Solar augmented geothermal energy
OwnerSovani Meksvanh, Ronald Whelan +1inventors
InventorsSovani Meksvanh, Ronald Whelan, Douglas Swift
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Abstract
An apparatus and a method is disclosed for storage of solar energy in a subsurface geologic reservoir. The method includes transferring concentrated solar thermal energy to a fluid, thereby generating a supercritical fluid. The supercritical fluid is then injected into the subsurface geologic reservoir through at least one injection well. The subsurface geologic reservoir may be a highly permeable and porous sedimentary strata, a depleted hydrocarbon field, a depleting hydrocarbon field, a depleted oil field, a depleting oil field, a depleted gas field, or a depleting gas field. Once charged with the supercritical fluid, the subsurface geologic formation forms a synthetic geothermal reservoir.
Claims42
A method for storage of solar energy in a subsurface geologic reservoir, comprising:
- transferring concentrated solar thermal energy to a fluid, thereby generating a supercritical fluid;
- injecting the supercritical fluid into the subsurface geologic reservoir through at least one injection well, the subsurface geologic reservoir comprising at least one geological formation selected from a group comprising highly permeable and porous sedimentary strata, a depleted hydrocarbon field, a depleting hydrocarbon field, a depleted oil field, a depleting oil field, a depleted gas field, and a depleting gas field, thereby forming a synthetic geothermal reservoir.
A method for storage of solar energy in a subsurface geologic reservoir for utilization at a utilization facility, comprising:
- transferring concentrated solar thermal energy to a brine, thereby generating a supercritical brine;
- injecting the supercritical brine into the subsurface geologic reservoir through at least one injection well, thereby forming a synthetic geothermal reservoir;
- extracting the supercritical brine from the subsurface geologic reservoir through at least one extraction well;
- and
- piping the extracted supercritical brine to the utilization facility.
A method for utilizing solar energy to extract hydrocarbons from a subsurface geologic reservoir and for storing solar energy in the subsurface geologic reservoir, comprising:
- transferring concentrated solar thermal energy to a brine, thereby generating a supercritical brine with a predetermined temperature;
- injecting the supercritical brine into the subsurface geologic reservoir through at least one injection well, thereby forming a synthetic geothermal reservoir;
- raising the temperature of hydrocarbons within the subsurface geologic reservoir to the predetermined temperature to decrease viscosity of the hydrocarbons, reduce capillary attachment of the hydrocarbons to an interior of the subsurface geologic reservoir, and extract the hydrocarbons from the interior of the subsurface geologic reservoir;
- extracting the supercritical brine containing the extracted hydrocarbons from the subsurface geologic reservoir through at least one extraction well;
- piping the extracted supercritical brine to the utilization facility.
An apparatus for storage of solar energy, comprising:
- a solar collector adapted to transfer concentrated solar thermal energy to a fluid;
- a subsurface geologic reservoir comprising at least one geological formation selected from a group comprising highly permeable and porous sedimentary strata, a depleted hydrocarbon field, a depleting hydrocarbon field, a depleted oil field, a depleting oil field, a depleted gas field, and a depleting gas field;
- an injection well extending to the subsurface geologic reservoir, establishing an inlet to the subsurface geologic reservoir;
- an extraction well extending to the subsurface geologic reservoir, establishing an outlet from the subsurface geologic reservoir;
- first piping extending from the extraction well to an inlet of the solar collector;
- second piping extending from an outlet of the solar collector to the injection well,
- wherein fluid is drawn through the first piping to the solar collector where the fluid is heated, thereby creating a supercritical fluid, which is injected back into the subsurface geologic reservoir through the second piping.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.