Abstract:
A method for heating flowing back wellbore fluids or heating fluids to treat wellbores or pipelines having a tubing string is disclosed. The wellbore will intersect a hydrocarbon reservoir. The method will include providing a diesel engine that produces heat as a result of its operation. The engine will in turn produce a gas exhaust, a water exhaust, and a hydraulic oil exhaust. The method would further include channeling the exhaust to a series of heat exchangers. The method may further include flowing a wellbore fluid into the heat exchangers and heating the wellbore fluid in the series of heat exchangers by heat transfer from the exhaust to the wellbore fluid.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,073,695, issued on Jun. 13, 2000, which is incorporated in its entirety by reference thereto herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not applicable 
       REFERENCE TO A “MICROFICHE APPENDIX” 
       [0003]    Not applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
       [0004]    This invention relates to an apparatus and method for treating the flowback of wellbore fluids. This invention relates to an apparatus and method for heating the fluids flowing from a wellbore to break emulsions and gas hydrates or any obstructions that would have formed due to the cooling of the fluid as it flows from the wellbore. The invention also relates to an apparatus and method for treating the flowback of wellbore fluids as well as the treatment of pipelines and wellbores. 
         [0005]    In order to heat these types of compounds, operators utilize an open or enclosed flame. However, government regulations have either banned or limited the use of open or enclosed flames on offshore locations and some land locations. Thus, there is a need for a thermal fluid unit that will treat a wellbore fluid without the need for having an open flame. There is also a need for a method of treating wellbore fluid with this heat 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A method of heating a fluid flowing from a wellbore and injecting heated fluid into a wellbore or pipeline having a tubing string is disclosed. The wellbore will intersect a hydrocarbon reservoir. The method will comprise providing a diesel engine that produces heat as a result of its operation. The engine will in turn produce a gas exhaust, a water exhaust, and a hydraulic oil exhaust. These three exhaust or any combination of the three can be used to transfer heat to a heat exchanger. 
         [0007]    The invention also relates to an apparatus and method for treating the flowback of wellbore fluids as well as the treatment of pipelines and wellbores. 
         [0008]    The method would further include channeling the gas exhaust to a gas exhaust heat exchanger. The method may also include producing a hydraulic oil exhaust from the diesel engine and channeling the hydraulic oil exhaust to a hydraulic oil heat exchanger. Next, the wellbore fluid is directed into the hydraulic oil heat exchanger, and the compound is heated in the hydraulic oil heat exchanger. 
         [0009]    In this process, the water exchanger has been removed. The purpose of removing the water exchanger is to achieve higher temperature without overheating the engine. This provides a much more efficient unit. 
         [0010]    The method may further comprise flowing the wellbore fluid into the gas exhaust heat exchanger and heating the wellbore fluid in the gas exhaust heat exchanger. The operator may then flow the wellbore fluid into their upstream facilities. Any combination of these three can be used to transfer heat from the diesel engine to the exchanger thus heating the wellbore fluid. 
         [0011]    A second method for heating a fluid flowing from a wellbore and injecting heated fluid into a wellbore or pipeline having a tubing string is enclosed. The wellbore will intersect a hydrocarbon reservoir. The method will comprise providing a diesel engine that produces heat as a result of its operation. The method is similar to that of the first except the heat generated by the diesel engine is used to heat a fluid circulated from a reservoir on the unit. This heated, circulated fluid is then used to heat a separate heat exchanger. The purpose of this isolated heat exchange system is to provide the flowback operations with two barriers of protection before wellbore fluid is exposed to the extreme heat of the engine gas exchanger. 
         [0012]    Also disclosed herein is an apparatus for heating a wellbore fluid flowing from an oil and gas wellbore and injecting heated fluid into a wellbore or pipeline. The apparatus comprises a diesel engine that produces a heat source while in operation. The engine has a gas exhaust line, and a gas heat exchanger means, operatively associated with the gas exhaust line, for exchanging the heat of the gas with a set of gas heat exchange coils. 
         [0013]    Also included will be a wellbore fluid supply reservoir, with the wellbore fluid supply reservoir comprising a first fluid feed line means for supplying the fluid to the water heat exchanger means. Also included will be a second fluid feed line means for supplying the fluid to the gas heat exchanger means so that heat is transferred to the fluid. 
         [0014]    The engine will also include a hydraulic oil line, and the apparatus further comprises a hydraulic oil heat exchanger means, operatively associated with the hydraulic oil line, for exchanging the heat of the hydraulic oil with a set of hydraulic oil heat exchange coils. The fluid supply reservoir further comprises a third fluid feed line means for supplying the fluid to the hydraulic oil heat exchanger means so that the fluid is transferred the heat. 
         [0015]    In one embodiment, the gas exhaust line has operatively associated there with a catalytic converter member and the gas heat exchanger means has a gas output line containing a muffler to muffle the gas output. 
         [0016]    The apparatus may also contain a hydraulic oil line that has operatively associated there with a hydraulic oil pump means for pumping hydraulic oil from the engine into the hydraulic oil heat exchanger and further associated therewith a hydraulic back pressure control means for controlling the back pressure of the engine. 
         [0017]    An advantage of the present invention includes that it effectively heats fluids flowing from a wellbore this heat will break emulsions and gas hydrates that occur from cooling of the fluid. Another advantage is that fluids are heated in a single pass with continuous flow at temperatures of 140 degrees Fahrenheit up to and exceeding 300 degrees Fahrenheit without the aid of an open or enclosed flame. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0018]    For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements and wherein: 
           [0019]      FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic illustration of the prior art which covers the subject matter of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 2  is a first embodiment of the present invention in schematic illustration; 
           [0021]      FIG. 3  is a second embodiment of the system of the present invention in schematic illustration; 
           [0022]      FIG. 4  illustrates a diagram of the fluids flowing back from a wellbore; and 
