Method and apparatus for heating drilling and/or completion fluids entering or leaving a well bore during oil and gas exploration and production

Abstract

A system for heating drilling, completion, and/or stimulation fluids including acidizing liquids but not limited to; entering or exiting a wellbore, the system including a principal heat exchange vessel; a first inlet for introducing heat transfer media into fluid flow lines within the vessel; an outlet for flowing the heat transfer media from the vessel; a second inlet for introducing fluids returning from or returning to the well bore for receiving heat from the heating fluid within the fluid flow lines in the vessel; an outlet for flowing the heated downhole fluids from the vessel to be returned down the borehole; a heater for heating the heating fluid to a desired temperature before returning the heating fluid to the heat exchange vessel. Optimally, the drilling or completion fluid would be heated to 50° to 60° F. above ambient temperature.

1 . A system for pre-heating downhole fluids entering a wellbore, the system comprising: 
 a. a principal heat exchange vessel;    b. an inlet for allowing a heat transfer media to circulate through the vessel through a plurality of heating fluid flow lines;    c. a first outlet for flowing the heat transfer media from the vessel;    d. a second inlet for introducing fluids returning to the well bore for receiving heat from the heating transfer media within the fluid flow lines in the vessel for pre-heating the downhole fluids to a desired temperature;    e. an outlet for flowing the heated downhole fluids from the vessel to be returned down the borehole;    f. heating means for heating the heat transfer media to a desired temperature before returning the heating transfer media to the heat exchange vessel.    
     
     
         2 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchange vessel further comprises plate & frame, shell & tube, fintube, spiral coil, platecoil and embossed immersion heat transfer panels.  
     
     
         3 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the heat transfer media further comprises heating oil, heated air or steam.  
     
     
         4 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the fluids from the well bore comprises heating drilling, completion, and/or stimulation fluids including acidizing liquids.  
     
     
         5 . The system in  claim 1 , wherein the drilling or completion fluid would be heated to 50° to 60° F. above ambient temperature.  
     
     
         6 . A system for pre-heating downhole fluids returning from a well bore, the system comprising: 
 a. a principal heat exchange vessel;    b. an inlet for allowing a heat transfer media to circulate through the vessel through a plurality of heating fluid flow lines;    c. a first outlet for flowing the heat transfer media from the vessel;    d. a second inlet for introducing fluids returning from the well bore for receiving heat from the heat transfer media within the fluid flow lines in the vessel for pre-heating the downhole fluids to a desired temperature;    e. an outlet for flowing the heated downhole fluids from the vessel to a solids removal system;    f. means for flowing the downhole fluids from the solids removal system to the principal heat exchange vessel to be post-heated before returning down the borehole; and    g. heating means for heating the heating fluid to a desired temperature before returning the heating fluid to the heat exchange vessel.    
     
     
         7 . The system in  claim 6 , wherein the heat exchange vessel is of the type which includes plate & frame, shell & tube, fintube, spiral coil, platecoil and embossed immersion heat transfer panels or the like.  
     
     
         8 . The system in  claim 6 , wherein the fluids from the well bore comprises drilling, completion, and/or stimulation fluids including acidizing liquids.  
     
     
         9 . The system in  claim 6 , wherein the heat transfer media comprises heating oil or a similar heat exchange medium.  
     
     
         10 . The system in  claim 6 , wherein the of drilling, completion, and/or stimulation fluids including acidizing liquids but not limited to would be heated to 50° to 60° F. above ambient temperature.  
     
     
         11 . The system in  claim 6 , wherein the of drilling, completion, and/or stimulation fluids including acidizing liquids but not limited to could be heated to a temperature of 150° F.  
     
     
         12 . A method of heating fluids that will enter a borehole, comprising the following steps: 
 a. providing a heat exchange vessel having heat transfer panels;    b. flowing a heated fluid into the heat exchange vessel;    c. flowing the downhole fluid to enter the borehole into the vessel to receive heat from the heat transfer media in a non-direct contact;    d. returning the heated borehole fluid into the borehole upon reaching the desired temperature of approximately 50° F. to 60° F. above ambient temperature.    
     
     
         13 . A method of heating downhole fluids returning from a borehole, comprising the following steps: 
 a. providing a heat exchange vessel;    b. flowing a heated fluid into the heat exchange vessel;    c. flowing the downhole fluid returning from the borehole into the vessel to receive heat from the heated fluid in a non-direct contact;    d. flowing the heated borehole fluid into a solids removal system to remove solids carried by the fluid from downhole; and    e. flowing the downhole fluid from the solids removal system to the heat exchange vessel to be heated to a temperature 50° F. to 60° F. above ambient temperature.; and    f. returning the heated borehole fluid into the borehole.    
     
     
         14 . The system in  claim 13 , wherein the fluids from the well bore comprises drilling, completion, and/or stimulation fluids including acidizing liquids.  
     
     
         15 . The system in  claim 13 , wherein the heating fluid comprises heating oil or a similar heat exchange medium.  
     
     
         16 . The system in  claim 13 , wherein the drilling, completion, and/or stimulation fluids including acidizing liquids but not limited to could be heated to at least 150° F.