Flameless Heating Method

Abstract

A method of cleaning a wellbore that may include pumping a process fluid through a flameless heating unit, controlling the flameless heating unit to heat the process fluid to a temperature in a range sufficient to chemically alter or induce phase change(s) to one or more deposits disposed in the wellbore, and transferring the process fluid from the flameless heating unit into the wellbore. Other steps may include using the heated process fluid to operate a tool, optionally by wireline operations, operatively disposed in the wellbore, whereby the heated process fluid and the tool work collectively to affect the removability of deposits. The flameless heating unit may include an internal combustion engine, a dynamic heat generator operatively connected to the internal combustion engine, and one or more pumps configured to provide a discharged fluid to the dynamic heat generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of cleaning a wellbore, the method comprising:
 pumping a process fluid through a flameless heating unit within a dynamic heat generator;   controlling the flameless heating unit to heat the process fluid, and, thereby, create a heated process fluid, to a temperature in a range sufficient to melt deposits formed in the wellbore; and   transferring, subsequent to the controlling, the process fluid from the flameless heating unit into the wellbore.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising using the heated process fluid to operate a tool operatively deployed in the wellbore, whereby the heated process fluid and the tool work collectively to melt and clear at least a portion of the deposits in the wellbore. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the deposits comprise at least one deposit selected from a group consisting of wax, paraffins, asphaltenes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the tool comprises a pig. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the pig is run into the wellbore by wireline operations. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the flameless heating unit comprises:
 an internal combustion engine;   a dynamic heat generator operatively connected to the internal combustion engine; and   a pump configured to provide a discharged fluid to the dynamic heat generator.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising increasing a pressure of the process fluid transferred to the wellbore with at least one booster pump. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one booster pump increases the pressure of the process fluid to a range of 200-300 bar. 
     
     
         9 . A flameless heating process for treating a wellbore, the flameless heating process comprising:
 receiving a process fluid into a modular flameless heating unit located on a singular skid, the modular flameless heating unit comprising:
 an internal combustion engine; 
 a dynamic heat generator operatively connected to the internal combustion engine; 
 a pump configured to provide a discharged fluid to the dynamic heat generator; and 
   heating the process fluid, with the dynamic heat generator of the modular flameless heating unit, to a predetermined temperature to affect removability of one or more foulants in the wellbore; and   outletting, subsequent to the heating, the process fluid from the modular flameless heating unit to a desired location.   
     
     
         10 . The flameless heating process of  claim 9 , further comprising using the heated process fluid to operate a tool operatively disposed in the wellbore, whereby, the heated process fluid and the tool work collectively to treat the one or more foulants within the wellbore. 
     
     
         11 . The flameless heating process of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more foulants are selected from a group consisting of wax, paraffins, asphaltenes, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The flameless heating process of  claim 10 , wherein the tool comprises a pig run into the wellbore by wireline operations. 
     
     
         13 . The flameless heating process of  claim 9 , wherein the wellbore is aboveground, belowground, or both. 
     
     
         14 . The flameless heating process of  claim 9 , further comprising using a booster pump to increase an outlet process fluid stream.