to electric energy
Implementation Method 5
an injection pump for injecting the heated brine into one or more injection wells in the underground reservoir
Implementation Method 6
an electric heating cable heated by the electricity provided by the generator for heating the underground reservoir
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus are shown for burning crude oil or natural gas extracted from an underground reservoir, or for burning both crude oil and natural gas extracted from an underground reservoir, for providing thermal energy. The method and apparatus are also shown transferring the thermal energy to brine separated from the extracted oil, gas or both, for providing heated brine, or for converting the thermal energy to mechanical work, or for both transferring the thermal energy to the separated brine and converting the thermal energy to mechanical work. The method and apparatus are also shown heating the underground reservoir with the heated brine injected into the underground reservoir, or heating the underground reservoir with a resistive cable energized by electricity generated by converting the mechanical work to electric energy, or heating the underground reservoir with both the heated brine and the energized resistive cable.