Concentric Well System for Brackish Water Extraction and Brine Disposal
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing well configurations do not effectively combine brackish water supply and concentrated brine disposal while minimizing cost and environmental impact, leading to increased construction costs and land use for separate wells and monitor wells.
Innovation Solution
A novel well system design that includes a surface casing, source well casing, return well casing, and return pipe, allowing for simultaneous brackish water extraction and brine injection, with integrated monitoring capabilities and a single well site that isolates different aquifers, reducing the need for multiple wells and land use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate wells are used for brackish water supply and brine disposal, then functional reliability is improved, but device complexity and construction cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple well functions (brackish water supply, brine disposal, and monitoring) into a single integrated well system. The production casing and injection casing are installed concentrically within the same wellbore, allowing simultaneous water extraction and brine injection through different casing strings while sharing common infrastructure such as the wellhead, cement seals, and monitoring equipment.
Solution Approach 2:
The single well system is designed to perform multiple functions: the production casing supplies brackish water to the membrane facility, the injection casing disposes of concentrated brine, and integrated sensors monitor water quality, pressure, and flow. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate dedicated wells for each function.
2Reliability
If multiple wells are constructed for different purposes, then functional reliability is improved, but construction cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple well construction projects into a single drilled wellbore. By installing both production and injection casings during one drilling operation, the system eliminates redundant drilling costs, reduces surface infrastructure requirements, and lowers overall construction expenses while maintaining the functional reliability of separate well systems.
3Reliability
If multiple wells are constructed for different purposes, then functional reliability is improved, but land use increases
Solution Approach 1:
The integrated well system consolidates multiple well functions into a single location, dramatically reducing the surface footprint. The concentric casing configuration allows both water production and brine injection to occur from the same wellhead assembly, minimizing land disturbance and surface infrastructure compared to multiple separate wells distributed across the site.
4Reliability
If separate wells are used for brine disposal with monitor wells, then environmental monitoring reliability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates environmental monitoring functions directly into the injection well system. Sensors are installed within the injection casing and annular spaces to monitor brine injection parameters, groundwater quality, and pressure gradients. This integrated monitoring approach provides the same environmental protection and detection capabilities as separate monitor wells while reducing system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A well system comprising, in combination, a recipient ground area, a surface casing, a source well casing, a return well casing, and a return pipe. The return pipe is located within the return well casing, and the return well casing is located within the source well casing. This arrangement allows the removal of water from, and the return of water to different strata through the same drilled well hole, while also monitoring different aquifers water quality and/or aquifer parameters.