           [0023]      FIG. 5  illustrates a diagram of heating a fluid and injecting it into a pipeline or wellbore. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0024]    Prior to a discussion of the system of the present invention, reference is made to the prior art, which is disclosed in  FIG. 1  herein. As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the system  10  in the prior art of the type of systems related to the present invention. As seen in  FIG. 1 , the fluid (Arrow  12 ) to be heated is fed into a 4 inch by 3 inch centrifugal pump  14  and pumped through a 2 inch line  16  into the water heat exchanger  18 . The water heat exchanger  18  is heated by water from the diesel engine  20 . Heat is generated as a function of the engines operation and the heat is transferred to water, thereby cooling the engine  20 . The water is then pumped from engine  20  by a water pump  22  into the water heat exchanger  18  where the water comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger for carrying the fluid to be heated, and transfers the heat from the water to the tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The engine water then exits the exchanger  18  and encounters a temperature control valve  24  which can either send the water to the engine  20 , if it is cool enough, or divert it to a radiator  26  to remove more heat from the water and render it cooler. 
         [0025]    The fluid to be heated then exits the water exchanger  18  and enters the hydraulic oil exchanger  28 . The hydraulic oil exchanger  28  is heated by oil kept in a hydraulic oil tank  30 . The oil is then pumped by a hydraulic oil pump  32 , which shears the oil and increases the temperature in the oil, into the heat exchanger  28 . The oil comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger  28  (carrying the fluid to be heated) and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The hydraulic oil then exits the exchanger  28  and encounters a temperature control valve  34  which can either send the oil to the tank  30 , if it is cool enough, or divert it to an additional heat exchanger  36  to lose additional heat and be rendered cooler before entering the tank  30 . 
         [0026]    The fluid to be heated then exits the oil exchanger  28  and enters the engine exhaust exchanger  38 . The engine exhaust exchanger  38  is heated by exhaust gas from the diesel engine  20 . Heat is generated as a function of the engines operation and is discharged into the engine exhaust heat exchanger  38 . The gas comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger  38  (carrying the fluid to be heated) and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The engine gas exhaust then exits the exchanger  38  and is vented to the atmosphere at  40 . The heated process fluid then exits the unit  10 . 
         [0027]      FIG. 2  illustrates a first embodiment of the system of the present of the present invention by the numeral  100 . As seen in  FIG. 2 , the fluid to be heated is fed into a 4 inch by 3 inch centrifugal pump  114  and pumped through a 2 inch line  112  into the hydraulic oil exchanger  118 . The hydraulic oil exchanger  118  is heated by oil kept in a hydraulic oil tank  120 . The oil is then pumped by a hydraulic oil pump  122 , which shears the oil and increases the temperature in the oil, into the heat exchanger  118 . The oil comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger  118 , while carrying the fluid to be heated, and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby heating the fluid to a temperature of between 40 and 300 degrees F. The hydraulic oil then exits the exchanger  118  and encounters a temperature control valve  124  which can either send the oil to the tank  120 , if it is sufficiently cool, or divert it to a second heat exchanger  126  to lose additional heat and be rendered cooler, before entering the tank  120 . 
         [0028]    The fluid to be heated then exits the oil exchanger  118  and enters the engine exhaust exchanger  128 . The engine exhaust exchanger  128  is heated by exhaust gas from the diesel engine  130 . Heat is generated as a function of the engines operation and is discharged into the engine exhaust heat exchanger  128 . The gas comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger  128  (carrying the fluid to be heated) and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The engine gas exhaust then exits the exchanger  128  and is vented to the atmosphere at  132  at a temperature of between 40 and 300 degrees F. The heated process fluid then exits the unit  100 . 
         [0029]      FIG. 3  illustrates a second embodiment of the system of the present of the present invention by the number  200 . As seen in  FIG. 3 , the circulating fluid to be heated is fed from a heating fluid holding tank  202  into a 4 inch by 3 inch centrifugal pump  204  and pumped through a 2 inch line  204  and enters the hydraulic oil exchanger  206 . The hydraulic oil exchanger  206  is heated by oil kept in a hydraulic oil tank  208 . The oil is then pumped by a hydraulic oil pump  210 , which shears the oil and increases the temperature in the oil, into the heat exchanger  206 . The oil comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger  206 , which is carrying the fluid to be heated, and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The hydraulic oil then exits the exchanger  206  and encounters a temperature control valve  212  which can either send the oil to the tank  208 , if it is sufficiently cool, or divert it to a heat exchanger  214  to lose additional heat and cool off before entering the tank  208 . 
         [0030]    The circulating fluid to be heated then exits the oil exchanger  206  and enters the engine exhaust exchanger  216 . The engine exhaust exchanger  216  is heated by exhaust gas from the diesel engine  218 . Heat is generated as a function of the engines operation and is discharged into the engine exhaust heat exchanger  216 . The gas comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger  216  (carrying the fluid to be heated) and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The engine gas exhaust then exits the exchanger and is vented to the atmosphere at  218 . 
         [0031]    The heated circulating fluid then enters the process fluid heat exchanger  220 . The process fluid exchanger  220  is heated by the circulating fluid exiting from the exhaust box  216 . The heated circulating fluid comes in contact with tubes in the exchanger  220  (carrying the fluid to be heated) and transfers the heat to the tubes, thereby heating the fluid. The circulating fluid then exits the exchanger  220  and returns to the heated fluid holding tank  202 . 
         [0032]    The process fluid enters the unit and is pumped by a centrifugal pump  222  to the process fluid heat exchanger  220 . The fluid passes through the tubes in the exchanger  220  which has been heated. 
         [0033]      FIG. 4  illustrates the steps in the process of flowing the fluids back from the wellbore  230 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the fluid (Arrow  232 ) flows from a hydrocarbon reservoir  234 . The fluid  232  then flows through a set of tubulars  236  located in the wellbore  230  and exits through a wellhead  238 . The wellbore fluid  232  flows into the thermal unit  240  where it is heated. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  illustrates next the heating of the fluid  232 , and injecting it into a pipeline or wellbore  230 . The fluid  232  is pumped from a tank  242  into the thermal unit  240  where it is heated. The fluid  232  is then pumped through a wellhead  238  into the wellbore  230  containing the tubulars  236 . The heated fluid  232  is then used to treat a wellbore or pipe line. The fluid heated by the thermal unit  240  is heated to a temperature of between 40 and 300 degrees F. The wellbore is intersected by a hydrocarbon reservoir  244 . 
         [0035]    The following is a list of parts and materials suitable for use in the present invention. 
         [0000]    
       
