The present disclosure describes a system and a method for generating energy from geothermal sources. The system includes an injection well and a production well extending underground into a rock formation, a first lateral section connected to the injection well and a second lateral section connected to the production well, the first and second lateral sections connected with a multilateral connector, defining a pressure-tested downhole well loop within the rock formation and in a heat transfer arrangement therewith. The downhole well loop cased in steel and cemented in place within the rock formation. The downhole well loop to receive working fluid capable of undergoing phase change between liquid and gas within the downhole well loop as a result of heat transferred from the rock formation. The system also includes a pump to circulate working fluid, a turbine system to convert the flow of working fluid into electricity, and a cooler.

The present disclosure describes a system and a method for generating energy from geothermal sources. The system includes an injection well and a production well extending underground into a rock formation, a first lateral section connected to the injection well and a second lateral section connected to the production well, the first and second lateral sections connected with a multilateral connector, defining a pressure-tested downhole well loop within the rock formation and in a heat transfer arrangement therewith. The downhole well loop cased in steel and cemented in place within the rock formation. The downhole well loop to receive working fluid capable of undergoing phase change between liquid and gas within the downhole well loop as a result of heat transferred from the rock formation. The system also includes a pump to circulate working fluid, a turbine system to convert the flow of working fluid into electricity, and a cooler.

Provided is a method of constructing a geothermal heat exchanger comprised of a geothermal well(s) that maximizes heat transfer from sweet spots of geothermal energy of a geothermal reservoir to the geothermal well(s). The method involves dynamically identifying the sweet spots, and selecting a predetermined shape and/or increasing a dimension of the geothermal well(s) within the sweet spots to increase a surface area of contact between the geothermal well(s) and the sweet spots. The method further involves calculating a mathematical best fit line to minimize a distance between the geothermal well(s) and the sweet spots, and forming at least a part of the geothermal well(s) to, or to a proximity of, the sweet spots along the mathematical best fit line. Methods may include increasing an effective thermal radius of the geothermal well(s) by geothermal fracturing, geothermal acidizing, or geothermal multilateral wells, and embedding thermal energy storage (TES) materials therein.

In a geothermal plant, alternately injecting an acid composition and a caustic composition removes or inhibits scale build-up.

System, method, and apparatus for harnessing geothermal power from superhot geothermal fluid (SHGF) and magma reservoirs. An exemplary system includes a steam separator connected directly to a cased wellbore extending between a surface and the underground reservoir of magma. The steam separator separates a gas-phase fluid from condensate formed from the gas-phase fluid. The system also includes a first set of turbines connected to the steam separator and a condensate tank fluidically connected to the steam separator and the first set of turbines. The first set of turbines is configured to generate electricity from the gas-phase fluid received from the steam separator and the condensate tank is fluidically connected to a fluid conduit that supplies condensate to a terminal end of the cased wellbore.

System, method, and apparatus for harnessing geothermal power from superhot geothermal fluid (SHGF) and magma reservoirs. An exemplary system includes a steam separator connected directly to a cased wellbore extending between a surface and the underground reservoir of magma. The steam separator separates a gas-phase fluid from condensate formed from the gas-phase fluid. The system also includes a first set of turbines connected to the steam separator and a condensate tank fluidically connected to the steam separator and the first set of turbines. The first set of turbines is configured to generate electricity from the gas-phase fluid received from the steam separator and the condensate tank is fluidically connected to a fluid conduit that supplies condensate to a terminal end of the cased wellbore.

A system includes a subsea geothermal power system. The subsea geothermal power system includes a separator configured to separate a well fluid from a hydrocarbon well into a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow. The subsea geothermal power system also includes a geothermal power plant coupled to the separator. The geothermal power plant is configured to receive thermal energy from the second fluid flow and convert the thermal energy into at least one of electrical energy and mechanical energy. The separator is at least partially powered by the at least one of electrical energy and mechanical energy produced by the subsea geothermal power system.

A system includes a subsea geothermal power system. The subsea geothermal power system includes a separator configured to separate a well fluid from a hydrocarbon well into a first fluid flow and a second fluid flow. The subsea geothermal power system also includes a geothermal power plant coupled to the separator. The geothermal power plant is configured to receive thermal energy from the second fluid flow and convert the thermal energy into at least one of electrical energy and mechanical energy. The separator is at least partially powered by the at least one of electrical energy and mechanical energy produced by the subsea geothermal power system.

A method for extracting a fuel from a geologic formation comprises heating a target volume in the geologic formation to generate the fuel via thermal conversion of a precursor material, thereby also heating a part of the geologic formation, extracting the generated fuel from the geologic formation; recovering heat from the geologic formation; and using the recovered heat for one or more of: heating the target volume, heating a different target volume, extracting the fuel, recovering the heat from the geologic formation, processing the extracted fuel, and converting the recovered heat into another form of storable energy.

Systems and methods for drilling a geothermal well can include drilling a first borehole to a geothermal target, the first borehole defining a longitudinal axis; and drilling a first portion of a second borehole having a first end and a second. The first end of the second borehole extends from the first borehole, the first portion extends downwardly and outwardly from the longitudinal axis of the first borehole, and the first portion of the second borehole is in fluid communication with the first borehole. The techniques can include drilling a second d portion of the second borehole. The second portion extends downwardly and towards the longitudinal axis of the first borehole, the second end of the second borehole extends to the first borehole, and the second portion of the second borehole is in fluid communication with the first borehole.