Method and apparatus for generating pollution free electrical energy from hydrocarbons

Abstract

The present invention relates to the generation of substantially pollution free energy by utilizing hydrocarbons to create electrical energy, while reinjecting exhaust fumes or other byproducts into a subterranean formation. Thus, remote, low reserve oil and gas fields may be exploited and produced without requiring the construction of expensive gas transmission lines.

1 . A method for generating substantially pollution free electrical power from a hydrocarbon wellbore for use in a local electrical transmission grid, comprising: 
 a) producing a hydrocarbon fluid from at least one wellbore from a subterranean formation to a surface location;    b) separating non-combustible constituents from said hydrocarbon fluids at said surface location, wherein water is substantially removed from said hydrocarbon fluids;    c) generating electrical energy from said hydrocarbon fluids at said surface location or proximate thereto;    d) transforming said electrical energy from a first voltage to a second voltage which is compatible with a local electrical transmission line;    e) transmitting said electrical energy into said local electrical transmission line which is located between an offsite electrical power generating facility and an end user; and    f) injecting a waste byproduct exhaust gas from said generating electrical energy substantially onsite into at least one of said subterranean formation or a secondary subterranean formation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising metering said hydrocarbon fluids prior to generating electrical energy.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein producing a hydrocarbon fluid comprises commingling produced hydrocarbon fluids from a plurality of producing wells.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure in said subterranean formation is increased by injecting said waste byproduct exhaust gas into the subterranean formation.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising compressing said waste byproduct exhaust gas from a low pressure to a high pressure prior to injecting said waste byproduct exhaust gas into the subterranean formation.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising utilizing exhaust gas obtained compressing the waste byproduct exhaust gas to generate steam.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising separating water and other liquid phase byproducts from said waste byproduct exhaust gas prior to injecting the waste byproduct gas into a subterranean formation.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein transmitting said electrical energy further comprises interconnecting a conductive electrical line between a generator to said local electrical transmission grid.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon fluids comprise at least one of an oil, a condensate and a natural gas.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon wellbore is used for both the production of said hydrocarbons and the injection of a waste byproduct gas.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein the waste byproduct gas is injected between a substantially continuous string of tubing and casing, and the hydrocarbons are produced from the substantially continuous string of tubing.  
   
   
       12 . A method for generating substantially pollution free electrical energy for local distribution and use from a remote location, comprising: 
 a) providing a wellbore which extends from a surface location to a subterranean formation which contains hydrocarbons;    b) producing the hydrocarbons from the subterranean formation to the surface location;    c) separating non-combustible constituents from said hydrocarbons at said surface location;    d) operating an engine at least partially with said hydrocarbons to generate electrical energy and create a first waste exhaust gas;    e) transmitting said electrical energy into an electrical transmission line which is located between an electrical power generating facility and an end user;    f) metering said electrical energy to provide an accounting of the electrical energy transmitted;    g) scrubbing said waste exhaust gas to substantially remove non-volatile constituents from said waste exhaust gas;    h) compressing said waste exhaust gas to increase a pressure of said waste exhaust gas;    I) capturing a second waste exhaust gas from compressing the waste exhaust gas; and    j) injecting at least one of said first waste exhaust gas and said second exhaust gas into the subterranean formation or a secondary formation, wherein substantially no waste exhaust gas from said operating an engine and compressing said waste exhaust gas is discharged into the atmosphere.    
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein said wellbore which produces said hydrocarbons is further utilized for the injection of at least one of said first waste exhaust gas and said second exhaust gas.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of injecting said water separated from said hydrocarbons into a subterranean formation.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising the step of storing said waste exhaust gas in a storage vessel prior to injecting said waste exhaust gas.  
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing a wellbore comprises drilling a well into the subterranean formation and running at least one string of production piping to facilitate the extraction of said hydrocarbons.  
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein providing a wellbore comprises utilizing a pre-existing wellbore which penetrates the subterranean formation.  
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein separating non-combustible constituents comprises flowing the hydrocarbons and the non-combustible constituents through at least one vessel which utilizes in part a gravitational force to separate the hydrocarbons and the non-combustible constituents.  
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein transmitting the electrical energy further comprises providing a transformer to selectively alter the amount of voltage associated with the electrical energy.  
   
   
       20 . A method for exploiting a hydrocarbon reservoir in a remote location without producing exhaust gas byproducts to the atmosphere and providing electrical power to a local electrical transmission grid, comprising: 
 a) providing a wellbore which extends from a surface location to a hydrocarbon reservoir positioned below the earth's surface;    b) producing a hydrocarbon fluid from said hydrocarbon reservoir to said surface location;    c) removing any non-combustible components from said hydrocarbon fluid at the surface location;    d) utilizing said hydrocarbon fluid to generate electrical energy at the remote location;    e) transforming said electrical energy from a first voltage to a second voltage which is compatible with said local electrical transmission line.    f) transmitting said electrical energy into the local electrical transmission line which is located between an electrical power generating facility and an end user; and    g) injecting a waste exhaust gas created from generating said electrical energy into said hydrocarbon reservoir or a secondary subterranean formation, wherein substantially no waste exhaust gas is emitted into the atmosphere.    
   
   
       21 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising gathering substantially all waste byproduct exhaust gases prior to injecting the waste exhaust gas, wherein the remote facility emits substantially no hydrocarbon exhaust into the atmosphere.  
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising metering said electrical energy prior to transmitting the electrical energy, wherein an accounting of the electrical energy transmitted may be determined.  
   
   
       23 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising metering said waste exhaust gas prior to injecting into at least one of said hydrocarbon reservoir and said secondary subterranean formation.  
   
   
       24 . An apparatus for producing substantially pollution free electrical energy from a subterranean formation at a substantially remote location between an electrical end user and an electrical power generating plant, comprising: 
 at least one wellbore extending from a surface location to a subterranean formation, said at least one wellbore comprising an upper end and a lower end;    at least one production separator in operable communication with said upper end of said at least one wellbore, said production separator having at least one internal baffle to separate a combustible hydrocarbon fluid from a non-combustible fluid;    a storage vessel in operable communication with said at least one production separator for storing said non-combustible fluid;    an electrical generator in operable communication with said at least one production separator and located at said substantially remote location, said electrical generator capable of converting said combustible hydrocarbon fluid into electrical energy;    a gas collection vessel in operable communication with said electrical generator, wherein exhaust gas from said electrical generator is collected in said gas collection vessel;    a transformer in operable communication with said electrical generator, said transformer transforming at least one of a first voltage, a first phase and a first amperage of said electrical energy to a second voltage, a second phase and a second amperage;    a compressor in operable communication with said gas collection vessel, wherein the exhaust gas is compressed from a first pressure to a second pressure prior to injection into a subterranean formation; and    an electrical transmission line for transmitting the electrical energy from the substantially remote location to the end user.    
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said collection vessel is a pipe.  
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising a pump for injecting the non-combustible fluid from said storage vessel into a subterranean formation.  
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein the hydrocarbon fluid comprises at least one of an oil, a condensate, a natural gas or combinations therein.  
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising at least one meter for determining a volume of at least one of the combustible hydrocarbon fluid, the non-combustible hydrocarbon fluid and the electrical energy.  
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , further comprising a second storage vessel for storing the combustible hydrocarbon fluid.  
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 24 , wherein said electrical generator comprises an internal combustion engine which drives a shaft coupled to a plurality of magnets to create an electrical current.