Hydraulic geofracture energy storage system with desalination
AssigneeQuidnet Energy Inc.
InventorsHoward K. Schmidt, Aaron H. Mandell
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Energy may be stored by injecting fluid into a fracture in the earth and producing the fluid back while recovering power and/or desalinating water. The method may be particularly adapted to storage of large amounts of energy such as in grid-scale electric energy systems. The fracture may be formed and treated with resin so as to limit fluid loss and to increase propagation pressure. The fluid may be water containing a dissolved salt or fresh water and a portion or all of the water may be desalinated using pressure in the water when it is produced.
Claims18
A method for storing and producing energy, comprising:
- pumping a fluid down a well to a fracture to inhibit fluid transport away from the fracture, wherein the fluid comprises a sequence of reactants;
- injecting a subsequent fluid down the well;
- storing the subsequent fluid in the fracture as mechanical energy;
- and
- before leakoff of the subsequent fluid from the fracture, reducing pressure in the well so as to produce a portion of the subsequent fluid up the well and allowing pressure of the produced fluid to produce power.
A method for storing and producing energy, comprising:
- injecting a first fluid down a well to create a fracture;
- pumping a second fluid down a well to the fracture to inhibit fluid transport away from the fracture, wherein the second fluid comprises a sequence of reactants;
- injecting a third fluid down the well;
- storing the third fluid in the fracture as mechanical energy;
- and
- before leakoff of the third fluid from the fracture, reducing pressure in the well so as to produce a portion of the third fluid up the well and allowing pressure of the produced fluid to produce power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.