US 11,927,369 B2
Systems and methods for geothermal energy storage
Jack Norbeck, Golden, CO (US); Timothy Latimer, Houston, TX (US); and Christian Gradl, Houston, TX (US)
Assigned to Fervo Energy Company, Houston, TX (US)
Appl. No. 18/026,541
Filed by FERVO ENERGY COMPANY, Berkeley, CA (US)
PCT Filed Jul. 16, 2021, PCT No. PCT/US2021/070894
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 15, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2022/061320, PCT Pub. Date Mar. 24, 2022.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/079,215, filed on Sep. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0408151 A1, Dec. 21, 2023
Int. Cl. F24T 10/20 (2018.01); F24T 10/00 (2018.01)
CPC F24T 10/20 (2018.05) [F24T 2010/56 (2018.05)] 48 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for shifting geothermal energy production from a lower demand period to a higher demand period, the method comprising:
injecting fluid into a confined geothermal reservoir system using an injection well;
producing fluid from the confined geothermal reservoir system using a production well hydraulically coupled to the injection well;
generating electric power at a baseline level by removing heat from the produced fluid;
modifying flow properties of fluid in the injection well or the production well to enter a charging period, wherein charging period net electric power generation is less than the baseline level; and
in response to the charging period ending, modifying the flow properties of the fluid in the injection well or the production well to enter a discharging period, wherein discharging period net electric power generation is greater than the baseline level.