US 11,808,488 B2
Energy recovery in geothermal wells
Paul Cairns, Calgary (CA); Matthew Toews, Calgary (CA); and John Redfern, Los Angeles, CA (US)
Assigned to Eavor Technologies Inc., Calgary (CA)
Filed by Eavor Technologies Inc., Calgary (CA)
Filed on Oct. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/499,415.
Application 17/499,415 is a continuation of application No. 16/524,017, filed on Jul. 27, 2019, granted, now 11,156,386.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/717,849, filed on Aug. 12, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2022/0026112 A1, Jan. 27, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. F24T 10/13 (2018.01); F03G 7/04 (2006.01)
CPC F24T 10/13 (2018.05) [F03G 7/04 (2013.01)] 29 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method, comprising:
forming a closed loop geothermal energy recovery well system comprising a well having an inlet extending from a terranean surface, an outlet extending to the terranean surface, and a lateral interconnecting section coupled to the inlet and the outlet, the lateral interconnecting section being in a specified rock volume and at least partially uncased for direct conductive heat transfer with the specified rock volume;
selecting a geothermal heat transfer working fluid for circulation in a predetermined sequence within the well system as a function of at least one of:
the well system configuration;
the geothermal gradient variation in the specified rock volume; or
the formation geology in the specified rock volume;
selecting at least one of:
a flow rate of the geothermal heat transfer working fluid within the well system; or
a flow direction of the geothermal heat transfer working fluid within the well system;
sealing the uncased lateral interconnecting section with a sealant circulated in at least the uncased lateral interconnecting section;
introducing, after the sealing, the geothermal heat transfer working fluid into the well while maintaining the uncased lateral interconnecting section sealed; and
circulating a sealant in the lateral interconnecting section after introducing the geothermal heat transfer working fluid.