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US 12,203,456 B2Granted
Geothermal heat harvesters
AssigneeXGS Energy, Inc.
InventorsPiotr D. Moncarz, Walter R. Kolbe, Louis E. Capuano, Jr., Keanen Ryan
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Thermal energy is extracted from geological formations using a heat harvester. In some embodiments, the heat harvester is a once-through, closed loop, underground heat harvester created by directionally drilling through hot rock. The extracted thermal energy can be converted or transformed to other forms of energy.
Claims19
A method of generating a geothermal well, comprising:
- drilling a geothermal well comprising an entrance and an exit at a surface, wherein the entrance and the exit are in fluid communication via a path, the path comprising:
- a first segment extending between the surface and a target depth, the first segment comprising the entrance;
- a second segment in fluid communication with the first segment and extending radially outward at the target depth, the second segment being substantially perpendicular to the first segment;
- a third segment in fluid communication with the second segment and extending in an arc at the target depth;
- a fourth segment in fluid communication with the third segment and extending radially inward at the target depth;
- and
- a fifth segment extending between the target depth and the surface, the fifth segment comprising the exit, being in fluid communication, and substantially perpendicular to the fourth segment.
4 more elements
A method of generating a geothermal well, comprising:
- drilling a geothermal well comprising an entrance and an exit at a surface, wherein the entrance and the exit are in fluid communication via a path, the path comprising:
- a first segment extending between the surface and a first depth, the first segment comprising the entrance;
- a second segment in fluid communication with the first segment and extending between the first depth and a second depth, the second segment being at an angle with respect to the first vertical segment of at least about 5°,
- wherein the angle with respect to the first vertical segment causes the second segment to lead to a region having a target temperature;
- a third segment at the second depth that is in fluid communication with the second segment, wherein the third segment comprises a heat transfer region;
- a fourth segment in fluid communication with the third segment and extending between the second depth and the first depth;
- and
- a fifth segment in fluid communication with the fourth segment and extending between the first depth and the surface, the fifth segment comprising the exit, wherein the fourth segment is at an angle with respect to the fifth segment of at least about 5°,
- wherein the angle with respect to the fifth segment builds up toward an exit of the geothermic well, and
- wherein the first segment and the fifth segment are each substantially vertical, and wherein the third segment is substantially horizontal.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.