Pipe in pipe downhole electric heater

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11174706-B2
Application number	US-201214370671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 11, 2012
Priority date	Jan 11, 2012
Publication date	Nov 16, 2021
Grant date	Nov 16, 2021

Abstract

A pipe in pipe electric heater assembly comprising a work string comprising an inner pipe and an outer pipe and a heater element, wherein the heater element is provided with power supplied by the inner pipe and the outer pipe acting at least as conductors and associated methods.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pipe in pipe electric heater assembly comprising:
a first pipe comprising a first electrically conductive material,
a second pipe comprising a second electrically conductive material, and
a heater element that is separate from the first pipe and the second pipe, wherein the first pipe is disposed within the second pipe, forming an annulus between the first pipe and second pipe,
wherein the annulus between the first pipe and the second pipe allows a fluid to be pumped downhole through the annulus and returned uphole within the first pipe,
wherein the heater element is disposed in the annulus between the first pipe and the second pipe wherein the heater element is directly exposed to a fluid flow through the annulus,
wherein the heater element is provided with power supplied by the first pipe and the second pipe acting at least as conductors, and wherein the power is applied between the first pipe and the second pipe such that an electrical current passes from the first pipe through the heater element to the second pipe or from the second pipe through the heater element to the first pipe to provide power to the heater element, and
wherein the heater element is configured to generate heat at the heater element from the electrical current passing through the heater element.

2. The pipe in pipe electric heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first pipe or the second pipe is coated with an insulating material.

3. The pipe in pipe electric heater assembly of claim 2 , wherein the insulating material comprises a dielectric material.

4. The pipe in pipe electric heater assembly of claim 3 , wherein the dielectric material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a polyimide, a high strength toughened fluoropolymer, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, and a ceramic coating.

5. The pipe in pipe electric heater assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor.

6. The pipe in pipe electric heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the heater element is mounted to at least one of an outer surface of the first pipe and an inner surface of the second pipe.

7. The pipe in pipe electric heater assembly of claim 1 , wherein the heater element is coupled to the first pipe and the second pipe.

8. A method of providing power to a heater element comprising:
providing a pipe in pipe electric heater assembly comprising:
a first pipe comprising a first electrically conductive material,
a second pipe comprising a second electrically conductive material, and
a heater element that is separate from the first pipe and the second pipe,

wherein the first pipe is disposed within the second pipe, forming an annulus between the first pipe and second pipe,
wherein the annulus between the first pipe and the second pipe allows a fluid to be pumped downhole through the annulus and returned uphole within the first pipe,
wherein the heater element is disposed in the annulus between the first pipe and the second pipe wherein the heater element is directly exposed to a fluid flow in the annulus,
wherein the heater element is provided with power supplied by the first pipe and the second pipe acting at least as conductors, and wherein the power is applied between the first pipe and the second pipe such that an electrical current passes from the first pipe through the heater element to the second pipe or from the second pipe through the heater element to the first pipe to provide power to the heater element; and
providing power to the heater element, wherein the heater element generates heat at the heater element from the electrical current passing through the heater element.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein at least one of the first pipe or the second pipe is coated with an insulating material.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the insulating material comprises a dielectric material.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the dielectric material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a polyimide, a high strength toughened fluoropolymer, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, and a ceramic coating.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the pipe in pipe electric heater assembly further comprises a temperature sensor.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the heater element is mounted to at least one of an outer surface of the first pipe and an inner surface of the second pipe.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the heater element is coupled to the first pipe and the second pipe.

15. A method of heating a fluid comprising:
providing a pipe in pipe electric heater assembly comprising:
a first pipe comprising a first electrically conductive material,
a second pipe comprising a second electrically conductive material, and
a heater element that is separate from the first pipe and the second pipe,

wherein the first pipe is disposed within the second pipe, forming an annulus between the first pipe and second pipe,
wherein the annulus between the first pipe and the second pipe allows a fluid to be pumped downhole through the annulus and returned uphole within the first pipe,
wherein the heater element is disposed in the annulus between the first pipe and the second pipe wherein the heater element is directly exposed to a fluid flow in the annulus,
wherein the heater element is provided with power supplied by the first pipe and the second pipe acting at least as conductors, and wherein the power is applied between the first pipe and the second pipe such that an electrical current passes from the first pipe through the heater element to the second pipe or from the second pipe through the heater element to the first pipe to provide power to the heater element;
flowing a fluid through the annulus between the first pipe and the second pipe; and
providing power to the heater element to heat the fluid, wherein the heater element generates heat to heat the fluid at the heater element from the electrical current passing through the heater element.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein at least one of the first pipe or the second pipe is coated with an insulating material.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the insulating material comprises a dielectric material.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the dielectric material comprises at least one material selected from the group consisting of a polyimide, a high strength toughened fluoropolymer, nylon, polytetrafluoroethylene, and a ceramic coating.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein the heater element is mounted to at least one of an outer surface of the first pipe and an inner surface of the second pipe.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the heater element is coupled to the first pipe and second pipe.

Assignees

• Hay Richard Thomas
• Menezes Clive
• Halliburton Energy Services Inc

Inventors

• Hay Richard Thomas
• Menezes Clive

Classifications

• E21B36/04 Primary

  using electrical heaters · CPC title

• E21B36/003

  Insulating arrangements · CPC title