Systems And Methods For Generating And Consuming Power From Natural Gas

What is this patent about?

’309 is related to the field of mitigating natural gas flaring at oil wells by using the gas to generate electricity for on-site distributed computing. The background is that many oil wells produce natural gas as a byproduct, but lack pipeline infrastructure to transport it economically. This leads to flaring, which wastes energy and causes environmental pollution. Existing solutions are limited by the cost of transporting the gas or the lack of profitable uses for on-site electricity.

The underlying idea behind ’309 is to create a self-contained system that converts raw natural gas into electricity and then uses that electricity to power a mobile data center performing distributed computing tasks, such as cryptocurrency mining. The system is designed to be modular and transportable, allowing it to be deployed at remote well locations. By using the gas to generate revenue on-site, the system eliminates the need for pipelines and reduces flaring.

The claims of ’309 focus on a flare mitigation system comprising an electrical power generation system, a distributed computing system, a communications system, and a monitoring and control system. The electrical power generation system includes a power generation module that consumes fuel gas to generate a high-voltage electrical output, and an electrical transformation module that transforms the high-voltage output into a low-voltage output. The distributed computing system is powered by the electrical power generation system and includes a mobile data center with distributed computing units in communication with a network provided by satellite antennas. The monitoring and control system monitors the gas profile and automatically modulates the electrical load of the distributed computing system.

In practice, the system processes raw natural gas to create a fuel gas stream, which is then fed to a generator (either an engine or a turbine) to produce electricity. The voltage of the electricity is then stepped down to a level suitable for powering the distributed computing units within the mobile data center. The system uses satellite communication to provide network connectivity for the computing units, enabling them to perform tasks such as cryptocurrency mining or machine learning. A key aspect is the monitoring and control system , which adjusts the computing load based on the changing characteristics of the gas supply, ensuring efficient operation.

’309 differentiates itself from prior approaches by integrating power generation and consumption in a mobile, self-contained unit. Unlike traditional methods that rely on pipelines or grid connections, this system can be deployed anywhere there is a source of natural gas. The use of satellite communication allows for operation in remote locations without existing infrastructure. Furthermore, the system's ability to automatically adjust the computing load based on the gas supply ensures that the gas is used efficiently, minimizing waste and maximizing revenue. The modular design allows for scalability and adaptability to different well conditions.