US 11,414,962 B2 · Coalification and carbon sequestration using deep ocean hydrothermal borehole vents

Abstract

Systems and methods are described for sequestering carbon stored in organic matter while minimizing the release of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4) into the atmosphere, with the carbon (C) being stored as char or coal through the coalification process. Organic matter will be moved to submarine hydrothermal vent fields where the extreme heat in the water will drastically accelerate the degradation of the material and destroy microbes that normally consume the organic material and release the carbon as CO2 or CH4. The oxygen level in the heated water around the vents is extremely low. The water surrounding these vents can reach temperatures of 400° C. (750° F.). Exemplary implementations may include constructing hydrothermal borehole vents to harness the energy continuously released from the Earth's core in the form of volcanic heat.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A system configured to coalify organic material using hydro pyrolysis powered by one or more hydrothermal borehole vents, the system comprising:

a semisubmersible platform configured to be moored at a body of water;
a transfer sub-system configured to transfer the organic material from the semisubmersible platform into a hydrothermal oven;
the hydrothermal oven disposed below the semisubmersible platform and at least 200 meter below a surface of the body of water, wherein the hydrothermal oven includes a bottom grate at the bottom and a funnel disposed below the bottom grate that connects to a down pipe, wherein the hydrothermal oven is configured to coalify the organic material in the hydrothermal oven through hydro pyrolysis using at least one of (i) hot water, (ii) steam, and (iii) supercritical water, wherein the coalified organic material seeps through the bottom grate into the funnel, and subsequently down and through the downpipe;
and
one or more pipes configured to provide the at least one of (i) hot water, (ii) steam, and (iii) supercritical water from the one or more hydrothermal borehole vents to the hydrothermal oven.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Coalification and carbon sequestration using deep ocean hydrothermal borehole vents

Life of this patent

Coalification and carbon sequestration using deep ocean hydrothermal borehole vents

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15