Annular Geothermal Co-Production with Tie-Back Heat Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current co-production systems for geothermal energy from oil and gas wells face challenges such as high wellbore heat loss, corrosive fluid handling, and inefficient thermal energy recovery due to the need for binary cycle systems that require high production rates and non-sour, non-corrosive compositions, limiting their economic viability and scalability.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an annular circulation co-production system that uses a tie-back conduit to separate the working fluid from production fluids in the wellbore, allowing for heat transfer and geothermal energy recovery without the need for surface separation, thus tolerating varying production rates and fluid compositions, and optimizing energy recovery by modifying the working fluid rate.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If a binary cycle system is used for geothermal energy recovery, then thermal energy can be converted to power, but the system requires high production rates and non-corrosive fluid compositions which limits adaptability
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore is segmented into distinct zones using packers to separate the production fluid flow path from the working fluid circulation path. This allows independent optimization of each fluid system, enabling the production fluid to be handled separately from the geothermal cycle, thus tolerating varying compositions and production rates while maintaining power generation capability
Solution Approach 2:
A tie-back conduit acts as an intermediary heat transfer medium between the production fluid and the working fluid. The production fluid transfers thermal energy to the working fluid through the conduit wall without direct contact, allowing the system to accommodate varying production rates and fluid compositions while maintaining efficient heat transfer for power generation
2Adaptability or versatility
If surface separation equipment is used to handle corrosive fluids, then fluid composition can be managed, but capital and operational costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The corrosive production fluid is extracted from the geothermal energy conversion path using packers and separate flow channels. The production fluid is directed through dedicated conduits to separation equipment located at the wellbore level, eliminating the need for expensive corrosion-resistant surface handling equipment while maintaining the ability to process corrosive fluids
Solution Approach 2:
The tie-back conduit serves as a barrier that prevents direct contact between corrosive production fluids and the working fluid system. This intermediary structure allows thermal energy transfer without requiring the surface equipment to be corrosion-resistant, significantly reducing capital and operational costs
3Use of energy by moving object
If working fluid and production fluid are mixed in the wellbore, then heat transfer is efficient, but fluid contamination occurs reducing reliability
Solution Approach 1:
The wellbore annulus is segmented into separate zones using packers, creating distinct flow paths for production fluid and working fluid. This segmentation maintains thermal contact through the conduit wall for efficient heat transfer while preventing direct mixing and contamination of the two fluid systems, ensuring long-term reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The tie-back conduit wall acts as a thin film barrier that allows thermal energy transfer while preventing fluid mixing. This thin barrier maintains efficient heat transfer between the production fluid and working fluid without requiring direct fluid contact, preserving both heat transfer efficiency and fluid separation reliability
4Temperature
If deeper well designs are used to access geothermal temperatures, then resource temperature increases, but wellbore heat loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tie-back conduit acts as an insulated intermediary channel that conducts thermal energy from depth to the surface with minimal loss. By providing a dedicated, isolated flow path for the working fluid, the system reduces heat loss to the surrounding formation while accessing high temperatures at greater depths, improving overall thermal efficiency
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This approach enhances thermal energy recovery by isolating the produced fluid from the geothermal energy cycle, allowing for deeper well designs and greater tolerance to production rate declines, while reducing capital and operational costs by eliminating the need for specialized surface equipment to handle corrosive fluids.
Implementation Method 1
a tie-back conduit positioned in the first portion of the annulus and configured to allow heat transfer between a working fluid flowing through the first portion of the annulus and a production fluid traversing through the production tubing
Data Source
AI summary
Systems include a well having a production casing and a production tubing positioned therein, forming an annulus there between. A packer is positioned in the annulus at a position sufficient to separate the annulus into a first portion and a second portion. The well further includes a tie-back conduit positioned in the first portion of the annulus and configured to allow heat transfer between a working fluid flowing through the first portion of the annulus and a production fluid flowing through the production tubing, thus separating the circulating working fluid from fluids in the second portion of the annulus. A working fluid loop is fluidly connected to the first portion of the annulus. Co-production methods, methods of modeling, and computer-readable media including the methods of modeling are disclosed.