Drilling rig power supply bus management

Abstract

A power system and method for the adaptive power control of a drilling rig. While operating the internal combustion engine in its efficient operating range, unrequired mechanical power is converted to electrical power for storage, or use via the electrical bus on the rig. When the internal combustion engine is not required to provide mechanical or electrical power it is deactivated, and then reactivated—electrical storage on the system in the meantime providing electrical power to the bus as required. The power supply and management system could be retroactively fitted to an existing drilling rig by the incorporation of a generator and electrical storage device thereon. The system and method of the present invention allow for the optimized use of combustion-based power on a drilling rig while minimizing environmental emissions from the idle running of the at least one internal combustion engine.

Claims

1. A power management system for use on a drilling rig or frac rig comprising: at least one internal combustion engine and a corresponding electric generator set connected thereto for providing electric power to a rig power bus; at least one electric power storage device connected to the rig power bus; at least one electrical power-consuming component of the rig connected to the rig power bus; a mud pump mechanically connected via a mud pump drive to the at least one internal combustion engine to accommodate variable mechanical drive application to mud pump from the at least one connected internal combustion engine; and at least one modulating electric motor connected to the rig power bus, interposed between the mud pump drive and the connected internal combustion engine or the electric power storage device, permitting the optional application of supplemental mechanical power to the mud pump by the modulating electric motor; said power management system comprising: a. a control communications network; b. a processor connected to the control communications network and capable of controlling nodes on the network; c. a generator set control node operatively connecting the control communications network to each electric power storage device, each electric generator set and each internal combustion engine; c. a component control node in respect of each power consuming component of the rig operatively connecting the control communications network to each power-consuming component and capable of controlling power supply to the associated power consuming component; the component control node associated with the mud pump being a mud pump drive control node operatively connecting the control communications network to the mud pump drive along with the at least one internal combustion engine and at least one modulating electric motor associated with the mud pump drive; and a generator control node operatively connecting the control communications network to each modulating electric motor, electric power storage device, and the rig power bus; wherein during operation of the rig the processor controls operation of the at least one internal combustion engine and other components on the control communications network via their associated control nodes to match the generated electrical power to the required electrical power to satisfy power consumption requirements of the power-consuming components on the rig power bus while simultaneously mechanically powering the mud pump drive via the connection between the mud pump drive and the at least one internal combustion engine and supplementing the mechanical power applied via the modulating electric motor as required from electric power stored on the at least one electric power storage device, such that the at least one internal combustion engine is operated within its efficient operating range while providing necessary mechanical and electrical power.

2. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the rig is a pre-existing rig with a conventional internal combustion engine power system, and the electric generator set and the electric power storage device are components added to the rig along with the power management system to enable adaptive power management of the rig.

3. The power management system of claim 1, wherein the at least one power-consuming component is a draw-works of the rig, and the corresponding component control node comprises a draw-works control node connected to the electric power storage device and the draw-works of the rig.

4. An adaptively powered drilling rig or frac rig, comprising: a. at least one internal combustion engine and a corresponding electric generator set connected thereto for providing power to a rig power bus; b. at least one electric power storage device operatively connected to the rig power bus; c. at least one power-consuming component of the rig connected to the rig power bus; d. a mud pump mechanically connected via a mud pump drive to the at least one internal combustion engine to accommodate variable mechanical drive application to mud pump from the at least one connected internal combustion engine; e. at least one modulating electric motor connected to the rig power bus and interposed between the internal combustion engine and the mud pump drive or the electric power storage device, permitting the optional application of supplemental mechanical power to the mud pump by the modulating electric motor; f. a power management system comprising: i. a control communications network; ii a processor connected to the control communications network and capable of controlling nodes on the network; iii a generator set control node operatively connecting the control communications network to each electric power storage device, each electric generator set and each internal combustion engine; iv. a component control node in respect of each power consuming component of the rig operatively connecting the control communications network to each power-consuming component and capable of controlling power supply to the associated power-consuming component; the component control node associated with the mud pump drive being a mud pump drive control node operatively connecting the control communications network to the mud pump drive along with the at least one internal combustion engine and at least one modulating electric motor associated with the mud pump drive; and a generator control node operatively connecting the control communications network to each modulating electric motor, electric power storage device, and the rig power bus; wherein during operation of the rig the processor controls operation of the at least one internal combustion engine and other components on the control communications network via their associated control nodes to match the generated electric power to the required electrical power to satisfy power consumption requirements of the power-consuming components on the rig power bus while simultaneously mechanically powering the mud pump drive via the connection between the mud pump drive and the at least one internal combustion engine and supplementing the mechanical power applied via the modulating electric motor as required from electric power stored on the at least one electric power storage drive, such that the at least one internal combustion is operated within its efficient operating range while providing necessary mechanical and electrical power.

