Systems and Methods of Generating Electric Power With Compressed Natural Gas

Abstract

Systems and methods for generating electric power are provided. A method includes operating a generator to produce electric power from a fuel source and actuating at least one electric motor coupled to at least one compression unit based on the produced electric power. The method further includes actuating the at least one compression unit to discharge a flow of gas at an increased pressure and directing at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit to a location upstream of the generator. The generator is configured to receive the at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit and to produce electric power from the at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of generating electric power at a pad site, comprising: 
 operating a generator to produce electric power from a fuel source;   actuating at least one electric motor coupled to at least one compression unit based on the produced electric power;   actuating the at least one compression unit to discharge a flow of gas at an increased pressure; and   directing at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit to a location upstream of the generator, wherein the generator is configured to: 
 receive the at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit; and 
 produce electric power from the at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein directing the at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit comprises actuating a valve disposed downstream of the at least one compression unit. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:  
       monitoring a pressure of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit; and 
       actuating the valve to direct the at least a portion of the flow of gas in response to the pressure of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit exceeding a threshold value. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the valve is configured to fluidly couple a secondary conduit to a main conduit disposed downstream from the at least one compression unit. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing a remaining portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit to one or more wellbores for injection. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing the produced electric power to a power distribution module configured to distribute the produced electric power to one or more variable frequency drives. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each one of the one or more variable frequency drives is configured to: 
 receive the produced electric power; and   convert the produced electric power from a first voltage level to a second voltage level.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the at least one electric motor is configured to be actuated with the produced electric power at the second voltage level. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein each one of the one or more variable frequency drives is coupled to a corresponding electric motor, wherein each one of the corresponding electric motors is coupled to a corresponding compression unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising directing the produced electric power to a variable frequency drive, wherein the variable frequency drive is coupled to the at least one electric motor and configured to provide the produced electric power to the at least one electric motor at a second voltage level. 
     
     
         11 . A system for generating electric power at a pad site, comprising:  
       
         at least one electric motor configured to: 
         receive electric power produced by a generator; and 
         convert the produced electric power into mechanical energy; and 
         at least one compression unit coupled to the at least one electric motor configured to:  
         
           receive a flow of gas to be pressurized; and 
         
         
           discharge the flow of gas at an increased pressure through a main conduit, wherein the at least one compression unit is actuated based on the mechanical energy provided by the at least one electric motor, 
         
         
           wherein a secondary conduit is fluidly coupled to the main conduit and disposed downstream of the at least one compression unit, wherein the secondary conduit is configured to direct at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit to a location upstream of the generator, wherein the generator is configured to: 
         
         
           
             receive the at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit; and 
           
         
         
           
             produce electric power from the at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit. 
           
         
       
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a variable frequency drive configured to: 
 receive the produced electric power from the generator;   convert the produced electric power from a first voltage level to a second voltage level; and   direct the produced electric power at the second voltage level to the at least one electric motor.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a power distribution module configured to: 
 receive the produced electric power from the generator; and   direct the produced electric power to one or more variable frequency drives.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein each one of the one or more variable frequency drives is coupled to a corresponding electric motor, wherein each one of the corresponding electric motors is coupled to a corresponding compression unit. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , further comprising a control panel configured to: 
 monitor a pressure of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit; and   actuate a valve to direct the at least a portion of the flow of gas through the secondary conduit in response to the pressure of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit exceeding a threshold value.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the valve is disposed at a junction between the main conduit and the secondary conduit or along the secondary conduit. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the control panel is communicatively coupled to a pressure sensor disposed downstream of the at least one compression unit, the valve, the at least one electric motor, and the generator. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are configured, when executed by a processor, to: 
 actuate a generator to produce electric power from a fuel source;   actuate at least one electric motor coupled to at least one compression unit based on the produced electric power;   actuate the at least one compression unit to discharge a flow of gas at an increased pressure;   direct at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit to a location upstream of the generator; and   actuate the generator to produce electric power from the at least a portion of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit.    
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further configured to: 
 actuate a valve to direct the at least a portion of the flow of gas in response to the pressure of the flow of gas discharged from the at least one compression unit exceeding a threshold value.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the instructions are further configured to: 
 direct the produced electric power to one or more variable frequency drives; and   convert the produced electric power from a first voltage level to a second voltage level.