Passive wellbore operations fluid cooling system

Abstract

A passive cooling system for wellbore operations fluids includes a wellbore operations fluid reservoir including an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid containment area. At least one heat pipe is arranged in the wellbore operations fluid reservoir. The at least one heat pipe includes a first end arranged in the fluid containment area, a second end that extends outwardly of the fluid containment area, and a hollow interior containing a working fluid.

1 . A passive cooling system for wellbore operations fluids comprising:
 a wellbore operations fluid reservoir including an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid containment area; and   at least one heat pipe arranged in the wellbore operations fluid reservoir, the at least one heat pipe including a first end arranged in the fluid containment area, a second end that extends outwardly of the fluid containment area, and a hollow interior containing a working fluid.   
     
     
         2 . The passive cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the at least one heat pipe defines an evaporator end configured to be submerged in wellbore operations fluids and the second end of the at least one heat pipe defines a condenser end configured to be exposed to ambient. 
     
     
         3 . The passive cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat pipe includes a valve arranged at the second end, the valve facilitating an introduction of working fluid into the hollow interior. 
     
     
         4 . The passive cooling system according to  claim 3 , further comprising: a pump connected to the valve, the pump establishing a selected pressure in the hollow interior. 
     
     
         5 . The passive cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat pipe includes a valve element arranged at the first end, the valve element being configured to facilitate removal of the working fluid from the hollow interior. 
     
     
         6 . The passive cooling system according to  claim 1 , further comprising: a blower configured to direct an airflow onto the second end of the at least one heat pipe, the blower being connected to a passive energy source. 
     
     
         7 . The passive cooling system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat pipe includes a plurality of heat pipes arranged in the fluid containment area. 
     
     
         8 . A resource exploration and recovery system comprising:
 a subsurface system including one or more tubulars extending into a formation; and   a surface system including a source of wellbore operations fluid connected to the one or more tubulars and a passive wellbore operations fluid cooling system fluidically connected to the one or more tubulars, the passive wellbore operations fluid cooling system comprising:
 a wellbore operations fluid reservoir including an inlet, an outlet, and a fluid containment area; and 
 at least one heat pipe arranged in the wellbore operations fluid reservoir, the at least one heat pipe including a first end arranged in the fluid containment area, a second end that extends outwardly of the fluid containment area, and a hollow interior containing a working fluid. 
   
     
     
         9 . The passive wellbore operations fluid cooling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the first end of the at least one heat pipe defines an evaporator end configured to be submerged in wellbore operations fluids and the second end of the at least one heat pipe defines a condenser end configured to be exposed to ambient. 
     
     
         10 . The passive wellbore operations fluid cooling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one heat pipe includes a valve arranged at the second end, the valve facilitating an introduction of working fluid into the hollow interior. 
     
     
         11 . The passive wellbore operations fluid cooling system according to  claim 10 , further comprising: a pump connected to the valve, the pump establishing a selected pressure in the hollow interior. 
     
     
         12 . The passive wellbore operations fluid cooling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one heat pipe includes a valve element arranged at the first end, the valve element being configured to facilitate removal of the working fluid from the hollow interior. 
     
     
         13 . The passive wellbore operations fluid cooling system according to  claim 8 , further comprising: a blower configured to direct an airflow onto the second end of the at least one heat pipe, the blower being connected to a passive energy source. 
     
     
         14 . The passive wellbore operations fluid cooling system according to  claim 8 , wherein the at least one heat pipe includes a plurality of heat pipes arranged in the fluid containment area. 
     
     
         15 . A method of cooling wellbore operations fluid comprising:
 introducing wellbore operations fluid from a downhole tubular into a wellbore operations fluid reservoir;   transferring heat from the wellbore operations fluid into a working fluid contained in first end of a heat pipe;   guiding the working fluid to a second end of the heat pipe;   exposing the second end of the heat pipe to ambient;   condensing the working fluid at the second end of the heat pipe; and   returning the working fluid to the first end of the heat pipe.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: adjusting a characteristic of the working fluid based on a temperature differential between the wellbore operations fluid and ambient. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein adjusting the characteristic of the working fluid includes changing a boiling point of the working fluid. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein changing the boiling point of the working fluid includes changing a pressure in the heat pipe. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising: directing an airflow over the second end of the heat pipe. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein directing the airflow includes operating a blower connected to a passive energy source.