【Major Industrial Equipment in the Chemical Industry】467-2022: China National Petroleum’s First Photoelectronic Integrated Heating Furnace for Wellheads

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At 16:00 on July 29, 2022, China National Petroleum Corporation’s first photovoltaic-integrated heating unit was successfully tested for the first time at Well 39-2 in Lunnan, Tarim Oil Field, with a photovoltaic contribution rate of 100%. The use of this integrated photoelectric heating furnace at the wellhead allows for an annual reduction in carbon emissions of 113 tons, which is equivalent to planting 6,200 trees in a desert area. Under the \"dual carbon\" goals, taking advantage of the abundant sunlight in deserts and gobi areas, the Tarim Oil Field has adopted various measures to improve energy efficiency of its equipment. While accelerating the development of new energy projects such as those based on photovoltaic technology, it is also working to enhance the energy efficiency of equipment used at wellheads and promoting the use of new energy devices. Taking advantage of its status as a member unit of the group company’s heating technology R&D center, the Tarim Oilfield actively engages with manufacturers. The “menu” developed under the oilfield helps to generate ideas and formulate plans; manufacturers then design and produce the products, turning good ideas into actual products. After half a year, the first fruits of this win-win cooperation were achieved. Chen Dongfeng, deputy director of the Equipment and Materials Department at the Tarim Oil Field, explained that the photovoltaic integrated heating furnace at the wellhead represents the first application of DC bus microgrid technology in conjunction with oil and gas heating, enabling a seamless integration of photovoltaic power with grid electricity. During the day, the excellent lighting conditions in the Tarim Basin are utilized, with photovoltaic power being the primary source of energy; at night, the advantage of tiered electricity prices is taken advantage of by using cheaper grid electricity. The first integrated photoelectric heating furnace for wellheads not only offers significant energy savings but also boasts greatly improved safety compared to the existing gas heating furnaces in use on site. It reduces the need for fuel gas systems, eliminates open flames at the wellsite, and completely eliminates the risk of fires caused by gas leaks. Furthermore, the optoelectronic integrated heating furnace boasts a high degree of intelligence, which significantly reduces the amount of maintenance required. It eliminates the drawbacks of traditional gas heating furnaces, such as the large number of inspection points, extensive testing tasks, and heavy maintenance work. Kou Guo, deputy manager of the Lunnan Oil and Gas Production Management Area in the Tarim Oil Field and safety director, said that in the next step, technical staff will work with manufacturers to develop photothermal and energy-storage-based wellhead heating equipment that can be used in areas without electrical grids. This equipment will serve as a replacement for high-power gas heating systems, offering a higher conversion rate of light energy and better economic benefits.