WO2013025381A1 - Procédé et appareil pour le chauffage à haute température en série/en parallèle au moyen d'un câble à isolation minérale et à effet de peau ferromagnétique - Google Patents

Procédé et appareil pour le chauffage à haute température en série/en parallèle au moyen d'un câble à isolation minérale et à effet de peau ferromagnétique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2013025381A1
WO2013025381A1 PCT/US2012/049642 US2012049642W WO2013025381A1 WO 2013025381 A1 WO2013025381 A1 WO 2013025381A1 US 2012049642 W US2012049642 W US 2012049642W WO 2013025381 A1 WO2013025381 A1 WO 2013025381A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
heating
cable
skin effect
ferromagnetic
heating cable
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2012/049642
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
David Parman
Lawrence White
Original Assignee
Tyco Thermal Controls, Llc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Tyco Thermal Controls, Llc filed Critical Tyco Thermal Controls, Llc
Priority to CA2845525A priority Critical patent/CA2845525C/fr
Priority to BR112014003665A priority patent/BR112014003665A2/pt
Publication of WO2013025381A1 publication Critical patent/WO2013025381A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H05—ELECTRIC TECHNIQUES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • H05B—ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL
    • H05B3/00—Ohmic-resistance heating
    • H05B3/0004—Devices wherein the heating current flows through the material to be heated

Definitions

  • the present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for heating crude oil and other fluids. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for high temperature series/parallel heating of crude oil and other fluids using mineral insulated and ferromagnetic skin effect cable.
  • Heating technology is generally well known in the art and is currently utilized in a broad range of fluid-flow applications.
  • heating technology can be used for freeze protection, temperature maintenance and pipeline flow optimization. Heating technology can also be utilized to improve the flow characteristics of crude oil, thereby improving ultimate recovery of such crude oil.
  • Crude oil often comprises a mixture of liquids, solids and/or solution gases that flows freely at room temperature.
  • Free-flowing crude oil typically has some combination of relatively low density, low viscosity, low specific gravity (high API gravity) and/or low wax content. In many cases, these characteristics are also due to the presence of a relatively high proportion of light hydrocarbon fractions, as well as a lack of hydrates, solids, wax or other impurities.
  • Both steam and electrical heaters have been used as sources of heat to promote enhanced crude oil recovery.
  • One technique referred to as heat tracing, involves the use of mechanical and/or electrical components placed on a piping system to maintain the system at a predetermined temperature. Steam may be circulated through tubes, or electrical components may be placed on the pipes to supply the desired heat.
  • Ml cables can be used for electro-thermal heating.
  • Such Ml cables are typically constructed of one or more conductors embedded within a mineral powder electrical insulant, normally magnesium oxide (MgO), which is surrounded by a continuous (typically metal) sheath.
  • MgO magnesium oxide
  • sheath material can be copper, stainless steel or high nickel alloys.
  • Ml cables having a nickel alloy sheath can typically maintain temperatures up to 550°C (1022°F), can be exposed to temperatures up to 670°C (1238°F), and can frequently operate up to 600 volts in alternating current (Vac) in a single- or three-phase configuration.
  • M l cables are typically series- resistance type heaters that are usually factory-terminated and supplied in fixed lengths.
  • Ferromagnetic skin-effect heating systems represent a form of impedance heating in which a single electrically insulated copper conductor is installed inside a ferromagnetic envelope (carbon steel heat tube). The conductor is connected to the heat tube at the distal end and an ac power source is connected between the conductor and the heat tube at the supply end. This method of heating is called skin-effect heating because the return path of the circuit current is pulled to the inner surface of the heat tube by both the skin effect and the proximity effect between the heat tube and the conductor.
  • SEHS heaters can typically maintain temperatures up to 200°C (392°F) and be exposed to 250°C (482°F), and can operate at voltages as high as 5000Vac.
  • an electro-thermal heating system that is capable of efficiently and reliably delivering thermal input to localized areas, particularly in a subterranean environment.
  • the heating system should be capable of providing different zones of increased heating in specific regions. In the case of oil wells, the heating system should be capable of beneficially providing increased thermal characteristics at different locations along the length of such wells.
  • the desired range of heat output for a single application should be up to an order of magnitude difference between low output zone(s) and the highest output zone(s), and the system should be durable and easy to install using conventional installation methods.
  • the preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises a heating cable having a ferromagnetic steel sheath with sections having modified insulation material comprising magnesium oxide blended with an electrically conductive material to achieve zones of increased heat output via direct electrical heating of the modified insulant within the cable in a parallel circuit configuration.
  • the heater of the present invention may be optionally configured as a typical skin effect heating system, or may be designed with an open end termination. Any number of separate parallel heating and non-heating zones can be included, each having different heating characteristics, resulting in targeted heating zones.
  • MgO electrical insulation in a ferromagnetic sheathed Ml cable is replaced with a compound of MgO (that is, a modified insulant) having substantially reduced insulation characteristics.
  • a compound of MgO that is, a modified insulant
  • the modified MgO insulant can be obtained by adding iron or other conductive fillers to the standard insulating MgO.
  • An existing M l cable manufacturing method using preformed blocks of MgO can be directly utilized to produce the cable of the present invention, simply by utilizing the blocks of modified MgO insulant during the manufacturing process where areas of reduced insulation (and increased heating effects) are desired.
  • FIG. 1 depicts a side sectional view of a representative configuration of the cable assembly present invention.
  • FIGS. 2a through 2c depict an analysis of several possible power output distributions of the present invention in the form graphical representations.
  • FIGS. 3a through 3c depict an analysis of skin-effect tracing system (“STS")-MI heater with dielectric heating option in the form of calculations and related graphical representations.
  • STS skin-effect tracing system
  • the present invention comprises cable assembly 10.
  • Cable assembly 10 of the present invention further comprises a plurality of insulation zones , 2, 3 and 4, each comprising insulant having different electrical conductivity. Typical applications of the present invention would utilize 2 to
  • a ferromagnetic outer sheath 5 is provided.
  • Said outer sheath 5 has a wall thickness determined based on in-service corrosion rates and allowing a minimum thickness as required to substantially contain the heater's electrical current via ferromagnetic skin effect. For typical power line frequency applications, outer sheath
  • a conductor core 6 is disposed within insulation zones 1 through 4, and outer sheath 5. Although said conductor core 6 is typically constructed of copper, other conductive materials and metals are not excluded. In some cases, the use of metal alloys for said conductor core 6 may be desirable to increase the series heating portion of the total heat output of cable assembly 10.
  • An optional shorting termination 7 within end sealing cap 8 can be provided.
  • cable assembly 10 functions electrically more like a typical skin effect heater as is commonly used in industrial pipeline heating applications; however, the cable assembly of the present invention includes zones of increased heat output through the use of multiple different insulation zones.
  • End sealing cap 8 can be welded or otherwise attached to ferromagnetic sheath 5 and packed with MgO insulation in order to provide an environmental seal (suitable for withstanding elevated pressures and temperatures frequently encountered in oil wells and reservoirs).
  • cable assembly 10 of the present invention provides the ability to selectively increase the heat output of a cable by using insulations of different resistivity, in combination with series skin effect heating of core 6 and sheath 5. Also, the relatively high
  • insulation materials other than MgO can be used in connection with the present invention; a wide variety of conductive materials can be utilized to alter or adjust the resistivity of insulant used in cable assembly 10. Further, manufacturing methods other than pre-formed insulation blocks in a tube reduction mill can also be used to manufacture heater cable assembly 10 of the present invention. Similarly, the number of different insulation zones can be varied, and an optional shorting end termination can be provided.
  • FIGS. 2a through 2c depict an analysis of several possible power output distributions of the present invention in the form graphical representations.
  • FIGS. 3a through 3c depict an analysis of STS-MI heater with dielectric heating option in the form of calculations and related graphical representations.
  • the present invention can be used for many different applications including, without limitation: down hole heating for well-stream flow assurance, bottom hole heating for reservoir stimulation, a combination of both down hole and bottom hole heating, pipeline heating (onshore or subsea and particularly but not limited to cases requiring zones of increased heat output) and conventional pipeline heating applications (even where only a single heat output zone is required).
  • down hole heating for well-stream flow assurance bottom hole heating for reservoir stimulation
  • pipeline heating onshore or subsea and particularly but not limited to cases requiring zones of increased heat output
  • conventional pipeline heating applications even where only a single heat output zone is required.

