Systems and Methods for Colocation of High Performance Computing Operations and Hydrocarbon Production Facilties

Abstract

A hydrocarbon production system includes a well at a remote location. The well is configured to produce hydrocarbon production fluids comprising natural gas. The system also includes a turbo-generator coupled to the well and configured to receive the natural gas and produce electricity from the natural gas. In addition, the system includes a high performance computing (HPC) data center coupled to the turbo-generator and configured to be powered by the electricity from the turbo-generator.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for performing computing operations at a remote hydrocarbon producing well, the system comprising:
 a turbo-generator at the remote location and configured to receive natural gas produced by the well and produce electricity from the natural gas; and   a high performance computing (HPC) data center configured to be powered by the electricity from the turbo-generator; and   an air conditioning system coupled to the turbo-generator and configured to be powered by the electricity from the turbo-generator, wherein the air conditioning system is configured to control the temperature and humidity of the HPC data center.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising hydrocarbon processing equipment configured to separate the natural gas from hydrocarbon fluids produced by the well, wherein the turbo-generator is configured to receive the natural gas from the hydrocarbon processing equipment. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to send and receive data with a low bandwidth wireless communication path. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the remote location is offshore. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , further comprising a floating offshore structure, wherein the processing equipment, the turbo-generator, and the HPC data center are disposed on the floating offshore structure. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to communicate the electrical power produced at the remote location by the turbo-generator. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to receive at least one input for performing a computation based, at least in part, on the electrical power produced by the turbo-generator. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to perform a computation at the remote location based on the at least one input. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to receive at least one input for performing a computation based, at least in part, on a volumetric flow rate of natural gas to the turbo-generator. 
     
     
         10 . A system for performing computing operations at a remote hydrocarbon producing well, the system comprising:
 a turbo-generator at the remote location and configured to receive natural gas from the well and produce electrical power from the natural gas; and   a high performance computing (HPC) data center coupled to the turbo-generator at the remote location and configured to be powered by the electrical power produced by the turbo-generator, wherein the HPC data center is configured to communicate the electrical power produced by the turbo-generator at the remote location.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to receive at least one input for performing a computation based, at least in part, on an electrical power output of the turbo-generator. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to receive at least one input for performing a computation based, at least in part, on a volumetric flow rate of natural gas to the turbo-generator. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to perform a computation at the remote location based on the at least one input. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , further comprising hydrocarbon processing equipment configured to separate the natural gas from hydrocarbon fluids produced by the well, wherein the turbo-generator is configured to receive the natural gas from the hydrocarbon processing equipment. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to send and receive data with a low bandwidth wireless communication path. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the remote location is offshore. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , further comprising a floating offshore structure, wherein the processing equipment, the turbo-generator, and the HPC data center are disposed on the floating offshore structure. 
     
     
         18 . A system for performing computing operations at a remote hydrocarbon producing well, the system comprising:
 an electrical generator at the remote location and configured to be driven by mechanical energy derived from natural gas produced by the well, wherein the electrical generator is configured to produce electrical power from the mechanical energy; and   a high performance computing (HPC) data center coupled to the electrical generator at the remote location and configured to be powered by the electrical power produced by the turbo-generator, wherein the HPC data center is configured to communicate the electrical power produced by the turbo-generator at the remote location.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to receive at least one input for performing a computation based, at least in part, on an electrical power output of the turbo-generator. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to receive at least one input for performing a computation based, at least in part, on a volumetric flow rate of natural gas to the turbo-generator. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to perform a computation at the remote location based on the at least one input. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising hydrocarbon processing equipment configured to separate the natural gas from hydrocarbon fluids produced by the well, wherein the turbo-generator is configured to receive the natural gas from the hydrocarbon processing equipment. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the HPC data center is configured to send and receive data with a low bandwidth wireless communication path. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the remote location is offshore. 
     
     
         25 . The system of  claim 24 , further comprising a floating offshore structure, wherein the processing equipment, the turbo-generator, and the HPC data center are disposed on the floating offshore structure. 
     
     
         26 . The system of  claim 18 , further comprising a turbine configured to produce the mechanical energy from the natural gas. 
     
     
         27 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the electrical generator is configured to be driven by mechanical energy produced by combustion of the natural gas from the well.