5. The adaptively powered rig of claim 4, wherein the at least one power-consuming component of the rig is a draw-works, and wherein the corresponding component control node comprises a draw-works control node connected to the electric power storage device and the draw-works.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) A preferred embodiment of the present invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1a is a simplified block diagram illustrating a drilling rig mud pump drive according to a preferred embodiment of the invention;

(3) FIGS. 1b and 1c are simplified block diagrams illustrating in a front view and a cross-sectional view, respectively, an electric generator with modulating electric motor or generators of the rig mud pump drive according to the preferred embodiment of the invention;

(4) FIG. 2 is a simplified block diagram illustrating a power management system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

(5) FIG. 3 is a simplified block diagram illustrating five different modes of power provided to the mud pump using the power management system according to the preferred embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(6) Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the invention belongs. Although any methods and materials similar or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, the preferred methods and materials are now described.

(7) Referring to FIGS. 1a to 1c, a rig mud pump drive 100 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided. Input power drive shaft 102 connected to an ICE (internal combustion engine) such as, for example, a high-powered diesel engine (not shown) for receiving mechanical input power therefrom. Output power drive shaft 104 is connected via, for example, a shave and belt drive to a rig mud pump 101 for providing mechanical output power thereto. The input power drive shaft 102 and the output power drive shaft 104 is connected via a mechanical drive train 103. Any number of different types of connections or transmission arrangements can be understood by those skilled in the art for the link of at least one power-generating component such as the generator 106 to the drivetrain 103—this could include a transmission, gearbox, clutch, belt drive or any number of other types of connections or transmission arrangements which will be understood to those skilled in the art and are all contemplated within the scope of the present invention.

(8) The mud pump 101 as shown is one example of a power-consuming component which might be used in accordance with the remainder of the rig and system of the present invention. The power-consuming components in other embodiments might include the drawworks of the rig, or other components as would be understood to those skilled in the art and all of which are intended to be encompassed herein.

(9) The rig mud pump drive 100 also comprises a mechanism 116 for separating the ICE from the drive train 110. For example, the rig mud pump drive 100 for driving a mud pump using an ICE comprises an electric generator 106 and five modulating electric motor or generators 112 as shown. Preferably, the modulating electric motor or generators 112 are designed to provide sufficient mechanical power for driving the mud pump in order to keep the rig mud pump drive 100 in a state of readiness while the ICE driving the mud pump is shut off.

(10) The number of modulating electric motor or generators 112 is not limited to five as illustrated, but may be varied between one and any number with a more substantial number of modulating electric motors or generators 112 providing more flexibility in operating the rig mud pump drive 100 at the expense of higher complexity and cost. The modulating electric motor or generators 112 are of conventional technology. For example, regular AC asynchronous electric motors can usually be employed as electric generators without any internal modifications. The electric generator 106 and the modulating electric motors or generators 112 are electrically connected to the electrical rig power bus via electric connections 108 and 114, respectively.

(11) Referring to FIG. 2, a power management system 200 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention is provided. The mud pump 101 is mechanically driven by ICE 10 via sheave 12 connected to the mud pump drive 100. The power management system 200 comprises a processor 202 such as, for example, a conventional off-the-shelf Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), connected to a control communications network 224. For example, the processor 202 and the control communications network 224 are implemented as a conventional Controller Area Network (CAN) bus with the processor 202 forming ‘Master Control’ communicating with, for example, control nodes 204, 206, 208, and 210.

