IP Verse

Geothermal Power From Superhot Geothermal Fluid And Magma Reservoirs

Patent No. US12326278 (titled "Geothermal Power From Superhot Geothermal Fluid And Magma Reservoirs") was filed by Enhancedgeo Holdings Llc on Jan 20, 2023.

What is this patent about?

’278 is related to the field of geothermal power generation, specifically addressing the challenge of efficiently extracting and utilizing energy from underground magma reservoirs. Conventional geothermal systems often rely on lower-temperature geothermal water, resulting in lower power output and significant inefficiencies due to the presence of dissolved solids and gases. This patent aims to improve upon these limitations by tapping into the much higher temperatures available in magma reservoirs.

The underlying idea behind ’278 is to create a closed-loop system where saturated steam is injected into a wellbore that extends directly into a magma reservoir. The extreme heat of the magma then converts the saturated steam into superheated steam , which is then extracted and used to drive turbines for electricity generation. This approach eliminates the need for injection wells and reduces the risk of thermal-shock induced earthquakes.

The claims of ’278 focus on a cased wellbore designed for generating superheated steam. This wellbore features a fluid pathway that receives saturated steam at an inlet, transports it to the magma reservoir for superheating, and then conveys the superheated steam to an outlet. The wellbore includes a wellhead with connectors for both the saturated steam source and the superheated steam delivery system. A key feature is that the inlet diameter is larger than the outlet diameter.

In practice, the invention involves drilling a wellbore into a magma reservoir and installing a specialized casing. Saturated steam, potentially sourced from another geothermal well, is pumped down an inner conduit within the casing. As the steam reaches the magma, it's superheated and rises through an outer annulus within the casing. The larger inlet diameter compared to the outlet creates a pressure drop that facilitates the upward flow of the superheated steam.

This design differentiates itself from traditional geothermal systems by directly utilizing magma's intense heat, avoiding the inefficiencies associated with lower-temperature water-based systems. The closed-loop nature of the system also eliminates the need for injection wells, mitigating the risk of induced seismicity. The use of corrugated boiler casings near the magma reservoir further enhances heat transfer, maximizing the conversion of saturated steam to superheated steam for more efficient power generation.

How does this patent fit in bigger picture?

Technical landscape at the time

In the early 2020s when ’278 was filed, geothermal energy generation was at a time when systems commonly relied on traditional drilling and extraction techniques to access underground reservoirs. At that time, hardware or software constraints made efficient and reliable extraction of superheated fluids from deep magma reservoirs non-trivial.

Novelty and Inventive Step

The examiner approved the application because the prior art of record does not anticipate or render obvious the claimed invention. Specifically, the prior art does not teach a wellhead with an aperture for a drill stem, a first connector to fluidically connect the inlet of the fluid pathway to a source of saturated steam, and a second connector to fluidically connect the outlet of the fluid pathway to a system for generating power from superheated steam, where the inlet diameter is greater than the outlet diameter.

Claims

This patent contains 25 claims, with independent claims 1, 12, and 20. The independent claims are directed to a cased wellbore, a system, and a method for generating superheated steam using an underground magma reservoir. The dependent claims generally add details and limitations to the independent claims, further defining the components, configurations, and steps involved in the steam generation process.

Key Claim Terms New

Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.

Term (Source)Support for SpecificationInterpretation
Cased wellbore
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 20)		“One or more aspects of the present disclosure are also directed to a cased wellbore for use in generating superheated steam. The cased wellbore includes a first end at a surface, a second end at an underground reservoir of magma, and a fluid pathway extending from an inlet at the first end to the second end and then from the second end to an outlet at the first end. The fluid pathway is configured to receive saturated steam at the inlet and expel superheated steam from the outlet, and the saturated steam is transformed into superheated steam in the fluid pathway at the second end of the cased wellbore.”A wellbore that extends between a surface and an underground reservoir of magma, and includes a fluid pathway for converting saturated steam to superheated steam.
Fluid pathway
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 20)		“The cased wellbore includes a first end at a surface, a second end at an underground reservoir of magma, and a fluid pathway extending from an inlet at the first end to the second end and then from the second end to an outlet at the first end. The fluid pathway is configured to receive saturated steam at the inlet and expel superheated steam from the outlet. The saturated steam is transformed into superheated steam in the fluid pathway at the second end of the cased wellbore.”A passage within the cased wellbore that extends from an inlet at the surface to the underground reservoir of magma and back to an outlet at the surface, configured to receive saturated steam and expel superheated steam.
Saturated steam
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 20)		“The fluid pathway is configured to receive saturated steam at the inlet and expel superheated steam from the outlet, and the saturated steam is transformed into superheated steam in the fluid pathway at the second end of the cased wellbore.”Steam received at the inlet of the fluid pathway, which is then transformed into superheated steam.
Superheated steam
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 20)		“The fluid pathway is configured to receive saturated steam at the inlet and expel superheated steam from the outlet, and the saturated steam is transformed into superheated steam in the fluid pathway at the second end of the cased wellbore.”Steam expelled from the outlet of the fluid pathway after being transformed from saturated steam by heat from the underground reservoir of magma.
Underground reservoir of magma
(Claim 1, Claim 12, Claim 20)		“The cased wellbore includes a first end at a surface, a second end at an underground reservoir of magma, and a fluid pathway extending from an inlet at the first end to the second end and then from the second end to an outlet at the first end. The fluid pathway is configured to receive saturated steam at the inlet and expel superheated steam from the outlet, and the saturated steam is transformed into superheated steam in the fluid pathway at the second end of the cased wellbore.”A subsurface accumulation of molten rock that provides heat to convert saturated steam into superheated steam.

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US12326278

ENHANCEDGEO HOLDINGS LLC
Application Number
US18099518
Filing Date
Jan 20, 2023
Status
Granted
Expiry Date
Jan 20, 2043
External Links
Slate, USPTO, Google Patents