A geothermal installation for collecting heat for the generation of electricity is provided. The installation includes a fluid transport system comprising at least one fluid injection bore extending from a thermoelectric generator located at or near the Earth's surface to a depth below the Earth's surface sufficient such that energy collected can produce electricity. In particular, a depth of at least 500 m, preferably at least 1500 m, and more preferably at least 3000 m is sufficient to see benefits. The fluid injection bore is connected at the said depth, respectively to a plurality of micro-tunnels which extend outwardly substantially horizontally or diagonally downwardly from a horizontal plane passing through the said depth, preferably interconnected in at least one array. The micro-tunnels in turn are connected with fluid return bores which return a heat transfer fluid to the thermoelectric generator. The fluid transport system is adapted for the flow therethrough to and from the thermoelectric generator of the heat transfer fluid.

A geothermal installation for collecting heat for the generation of electricity is provided. The installation includes a fluid transport system comprising at least one fluid injection bore extending from a thermoelectric generator located at or near the Earth's surface to a depth below the Earth's surface sufficient such that energy collected can produce electricity. In particular, a depth of at least 500 m, preferably at least 1500 m, and more preferably at least 3000 m is sufficient to see benefits. The fluid injection bore is connected at the said depth, respectively to a plurality of micro-tunnels which extend outwardly substantially horizontally or diagonally downwardly from a horizontal plane passing through the said depth, preferably interconnected in at least one array. The micro-tunnels in turn are connected with fluid return bores which return a heat transfer fluid to the thermoelectric generator. The fluid transport system is adapted for the flow therethrough to and from the thermoelectric generator of the heat transfer fluid.

A heat pump system and a method for implementing efficient evaporation by using a geothermal well are provided. The system includes a stepped underground evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a liquid storage tank, and a throttle. The underground evaporator includes an inner pipe and an outer pipe. The inner pipe is designed into a multi-section structure. Each section includes a gas guiding pipeline, a baffle plate, and a seepage hole. Under the action of the structure, a liquid working medium flowing into the underground evaporator flows downwards along an inner wall of the outer pipe, and absorbs heat from an underground rock mass and gasifies into a gas working medium; and the gas working medium flows upwards to ground. Compared with the prior art, neither gas-liquid re-entrainment nor a liquid accumulation effect can occur in the underground evaporator designed according to the system and method.

A heat pump system and a method for implementing efficient evaporation by using a geothermal well are provided. The system includes a stepped underground evaporator, a compressor, a condenser, a liquid storage tank, and a throttle. The underground evaporator includes an inner pipe and an outer pipe. The inner pipe is designed into a multi-section structure. Each section includes a gas guiding pipeline, a baffle plate, and a seepage hole. Under the action of the structure, a liquid working medium flowing into the underground evaporator flows downwards along an inner wall of the outer pipe, and absorbs heat from an underground rock mass and gasifies into a gas working medium; and the gas working medium flows upwards to ground. Compared with the prior art, neither gas-liquid re-entrainment nor a liquid accumulation effect can occur in the underground evaporator designed according to the system and method.

A method for controlling temperature maxima and minima from the heel to toe in geothermal well lateral sections. The method includes disposing at least a pair of wells proximately where thermal contact is possible. Working fluid is circulated in one well of the pair in one direction and the working fluid of the second well is circulated in as direction opposite. to the first. In this manner temperature equilibration is attainable to mitigate maxima and minima to result in a substantially more uniform temperature of the working fluids in respective wells and the rock formation area there between. Specific operating protocol is disclosed having regard to the temperature control for maximizing thermal energy recovery.

The present disclosure relates to techniques for extracting heat energy from geothermal briny fluid. A briny fluid can be extracted from a geothermal production well and delivered to a heat exchanger. The heat exchanger can receive the briny fluid and transfer heat energy from the briny fluid to a molten salt. The molten salt can be pumped to a molten salt storage tank that can serve as energy storage. The briny fluid can be returned to a geothermal source via the production well. The briny fluid can remain in a closed-loop system, apart from the molten salt, from extraction through return to the geothermal production well.

A method for recompleting a well is applied to a well such that the recompleted well can thermally transfer geothermal energy to surface. The recompleting method can comprise steps to enhance the thermal conductivity of a wellbore of a hydrocarbon well, by inserting a thermal material into the wellbore that displaces a reservoir fluid having a lower thermal conductivity than the thermal material. The recompleting method can also comprise steps to enhance the thermal conductivity of a reservoir in which the wellbore is located by inserting a thermal material into the reservoir that displaces a reservoir fluid having a lower thermal conductivity than the thermal material, or in which the reservoir is fractured, and a thermal material is inserted into created fractures.

Provided is a geothermal heat system having reduced heat source residual heat of a geothermal heat pump. The geothermal heat system includes a ground heat exchanger unit, a geothermal heat pump, and a residual heat storage tank. A portion of heat source residual heat remaining in the geothermal heat pump is transferred on a geothermal heat exchange medium passing through the geothermal heat pump so as to be stored in the residual heat storage tank. As the internal temperature of the residual heat storage tank gradually becomes the same as the temperature of the underground, the thermal load of the underground is removed. At least a portion of the heat source residual heat produced during provision of cooling/heating to the location of use is processed, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the geothermal heat system having reduced heat source residual heat of a geothermal heat pump.

Provided is a geothermal heat system having reduced heat source residual heat of a geothermal heat pump. The geothermal heat system includes a ground heat exchanger unit, a geothermal heat pump, and a residual heat storage tank. A portion of heat source residual heat remaining in the geothermal heat pump is transferred on a geothermal heat exchange medium passing through the geothermal heat pump so as to be stored in the residual heat storage tank. As the internal temperature of the residual heat storage tank gradually becomes the same as the temperature of the underground, the thermal load of the underground is removed. At least a portion of the heat source residual heat produced during provision of cooling/heating to the location of use is processed, thereby improving the operating efficiency of the geothermal heat system having reduced heat source residual heat of a geothermal heat pump.

A method includes flowing, in a closed loop geothermal well residing in a target subterranean zone, a first heat transfer working fluid and flowing, in the geothermal well, a second working fluid from the surface inlet to the downhole location of the geothermal well. The second working fluid resides upstream of the first heat transfer working fluid. The second working fluid includes a fluid density greater than a fluid density of the first heat transfer working fluid. The method also includes circulating, in the geothermal well, the second working fluid pushing, with the second working fluid, the first heat transfer working fluid toward a surface outlet of the geothermal well. The method also includes collecting energy from the mobilized first heat transfer working fluid received at the surface outlet of the geothermal well.