(12) Mud pump drive control node 204 is connected to ICE 10 for driving a mud pump of the drilling rig via shave 12; modulating electric motor or generators 112; an electric power storage device 20 of the rig. Generator control node 210 is connected to the electric generator 106, the electric power storage device 20; rig power bus 18 (the rig power bus 18 being any electric power consumption of the rig other than draw-works or other consuming components, and the modulating electric motor or generators 112 connected to the electric supply network of the rig); and the mud pump drive control node 204.

(13) Draw-works control node 206 is connected to the electric power storage device 20; and draw-works 14 of the rig.

(14) Generator set control node 208 is connected to the electric power storage device 20; at least one power-generating component such as the electric generator set 16 of the rig, and the rig power bus 18.

(15) Electric power transmission lines 222 connect the electric generator 106 and the modulating electric motor or generators 112 via control nodes 204 and 210 to the electric power storage device 20 and the rig power bus 18, as well as the draw-works 14 and the electric generator set 16 via control nodes 206 and 208 to the electric power storage device 20 and the rig power bus 18. The electric power is converted where necessary from AC to DC, for example, for battery or load sensing system storage, using conventional rectifiers and from DC to AC using conventional inverters.

(16) The processor 202 controls operation of the ICE 10, the electric generator set 16, the electric generator 106, and the modulating electric motor or generators 112 in dependence upon the power consumption of the mud pump (sheave 12), the draw-works 14, and the rig power bus 18 such that the ICE 10 is operated within its efficient operating range.

(17) FIG. 3 illustrates five modes of operation of the power management system 200. In mode, I, the electric generator 106, and the modulating electric motor or generators 112 produce electric power 234 for storage or use when there is no mechanical power requirement from the pump. In mode II, the electric generator 106, and the modulating electric motor or generators 112 produce electric power 234 for storage in the electric power storage device 20 or use in other loads on site when the mechanical power consumption 232 of the mud pump is less than the power 230 produced by the ICE 10 when operated in its efficient range P1. In mode III, the system uses the ICE to produce only mechanical power to the pump, and the electric generator and modulating motor are used just for speed variation. In mode IV, the modulating electric motor or generators 112 produce mechanical power 236 to assist the ICE when the mechanical power consumption 232 of the mud pump (for example, peak power) is higher than the energy 230 produced by the ICE 10 when operated in its efficient range P1. In mode V, the modulating electric motor or generators 112 produce mechanical power 238 for driving the mud pump while the ICE 10 is shut off.

(18) The five modes of operation of the power management system 200 provide substantial efficiency increase and emissions reduction by: Mode I: operating the ICE 10 in its efficient range and providing electric power to the electric supply network of the rig (which also substantially prevents the use of ‘Force Regen’ processes) and reduces the need for running additionally dedicated Genset engines onsite; Mode II: operating the ICE 10 in its efficient range and providing excess as electric power to the electric supply network of the rig (which also substantially prevents the use of ‘Force Regen’ processes) and reduces the need for running additionally dedicated Genset engines onsite; Mode III: enabling maximum power transfer efficiency by utilizing mechanic power transfer from ICE to Pump directly; Mode IV: enabling employment of a smaller ICE 10 than needed to provide peak power to the mud pump by importing electrical power as required to add power to the drivetrain; and, Mode V: shutting the ICE 10 off, reducing run-time of the ICE which has the additional advantages of increasing the overall lifetime and decreasing the maintenance of the ICE 10, also leaving the unit in the state of readiness as dictated by the application.

(19) It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that by routine modification the present invention can be optimized for use in a wide range of conditions and application. It will also be evident to those of skill in the art that there are various ways and designs with which to produce the apparatus and methods of the present invention. The illustrated embodiments are therefore not intended to limit the scope of the invention, but to provide examples of the device and method to enable those of skill in the art to appreciate the inventive concept.

(20) Those skilled in the art will recognize that many more modifications besides those already described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, in interpreting both the specification and the claims, all terms should be understood in the broadest possible manner consistent with the context. In particular, the words “comprises” and “comprising” should be construed as referring to elements, components, or steps in a non-exclusive manner, indicating that the referenced elements, components, or steps may be present, or utilized, or combined with other features, components, or actions that are not expressly referenced.