Landscapes

  • General Induction Heating (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention porte sur un câble chauffant (10) muni d'une gaine en acier ferromagnétique (5) dont certains segments (2, 3, 4) renferment un matériau isolant modifié tel que de l'oxyde de magnésium mélangé à un matériau électroconducteur. Les zones différentes dotées d'une isolation différente produisent un rendement thermique augmenté lorsqu'un chauffage électrique direct est appliqué au matériau isolant modifié, permettant de la sorte un chauffage ciblé sur la longueur du câble. Le câble chauffant peut facultativement être configuré comme un système de chauffage à effet de peau ou peut être configuré avec une terminaison ouverte.
PCT/US2012/049642 2011-08-17 2012-08-03 Procédé et appareil pour le chauffage à haute température en série/en parallèle au moyen d'un câble à isolation minérale et à effet de peau ferromagnétique WO2013025381A1 (fr)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CA2845525A CA2845525C (fr) 2011-08-17 2012-08-03 Procede et appareil pour le chauffage a haute temperature en serie/en parallele au moyen d'un cable a isolation minerale et a effet de peau ferromagnetique
BR112014003665A BR112014003665A2 (pt) 2011-08-17 2012-08-03 método e aparelho para aquecimento em serie /paralelo em altas temperaturas usando cabo ferromagnético de efeito semelhante ao da pele e mineral isolado

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US201161524391P 2011-08-17 2011-08-17
US61/524,391 2011-08-17

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2013025381A1 true WO2013025381A1 (fr) 2013-02-21

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US2012/049642 WO2013025381A1 (fr) 2011-08-17 2012-08-03 Procédé et appareil pour le chauffage à haute température en série/en parallèle au moyen d'un câble à isolation minérale et à effet de peau ferromagnétique

Country Status (3)

Country Link
BR (1) BR112014003665A2 (fr)
CA (1) CA2845525C (fr)
WO (1) WO2013025381A1 (fr)

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4033028A (en) * 1974-06-21 1977-07-05 Pyrotenax Of Canada Limited Method of making heating cables
US5917150A (en) * 1996-06-17 1999-06-29 Corning Incorporated Mineral-insulated cable terminations
US6653598B2 (en) * 1999-03-01 2003-11-25 The Trustees Of Dartmouth College Methods and systems for removing ice from surfaces

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4033028A (en) * 1974-06-21 1977-07-05 Pyrotenax Of Canada Limited Method of making heating cables
US5917150A (en) * 1996-06-17 1999-06-29 Corning Incorporated Mineral-insulated cable terminations
US6653598B2 (en) * 1999-03-01 2003-11-25 The Trustees Of Dartmouth College Methods and systems for removing ice from surfaces

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2845525A1 (fr) 2013-02-21
BR112014003665A2 (pt) 2017-03-21
CA2845525C (fr) 2020-02-18

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