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. The present invention further relates to managing and supplying this electrical energy to at least one of a variety of subprocesses for producing a fuel product, such as hydrogen or ethanol. Alternatively, electrical power can be generated from a non-hydrocarbon source such as thermal, solar, wind or other power source to produce electrical energy, which in turn may be used to produce fuel products or other forms of usable energy. 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) supplying said electrical energy to at least one subprocess for producing at least one fuel product; and    e) injecting a waste byproduct gas from said generating electrical energy step into at least one of said subterranean formation or a secondary subterranean formation.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one subprocess is selected from at least one of the group comprising a thermal subprocess, a electroclytic subprocess, or a photolytic subprocess.  
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one fuel product is hydrogen.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said at least one fuel product is ethanol.  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising metering said hydrocarbon fluids prior to generating electrical energy.  
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein producing a hydrocarbon fluid comprises commingling produced hydrocarbon fluids from a plurality of producing wells.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon fluids comprise at least one of an oil, a condensate and a natural gas.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said hydrocarbon wellbore is used for the production of said hydrocarbons and additionally for injection of a waste byproduct gas.  
   
   
       9 . 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) supplying said electrical energy to at least one subprocess for producing at least one fuel product;    f) scrubbing said waste exhaust gas to substantially remove non-volatile constituents from said waste exhaust gas;    g) compressing said waste exhaust gas to increase a pressure of said waste exhaust gas;    h) capturing a second waste exhaust gas from compressing the waste exhaust gas; and    i) 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.    
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , 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.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of injecting said water separated from said hydrocarbons into a subterranean formation.  
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising the step of storing said waste exhaust gas in a storage vessel prior to injecting said waste exhaust gas.  
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , 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.  
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein providing a wellbore comprises utilizing a pre-existing wellbore which penetrates the subterranean formation.  
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , 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.