Energy storage system

A system comprising:

• a renewable power production facility;
• a wellbore of a non-producing hydrocarbon well, the wellbore providing fluid access to a subterranean zone, the wellbore having a gas inlet port and a gas outlet port;
• a compressor powered by the output of the renewable power production facility and disposed in fluid communication with the gas inlet port of the wellbore, the compressor adapted to compress and transfer atmospheric gases through the wellbore and into the subterranean zone;
• a gas processor adapted to remove hydrocarbons from pressurized gases transferred from the subterranean zone, the processor having an inlet port in fluid communication with the gas outlet port of the wellbore, and an outlet port;
• an electric power production device, drivable by the energy of processed pressurized gases from the subterranean zone.

A method of positioning a wind energy collector, comprising:

• locating an area of high average wind speed within a natural gas producing region;
• locating, within the area of high average wind speed, a non-producing hydrocarbon well having a wellbore that provides fluid access to a hydrocarbon-depleted subterranean zone;
• positioning a wind energy collector at a site adjacent the wellbore of the well;
• positioning a compressor adjacent to and in communication with the wellbore, the compressor powered by the output of the wind energy collector and adapted to compress atmospheric gases and transfer these gases through the wellbore for storage in the subterranean zone;
• positioning an electric power generating device adjacent to the wellbore, the device powered by the flow of pressurized gases delivered from storage in the subterranean zone;
• and
• positioning a gas heater adjacent the wellbore, the gas heater adapted to heat pressurized gases prior to delivery to the electric power generating device and powered by combustion of the hydrogen output of a water electrolyzer.

A method of processing atmospheric gases, comprising:

• generating power with a renewable power source;
• compressing atmospheric gases with the output of the renewable power source;
• transferring pressurized atmospheric gases to a subterranean zone, for storage under pressure;
• delivering gases from the subterranean zone to a processing zone;
• heating the delivered pressurized gases in the processing zone by combustion of the hydrogen output of a water electrolyzer;
• generating electric power from the heated and pressurized gases.

A method of processing atmospheric gases, comprising:

• generating power with a renewable power source;
• compressing atmospheric gases with the output of the renewable power source;
• transferring pressurized atmospheric gases through a wellbore of a non-producing hydrocarbon well to a subterranean zone, for storage under pressure;
• delivering gases from the subterranean zone to a processing zone;
• removing hydrocarbons from pressurized gases in the processing zone;
• generating electric power from the heated and pressurized gases.

A method of positioning a wind energy collector, comprising:

• locating an area of high average wind speed within a natural gas producing region;
• locating, within the area of high average wind speed, a non-producing hydrocarbon well having a wellbore that provides fluid access to a hydrocarbon-depleted subterranean zone;
• positioning a wind energy collector at a site adjacent the wellbore of the well;
• positioning a compressor adjacent to and in communication with the wellbore, the compressor powered by the output of the wind energy collector and adapted to compress atmospheric gases and transfer these gases through the wellbore for storage in the subterranean zone;
• positioning an electric power generating device adjacent to the wellbore, the device powered by the flow of pressurized gases delivered from storage in the subterranean zone;
• and
• positioning a gas processor adjacent the wellbore, the gas processor adapted to remove hydrocarbons from the pressurized gases prior to their delivery to the electric power generating device.