Systems and methods for downhole power generation
AssigneeHelmerich & Payne Technologies, LLC
InventorsTeddy CHEN, Angus Lamberton JAMIESON, Andrew Evan MCGREGOR, Marc Ernest WILLERTH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In some implementations, a pipe may be disposed in a wellbore drilled to a subterranean geothermal heat source. The pipe may define a fluid pathway adapted to allow fluid to travel along the fluid pathway proximate to the subterranean geothermal heat source. The pipe may include a plurality of thermoelectric devices that are configured to generate an electric current using a Seebeck effect based on the fluid and one or more environments proximate to the pipe. At least one environment may include the subterranean geothermal heat source.
Claims23
A system for generating electricity, the system comprising:
- a wellbore having one or more pipes located proximate to a subterranean geothermal region, each pipe comprising a plurality of thermoelectric devices, wherein the plurality of thermoelectric devices comprise:
- a first plurality of thermoelectric devices configured to generate an electric current using a Seebeck effect responsive to a temperature gradient;
- and
- a second plurality of thermoelectric devices configured to provide at least one of cooling and heating to one or more locations along the one or more pipes using a Peltier effect.
A system for generating electricity, the system comprising:
- a pipe disposed in a wellbore drilled to a subterranean geothermal heat source, the pipe defining a fluid pathway adapted to allow fluid to travel along the fluid pathway proximate to the subterranean geothermal heat source, the pipe comprising:
- a plurality of thermoelectric devices that are configured to generate an electric current using a Seebeck effect based on the fluid and one or more environments proximate to the pipe, wherein at least one environment includes the subterranean geothermal heat source.
A method of generating electricity, the method comprising:
- drilling a wellbore, wherein a portion of the wellbore is in a subterranean geothermal region, wherein the subterranean geothermal region comprises a region having a temperature of at least 100 C;
- disposing, in the wellbore, a pipe, wherein the pipe comprises a plurality of thermoelectric devices exposing the thermoelectric devices to a temperature gradient, whereby the temperature gradient causes the thermoelectric devices to generate an electric current;
- and
- disposing, in the wellbore, an electrically conductive element coupled with the plurality of thermoelectric devices, wherein the electrically conductive element extends from the pipe to a surface location.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.