US 11,939,965 B2
Use of concentrated solar to enhance the power generation of the turboexpander in gas wells
Basel Ata Alsubaity, Riyadh (SA)
Assigned to SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed by SAUDI ARABIAN OIL COMPANY, Dhahran (SA)
Filed on Apr. 1, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/711,155.
Prior Publication US 2023/0313784 A1, Oct. 5, 2023
Int. Cl. F03G 6/06 (2006.01); E21B 36/00 (2006.01); F03G 4/00 (2006.01); F24S 20/20 (2018.01); F24S 23/74 (2018.01)
CPC F03G 6/067 (2013.01) [E21B 36/005 (2013.01); F03G 4/00 (2021.08); F24S 20/20 (2018.05); F24S 23/74 (2018.05)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A process for producing gas and generating power or electricity, comprising:
producing hydrocarbon gas from an underground reservoir, a produced hydrocarbon gas being at a first temperature;
heating a heat exchange medium via concentrated solar power to increase a temperature of the heat exchange medium;
heating the produced hydrocarbon gas, via indirect heat exchange with the heat exchange medium, to a second temperature, producing a heated produced hydrocarbon gas and a cooled heat exchange medium; and
expanding the heated produced hydrocarbon gas across an energy conversion device to convert energy contained in the gas to another form of energy,
wherein:
the indirect heat exchange is conducted via an indirect heat exchange system,
the expanding produces a low-pressure produced hydrocarbon gas, and
the low-pressure produced hydrocarbon gas is prevented from further getting into the indirect heat exchange system.