Systems and methods for drilling geothermal wells

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Solution Overview

Problem

Geothermal energy production is location-specific, expensive, and current drilling techniques for geothermal wells can be cost-prohibitive and inefficient, often requiring multiple wells and risking environmental hazards like earthquakes.

Innovation Solution

A method for drilling a geothermal well involves creating a first borehole and multiple second boreholes with specific angular extensions and connections to maximize heat transfer, utilizing a controller device and computer-executable instructions for optimized drilling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If multiple vertical wells are drilled for geothermal power generation, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but drilling cost increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveheat transfer efficiencyVSAvoiddrilling cost

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple boreholes into a single integrated geothermal well structure. Multiple second boreholes are drilled at angular extensions from a first borehole, and all connect to a common geothermal target zone. This merging approach maintains the heat transfer efficiency of multiple wells while reducing the overall drilling cost by sharing the first borehole infrastructure and reducing the total number of separate well installations needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional drilling techniques are used, then existing technology can be applied, but drilling time and cost are excessive

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetechnology applicabilityVSAvoiddrilling time

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The drilling process is segmented into distinct phases: first, a vertical first borehole is drilled to a target depth; then, multiple second boreholes are drilled at angular extensions from the first borehole at different depths; finally, all second boreholes connect to the geothermal target zone. This segmentation allows parallel drilling operations and optimizes the drilling path, reducing total drilling time while maintaining applicability of conventional drilling technologies for each segment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from conventional vertical-only drilling to multi-dimensional drilling by introducing angular extensions. Second boreholes are drilled at angles from the first borehole, creating a three-dimensional well structure that efficiently accesses the geothermal target zone from multiple directions, thereby reducing overall drilling time and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Adaptability or versatility

If geothermal wells are drilled in non-traditional locations, then resource accessibility is improved, but geological stability risks increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelocation accessibilityVSAvoidgeological stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a distributed well structure where multiple second boreholes access different zones of the geothermal target. This distribution allows the system to adapt to local geological variations at each borehole location while maintaining overall system stability. The angular extensions enable access to heterogeneous geological formations without requiring uniform geological conditions across the entire site.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 reduces drilling costs and time while enhancing heat production efficiency, minimizing environmental impact, and improving the economic feasibility of geothermal energy generation.

Implementation Method 1

maximize heat transfer

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

exposing maximum circulation to maximum heat

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFluid circulation: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS12442252B2Systems and methods for drilling geothermal wells

Publication Date: 2025.10.14 HELMERICH & PAYNE TECH LLC

AI summary

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.