         
               
             
               
               
             
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 PARTS LIST 
               
             
          
           
               
                 Part Number 
                 Description 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 10 
                 system/unit 
               
               
                 12 
                 arrow 
               
               
                 14 
                 centrifugal pump 
               
               
                 16 
                 line 
               
               
                 18 
                 water heat exchanger 
               
               
                 20 
                 diesel engine 
               
               
                 22 
                 water pump 
               
               
                 24 
                 temperature control valve 
               
               
                 26 
                 radiator 
               
               
                 28 
                 hydraulic oil exchanger 
               
               
                 30 
                 hydraulic oil tank 
               
               
                 32 
                 hydraulic oil pump 
               
               
                 34 
                 temperature control valve 
               
               
                 36 
                 additional heat exchanger 
               
               
                 38 
                 engine exhaust exchanger 
               
               
                 40 
                 atmosphere 
               
               
                 100 
                 system/unit 
               
               
                 114 
                 centrifugal pump 
               
               
                 118 
                 hydraulic oil exchanger 
               
               
                 120 
                 hydraulic oil tank 
               
               
                 122 
                 hydraulic pump 
               
               
                 124 
                 temperature control valve 
               
               
                 126 
                 second heat exchanger 
               
               
                 128 
                 engine exhaust exchanger 
               
               
                 130 
                 diesel engine 
               
               
                 132 
                 atmosphere 
               
               
                 200 
                 system/unit 
               
               
                 202 
                 holding tank 
               
               
                 204 
                 centrifugal pump 
               
               
                 206 
                 hydraulic oil exchanger 
               
               
                 208 
                 hydraulic oil tank 
               
               
                 210 
                 hydraulic oil pump 
               
               
                 212 
                 temperature control valve 
               
               
                 214 
                 heat exchanger 
               
               
                 216 
                 engine exhaust heat exchanger/box 
               
               
                 218 
                 diesel engine 
               
               
                 220 
                 fluid heat exchanger 
               
               
                 222 
                 centrifugal pump 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
         [0036]    All measurements disclosed herein are at standard temperature and pressure, at sea level on Earth, unless indicated otherwise. All materials used or intended to be used in a human being are biocompatible, unless indicated otherwise. 
         [0037]    The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims.