that could take a very small portion of the crude being pumped to generate power? Then pump the unused portion back into the pipeline.
By the way, that is how the refinery in mid-state Alaska operated before it closed down. It used diesel it produced for its own fuel. It could not compete with refineries in other locations that used Natural Gas for fuel and eventually shut down.
“that could take a very small portion of the crude being pumped to generate power? Then pump the unused portion back into the pipeline.’
That is also how the energy-intensive process of steamflooding initiated, by burning a part of the crude that was pumped to generate steam to pump downhole. I recall in the early days of Duri field Caltex was burning 60,000 bopd that way.
Another point to be made is that there exists a high incentive to use gas produced from other wells on the lease because it is exempt from royalty. If it was otherwise flared, it is considered free fuel to the rig.
Diesel costs on a typical drilling rig are several thousands of dollars per day. That’s a lot of savings on a well cost if one uses natural gas. Rigs in North Dakota designed to burn gas instead of diesel are now much more common.
And here I thought I had a ‘new’ idea....................