F24T2010/53

Systems for Generating Energy from Geothermal Sources and Methods of Operating and Constructing Same

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.

Method for forming high efficiency geothermal wellbores

Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface. The techniques may be chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological and are fully intended to irreversibly damage the formation in terms of the permeability thereof. With the permeability negated, the wellbore may be used to create a closed loop surface to surface geothermal well operable in the absence of well casing for maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Systems and methods for generation of electrical power in an organic Rankine cycle operation

Systems and methods for generating and a controller for controlling generation of geothermal power in an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) operation to thereby supply electrical power to one or more of in-field operational equipment, a grid power structure, and an energy storage device. In an embodiment, during hydrocarbon production, a temperature of a flow of heated fluid from a source or working fluid may be determined. If the temperature is above a vaporous phase change threshold of the working fluid, heat exchanger valves may be opened to divert flow of heated fluid to heat exchangers to facilitate heat transfer from the flow of wellhead fluid to working fluid through the heat exchangers, thereby to cause the working fluid to change from a liquid to vapor, the vapor to cause a generator to generate electrical power via rotation of an expander.

System and method for harvesting geothermal energy from a subterranean formation
11959666 · 2024-04-16 · ·

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.

Systems and methods for thermal reach enhancement

A thermal reach enhanced geothermal wellbore has a plurality of fissures at a target location that distally extend into the formation and that are at least partially filled with a compacted high-thermal k material. The compacted high-thermal k material terminates on a proximal end of the fissure at the target location of the wellbore and is thermally coupled to a high-thermal conductivity grout or slurry through which heat is conducted to a working fluid that is contained in a closed loop working fluid conduit embedded in the grout or slurry.

Piles providing support and geothermal heat exchange
11953237 · 2024-04-09 ·

There is disclosed a foundation system for providing support to a structural load thereon and geothermal heat exchange using a fluid. In an embodiment, the foundation system includes at least one vertical pile member configured to install into a ground surface. A central insulated tube extends in a longitudinal direction within the vertical pile member. The central insulated tube is configured to transmit a geothermal heat exchange fluid therein. An input pipe and an output pipe are configured to transmit the geothermal heat exchange fluid through the vertical pile member and extend through the sidewall of the vertical pile member. A closed end, provided at the end of the pile member is configured to provide densified soil to increase heat transfer capability and efficiency in combination with the heat exchange limited by the central insulated tube. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

THERMAL BARRIER FOR DOWNHOLE FLASKED ELECTRONICS

Apparatus and methods directed to an assembly associated with a downhole tool, and including: a thermal housing; at least one internal component inside the thermal housing, wherein the at least one internal component comprises at least one thermally sensitive component; and a thermal isolation support connecting the at least one internal component to the tool. The thermal isolation support may comprise an additive manufacturing structural framework connected to the tool. The structural framework may include a plurality of structural members, with a majority of the plurality of structural members substantially non-parallel with a longitudinal axis of the downhole tool.

METHOD FOR THE HIGH SPEED INDENTATION OF A RECYCLABLE HEAT EXCHANGER IN A LAND-BASED INFRASTRUCTURE

The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a road surfacing comprising on the surface the pipes of a heat exchanger device, characterised in that it comprises the following steps: a) spreading at a temperature below 160 C. asphalt mix, comprising a granular fraction, a hydrocarbon-based binder, said asphalt mix being workable, having a workability, measured with a Nynas workability meter at the working temperature of the asphalt mix, of less than 400N, then b) depositing the pipes, said pipes having a crushing strength greater than 3000 N per linear metre of pipe at 100 C., a thermal expansion less than 200.10.sup.6 K.sup.1 at 20 C. in such a way as to enable their indentation even in the absence of cooling means or pressure application means, then c) indenting the deposited pipes into said integration layer by compacting said asphalt mix during the workability period of said asphalt mix, to form an integration layer comprising the pipes of a heat exchanger device, then d) applying a surface layer there above for the road surface, in particular a surface course.

The present invention also relates to a method for recycling a road surface.

Induced groundwater flow closed loop geothermal system
10401057 · 2019-09-03 · ·

An induced groundwater flow closed loop geothermal system provides safety associated with closed loop geothermal systems (e.g., no mixing of surface water, closed system fluid, and groundwater) and efficiency associated with open loop geothermal systems (e.g., increased heat transfer provided by groundwater flow). A heat exchanger connected to an external system is located in a hole in a geological formation. The hole has a depth below where groundwater is located. A fluid from the external system is routed through the heat exchanger. A pump is utilized to induce groundwater flow from the geological formation, across the heat exchanger and back to the geological formation to enable thermal transfer between the fluid and the groundwater and the groundwater and the geological formation. A casing may be located in the hole to provide structural support and grouting materials may be used to fill space around the casing enabling a groundwater flow path.

Hydrothermal geothermal development method of multilateral well closed circulation

The present disclosure provides a hydrothermal geothermal development method of multilateral well closed circulation, comprises the steps of: dividing a geothermal reservoir into single layers according to geothermal reservoir geological conditions, wherein an upper single layer with a lower water temperature and a higher permeability is taken as a recharge layer, and a lower single layer with a higher water temperature is taken as a production layer; tripping a production casing, and injecting cement for well cementation; performing casing lateral windowing in a vertical hole corresponding to the recharge layer, and drilling several branch radial horizontal holes into the recharge layer; performing casing lateral windowing in the vertical hole corresponding to the production layer, and drilling several branch radial horizontal holes into the production layer; tripping a guiding pipe into the production casing of the vertical hole, with a depth thereof reaching a well section between the recharge layer and the production layer; tripping a packer at a guiding shoe to isolate the guiding pipe and an annulus of the casing from each other, so as to prevent geothermal fluid of the recharge layer and the production layer from being communicated with each other in the vertical hole.