Systems and generating power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to supply electrical power. In embodiments, an inlet temperature of a flow of gas from a source to an ORC unit may be determined. The source may connect to a main pipeline. The main pipeline may connect to a supply pipeline. The supply pipeline may connect to the ORC unit thereby to allow gas to flow from the source to the ORC unit. Heat from the flow of gas may cause the ORC unit to generate electrical power. The outlet temperature of the flow of the gas from the ORC unit to a return pipe may be determined. A bypass valve, positioned on a bypass pipeline connecting the supply pipeline to the return pipeline, may be adjusted to a position sufficient to maintain temperature of the flow of gas above a threshold based on the inlet and outlet temperature.

A hybrid geothermal electrical power generation system that utilizes the heat from a deep geothermal reservoir to vaporize a working fluid, such as steam, CO.sub.2 or an organic fluid. The vaporized working fluid is used to turn a turbine connected to an electrical power generator. A solar collector may be used to increase the temperature of the working fluid during sunlight hours and a thermal storage unit may be utilized to increase the temperature of the working fluid during the night. A supercritical CO.sub.2 power generation cycle may be used alone or in combination with a steam turbine power generation cycle to utilize all of the heat energy. A vapor compression cycle, a vapor absorption cycle may be utilized to provide heating and cooling. A low temperature shallow geothermal reservoir may be used as a heat exchanger to regulate or store excess heat.

A system and method of harvesting geothermal energy in a subterranean formation includes providing an injection wellbore that extends into the subterranean formation, positioning a plurality of selectively opening sleeves in the injection wellbore spaced apart the subterranean formation, providing at least one producing wellbore that extends into the subterranean formation in a predetermined location proximate to the injection wellbore, and fracturing the subterranean formation in a plurality of locations proximate to the plurality of selectively opening sleeves to enhance a fluid pathway between the injection wellbore and the at least one producing wellbore. Fluid is injected down the injection wellbore at a first temperature, and the fluid is produced from the at least one producing wellbore at a second temperature higher than said first temperature.

A geothermal process for generating electricity includes: heating a primary fluid by absorbing thermal energy from a geothermal energy source to elevate thermal energy and kinetic energy of the primary fluid; increasing a pressure on the primary fluid to raise a boiling point and a temperature of the primary fluid and decrease latent heat of the primary fluid; driving a mechanical device via one of: the kinetic energy of the primary fluid; and a kinetic energy of a secondary working fluid that absorbs the thermal energy of the primary fluid in a heat exchanger; and driving an electricity generator by the mechanical device to generate electricity. The pressure on the primary fluid may be increased by restricting, a flow path of the primary fluid to create a backpressure, by increasing a density of the primary fluid, or by increasing a pumping pressure of the primary fluid into the geothermal well.

A system comprises an injection well for accessing reservoir at a first temperature; a production well in fluid communication with the reservoir; a working-fluid supply system providing a non-water based working fluid to the injection well at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, wherein exposure of the working fluid to the first temperature heats the working fluid to a third temperature and at least a portion of the working fluid at the third temperature is produced as a production fluid; and an energy recovery system that converts energy contained in the production fluid to electricity or heat, wherein the energy recovery system includes a waste heat recovery apparatus that recovers waste heat and uses it to heat the production fluid to a fourth temperature that is higher than the third temperature, wherein the waste heat is recovered from equipment of or a process stream.

Embodiments of systems and methods for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig are disclosed. During a drilling operation, heat generated by drilling fluid flowing from a borehole, exhaust from an engine, and/or fluid from an engine's water (or other fluid) jacket, for example, may be utilized by corresponding heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer to a working fluid. The heated working fluid may cause an ORC unit to generate electrical power.

Systems and methods for drilling a geothermal well can include drilling a vertical borehole to a target location, drilling a plurality of lateral boreholes, each of which is connected to the vertical borehole, and can include generating a plurality of chambers in at least one of the plurality of lateral boreholes. The techniques can include drilling a plurality of passageways that each provide fluid communication between one of the plurality of chambers in a first lateral borehole and a second lateral borehole of the plurality of lateral boreholes. The techniques can form a fluid circuit for injecting a heating fluid such as water or brine and recovering hot water and steam using a single vertical borehole. The hot water and/or steam can be used to generate electrical power with a geothermal power facility.

Systems and methods for drilling a geothermal well can include drilling a vertical borehole to a target location, drilling a plurality of lateral boreholes, each of which is connected to the vertical borehole, and can include generating a plurality of chambers in at least one of the plurality of lateral boreholes. The techniques can include drilling a plurality of passageways that each provide fluid communication between one of the plurality of chambers in a first lateral borehole and a second lateral borehole of the plurality of lateral boreholes. The techniques can form a fluid circuit for injecting a heating fluid such as water or brine and recovering hot water and steam using a single vertical borehole. The hot water and/or steam can be used to generate electrical power with a geothermal power facility.

A system and process for direct lithium extraction from geothermal brines, and more particular to the sequential combination of a binary cycle geothermal plant, a direct lithium extraction circuit, a lithium chloride concentration and purification circuit, and a lithium battery chemical processing circuit, for the production of battery-quality lithium hydroxide monohydrate, lithium carbonate or both from geothermal brines. The processing circuits are powered by the electricity and heat produced by the binary cycle geothermal plant without the use of carbon-based fuels. Non-condensable gases that may come out of solution from the geothermal brine are not emitted into the atmosphere.

Embodiments of systems and methods for generating power in the vicinity of a drilling rig are disclosed. During a drilling operation, heat generated by drilling fluid flowing from a borehole, exhaust from an engine, and/or fluid from an engine's water (or other fluid) jacket, for example, may be utilized by corresponding heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer to a working fluid. The heated working fluid may cause an ORC unit to generate electrical power.