Multiple-completion geothermal energy production systems
OwnerAllen T. Van Huiseninventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A system for the mining of geothermal energy in which a plurality of geothermal wells radiate from a single surface site into a subsurface geothermal reservoir. The wells can be drilled by conventional slant drilling techniques and each may contain a closed end heat exchanger which receives water and generates steam. Some of the heat exchangers are disposed vertically and others are implanted horizontally. By alternating production of the wells in a programmed cyclical manner, convective movement of the hydrothermal fluid will occur within the geothermal zone. The generated steam is collected in a reservoir at the surface site and utilized to generate electricity. The condensate from the turbine can be recycled to the wells.
Claims20
A system for the recovery of geothermal energy comprising:
- a closed, steam vapor collection reservoir vessel having side walls, a top wall and a bottom wall, said side walls and bottom wall being recessed below the surface of the earth and said bottom wall containing a plurality of apertures;
- a plurality of cased geothermal wells, the casings of each having a first end converging toward and sealingly connected to one of the apertures in the bottom wall of said reservoir and each well casing diverging from said reservoir and having a second end disposed within a common, wet geothermal zone having a temperature of at least 300.degree. F;
- said second ends being closed and a portion of each well within the zone and containing the closed end forming a heat exchanger;
- supply means for delivering water from the surface to said heat exchanger to form steam vapor therein;
- and
- vapor fluid delivery means within each of said wells to conduct heated steam vapor fluid from each second end to said reservoir.
A method of recovering geothermal energy comprising the steps of:
- recessing the apertured bottom wall and the side walls of a closed, steam vapor collection reservoir vessel below the surface of the earth;
- slant drilling a plurality of geothermal wells, each having a first upper end converging toward said reservoir vessel and a second lower end disposed within a common, wet geothermal zone;
- casing each of said wells;
- connecting each of the upper, first ends of said casings to the aperture in the bottom wall of said reservoir vessel;
- inserting a closed end heat exchanger at said second end;
- injecting water into each of said heat exchanger;
- and
- delivering heated water vapor from each exchanger to the reservoir.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.