Hydrothermal drilling method and system
AssigneeExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
InventorsRichard S. Polizzotti, Lee Hirsch, Amy B. Herhold, Mehmet D. Ertas
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Abstract
A method and system is disclosed for extending the depth of a subterranean borehole that uses heated aqueous fluid to dissolve rock of the subterranean formation. The heated aqueous fluid comprises water and hydroxides of Group I elements of The Periodic Table of Elements and mixtures thereof. The drilling system comprises means for delivering aqueous fluid and heating the aqueous fluid prior to contacting rock of a subsurface formation.
Claims20
A method for penetrating rock of a subsurface formation, comprising:
- (a) lowering a fluid conduit into a borehole in the subsurface formation, the conduit having a top end and a lower end and adapted to heat and discharge from the lower end a stream of aqueous fluid;
- (b) introducing into the top end of the fluid conduit an aqueous fluid comprising water and hydroxides of Group I elements of The Periodic Table of Elements and mixtures thereof;
- (c) heating said aqueous fluid to temperatures in the range of 500° C. to 1400° C. to provide a heated aqueous fluid;
- (d) discharging from the lower end of the fluid conduit the heated aqueous fluid to contact the rock of the subsurface formation and effect dissolution of the rock therefrom;
- and
- (e) removing the dissolved rock and the heated aqueous fluid from the borehole by an ascending fluid stream.
A drilling system for hydrothermally drilling a subterranean formation comprising a coiled tubing with an upper end and a lower end;
- a body attached to the lower end of the coiled tubing, said body having a heating chamber disposed therein and a plurality of nozzles opening through said body adjacent the bottom of the body so as to communicate with the heating chamber, said chamber capable of heating aqueous fluid, said nozzles capable of directing heated aqueous fluid to formation rock below the coiled tubing wherein said heating chamber uses electricity as the source of heating energy and said heating chamber heats said aqueous fluid to temperatures in the range of 500° C. to 1400° C.
A drilling system for hydrothermally drilling a subterranean formation comprising a coiled tubing with an upper end and a lower end;
- a body attached to the lower end of the coiled tubing, said body having a combustion chamber disposed therein and having a first set of nozzles opening through the bottom of the body, said first set of nozzles being capable of emitting chemical reactants and products of combustion occurring in said combustion chamber and a second set of nozzles opening through the bottom of the body adjacent to the first set of nozzles, said second set of nozzles being capable of emitting a heated aqueous fluid comprising water and hydroxides of Group I elements of The Periodic Table of Elements and mixtures thereof and said first set and second set of nozzles capable of directing heated aqueous fluid to formation rock below the coiled tubing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.