Optimized CO2 sequestration and enhanced geothermal system
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current geothermal energy production and carbon sequestration methods face challenges such as high water usage, environmental concerns, and inefficiencies in heat transfer and carbon storage, particularly due to the use of hydraulic fracturing and conventional drilling techniques that damage rock formations and reduce permeability.
Innovation Solution
A method combining geothermal energy generation and carbon dioxide sequestration using a hybrid approach where a drill bit and drill string create an outer annulus for injecting supercritical carbon dioxide into hot rock formations, forming a cloud that acts as a conductive heat transfer mechanism, and using concentric tubing for a closed loop fluid flow path to extract heat without recovering the injected fluid, thereby avoiding formation damage and enhancing both energy production and carbon storage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If hydraulic fracturing is used to enhance geothermal energy production, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but rock formation integrity is damaged and permeability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful hydraulic fracturing process and replaces it with a less invasive method. Instead of using high-pressure fluid injection to fracture rock, the system uses natural fractures and creates controlled pathways through mechanical drilling and chemical solvents, thereby maintaining rock integrity while still enhancing heat transfer efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces chemical solvents as intermediaries to facilitate heat transfer and rock treatment without requiring violent hydraulic fracturing. These solvents penetrate rock formations, dissolve minerals, and create flow pathways through chemical reactions rather than mechanical force, preserving formation integrity.
2Ease of manufacture
If conventional drilling techniques are used to access geothermal formations, then well completion is achieved, but formation damage occurs and permeability is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces conventional mechanical drilling techniques that cause formation damage with a hybrid approach combining mechanical drilling for well access and chemical solvents for formation treatment. This substitution eliminates the need for aggressive mechanical methods that compromise permeability while achieving well completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameters of the drilling and treatment process by using controlled chemical reactions instead of high-mechanical-stress methods. By adjusting chemical concentration, temperature, and injection rate, the system achieves formation penetration and well completion without damaging permeability.
3Use of energy by moving object
If water is used for heat transfer in geothermal systems, then heat extraction is effective, but water usage is high and environmental concerns increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the physical state and chemical composition of the heat transfer fluid by using chemical solvents with different thermodynamic properties. These solvents can operate at lower volumes and different temperature ranges, maintaining heat extraction efficiency while reducing overall fluid consumption and environmental impact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a closed-loop system where the chemical solvent is continuously circulated, recovered, and reused. Instead of discarding water after single-use heat extraction, the solvent is recovered at the surface, regenerated if necessary, and reinjected, eliminating continuous water consumption and associated environmental concerns.
4Quantity of substance
If supercritical carbon dioxide is injected into hot rock formations, then carbon sequestration is achieved and heat transfer is enhanced, but injection pressure and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes the unique properties of supercritical carbon dioxide, which can be achieved at relatively moderate temperatures and pressures compared to other sequestration methods. By controlling temperature and pressure parameters within the hot rock formation, the system achieves carbon storage while managing injection pressure through phase transition dynamics.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent exploits the phase transition of carbon dioxide between supercritical and gaseous states to manage injection pressure. CO2 is injected in supercritical form for efficient storage and heat transfer, then transitions to gas phase during recovery, naturally reducing pressure and enabling easier extraction without requiring high-pressure containment systems.
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 optimizes both geothermal energy generation and carbon sequestration by maintaining the natural fracture system's integrity, reducing water usage, and increasing the efficiency of heat transfer and carbon storage, while minimizing environmental impact and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
injecting supercritical carbon dioxide into hot rock formations, forming a cloud that acts as a conductive heat transfer mechanism
Implementation Method 2
pumping a second heat transfer fluid down the inner annulus into the closed loop fluid flow path and back to the surface through the concentric tubing and converting heat collected by the second heat transfer fluid to useable energy
Implementation Method 3
installing concentric tubing inside the drill string to create an inner annulus and a closed loop fluid flow path
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed herein are various embodiments of systems for drilling and operating a well which may have dual uses. The well may be drilled and operated as a geothermal well using a hybrid approach where a heat transfer fluid is injected into a hot rock formation but is not removed, and heat is extracted using a closed loop method. The geothermal well is then evaluated for use as a carbon dioxide sequestration well. In other embodiments, the well is drilled as a carbon dioxide sequestration well and then evaluated for its potential for generating geothermal energy using a hybrid approach where supercritical carbon dioxide is injected into a hot rock formation but is not removed, and heat is extracted using a closed loop method. Both horizontal and vertical wells are disclosed, in sedimentary rocks and in basement granite.