Oilfield surface equipment cooling system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016369606-A1
Application number	US-201615256976-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Sep 6, 2016
Priority date	Nov 8, 2013
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for cooling process equipment are provided. The system includes a process fluid source, and a heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the process equipment and the process fluid source. The heat exchanger is configured to receive a process fluid from the process fluid source and transfer heat from the process equipment to the process fluid. The system also includes a control system fluidly coupled with the heat exchanger. The control system is configured to vary a temperature of the process fluid heated in the heat exchanger. Further, at least a portion of the process fluid heated in the heat exchanger is delivered into a wellbore at a temperature below a boiling point of the process fluid.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A system for cooling a process equipment, comprising:
a process fluid source; a heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the process equipment and the process fluid source, wherein the heat exchanger is configured to receive a process fluid from the process fluid source and transfer heat from the process equipment to the process fluid; and a control system fluidly coupled with the heat exchanger, wherein the control system is configured to adjust a temperature of the process fluid heated in the heat exchanger, wherein at least a portion of the process fluid heated in the heat exchanger is delivered into a wellbore at a temperature below a boiling point of the process fluid.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the process equipment comprises a mixing assembly, the mixing assembly being configured to receive process fluid from the heat exchanger and mix the process fluid received from the heat exchanger with a gelling agent, a proppant, or both.

3 . The system of claim 2 , wherein the process equipment comprises a pump coupled with the mixing assembly, the pump being configured to receive process fluid from the mixing assembly and pump the process fluid into the wellbore.

4 . The system of claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger comprises a first heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the mixing assembly so as to transfer heat from the mixing assembly, and a second heat exchanger fluidly coupled with the pump so as to transfer heat from the pump.

5 . The system of claim 4 , wherein the mixing assembly is fluidly coupled with the second heat exchanger, so as to receive process fluid from the second heat exchanger.

6 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the control system comprises a control valve fluidly coupled with the second heat exchanger, the process fluid source, and the mixing assembly, wherein the control valve controls a flowrate of process fluid from the second heat exchanger to the mixing assembly, or from the process fluid source to the mixing assembly, or both, based at least partially on a temperature of process fluid downstream from the second heat exchanger and upstream from the mixing assembly.

7 . The system of claim 5 , wherein the control system comprises a flowback control valve fluidly coupled with a point downstream from the first heat exchanger, and with the second heat exchanger and the fluid source, wherein the flowback control valve is configured to control a flowrate of process fluid from the second heat exchanger back to the process fluid source, a flowrate of process fluid from the second heat exchanger to the point downstream from the first heat exchanger, or both.

8 . The system of claim 5 , further comprising a tank configured to receive process fluid from the first heat exchanger, the second heat exchanger, and from the mixing assembly, wherein the second heat exchanger is disposed at least partially in the tank.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the process equipment comprises a cement mixer.

10 . A method for cooling process equipment, comprising:
receiving a process fluid from a process fluid source; transferring heat from a process equipment to the process fluid, such that a heated process fluid is generated; controlling a temperature of the heated process fluid, such that the heated process fluid is maintained in a range of temperatures, wherein a maximum of the range is below a boiling point of the process fluid; and delivering at least a portion of the heated process fluid into a wellbore.

11 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving at least a portion of the heated process fluid in a mixing assembly; and mixing one or more additives with the heated process fluid using the mixing device.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling the temperature of the heated process fluid comprises:
combining, upstream from the mixing assembly, the at least a portion of the heated process fluid with additional process fluid from the process fluid source, such that a combined process fluid is produced having a temperature that is lower than a temperature of the at least a portion of the heated process fluid prior to the combining.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein controlling the temperature of the heated process fluid comprises:
determining that a temperature of the at least a portion of the heated process fluid upstream from the mixing assembly is above temperature threshold; and in response, combining the at least a portion of the heated process fluid with process fluid having a lower temperature, such that a combined process fluid is produced having a temperature that is less than the temperature of the heated process fluid.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein controlling the temperature of the heated process fluid further comprises:
determining that the temperature of the combined process fluid is higher than the temperature threshold; and increasing a flowrate of the process fluid having the lower temperature, or reducing a flowrate of the at least a portion of the heated process fluid, or both, so as to reduce the temperature of the combined process fluid upstream of the mixing device.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein transferring heat from the process equipment to the process fluid comprises:
receiving a first portion of the process fluid in a first heat exchanger that is fluidly coupled with a mixing assembly, so as to transfer heat form the mixing assembly to the first portion of the process fluid; receiving a second portion of the process fluid in a second heat exchanger that is fluidly coupled with a pump, so as to transfer heat from the pump to the second portion of the process fluid; mixing at least some of the second portion of the process fluid with a gelling agent, using a mixing assembly positioned downstream from the second heat exchanger, such that a gelled process fluid is produced; combining the gelled process fluid with at least some of the first portion of the process fluid, such that a diluted, gelled process fluid is produced; and receiving the diluted, gelled process fluid into a tank.

16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein controlling the temperature of the heated process fluid further comprises:
flowing back to the process fluid source at least some of the second portion of the process fluid downstream from the second heat exchanger and upstream of the mixing assembly; and flowing back to the process fluid source some of the first portion of the process fluid downstream from the first heat exchanger and upstream of a point where the at least some of the first portion of the process fluid is combined with the gelled process fluid.

17 . The method of claim 15 , further comprising transferring heat from the mixing assembly to the diluted, gelled process fluid in the tank.

18 . The method of claim 10 , further comprising:
receiving the process fluid in a displacement tank; and recirculating at least a portion of the heated process fluid to the displacement; and mixing at least a portion of the heated process fluid with a cement, wherein delivering at least a portion of the heated process fluid into the wellbore comprises performing a cementing operation using the at least a portion of the heated process fluid.

19 . The method of claim 10 , wherein delivering at least a portion of the heated process fluid into the wellbore comprises:
combining the heated process fluid with a gelling agent, a proppant, or both; and performing a hydraulic fracturing operation using the heated proce

Assignees

• Schlumberger Technology Corp

Inventors

• Chong Jonathan Wun Shiung
• Callaway Lewis
• Luharuka Rajesh
• Huey William Troy
• Vo Hoang Phi-Dung

Classifications

• F28F13/12

  by creating turbulence, e.g. by stirring, by increasing the force of circulation (F28F13/08 takes precedence) · CPC title

• E21B43/2405 Primary

  in association with fracturing or crevice forming processes (E21B43/247 takes precedence) · CPC title

• F28F27/02

  for controlling the distribution of heat-exchange media between different channels ({static flow control means in header boxes F28F9/026}; arrangements of guide plates or guide vanes F28F9/22, F28F25/12) · CPC title

• E21B36/006

  Combined heating and pumping means · CPC title

• E21B33/13

  Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like · CPC title