Well-bore generator
First Claim
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1. A system for use in a wellbore including an internal casing, the internal casing extending down from a location near a surface level, past a ground-water level, and into the wellbore in a formation, the system comprising:
- a fluid-delivery system configured to receive a disposal fluid from a fluid source, and deliver the disposal fluid into an upper portion of a conduit, the conduit being coaxially inside, and extending down from the surface level into the internal casing;
a valve included in the fluid-delivery system, the valve controlling a rate of flow of the disposal fluid into the conduit and establish a height of a column of disposal fluid above a fluid-receiving device located inside the conduit below the valve;
a coaxial space defined between an outside surface of the conduit and inside surfaces of the internal casing;
a sealing member having upper and lower surfaces, the sealing member being located vertically below the valve in the wellbore, the sealing member being in the coaxial space, the conduit passing through the sealing member, an exit opening at a lower end of the conduit, the exit opening allowing for the passage of the fluid into the formation once the fluid has passed through the conduit, the lower surface of the sealing member being positioned such that the lower surface of the sealing member is pressurized by formation fluids existing below the sealing member, the sealing member preventing back flow of hydrocarbons into the coaxial space;
the fluid-receiving device receiving the fluid and generating rotational mechanical energy at a speed at least in part due to the height of the column of disposal fluid established, the system configured to expel the fluid at a depth substantially below the ground water level;
a mechanical-energy utilization system, the utilization system configured to use the rotational mechanical energy created in a location outside of the wellbore.
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Abstract
Disclosed is a system for generating energy. The system is incorporated into a disposal or injection well. A conduit is extended down in the well from the surface. Water disposed in the well is used to drive some sort of mechanical-energy creating device that has an axis that runs up the wellbore. The device is used to turn a shaft that extends up in the well, and is used to either generate electrical power, or be used for some mechanical purpose outside the wellbore.
21 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A system for use in a wellbore including an internal casing, the internal casing extending down from a location near a surface level, past a ground-water level, and into the wellbore in a formation, the system comprising:
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a fluid-delivery system configured to receive a disposal fluid from a fluid source, and deliver the disposal fluid into an upper portion of a conduit, the conduit being coaxially inside, and extending down from the surface level into the internal casing; a valve included in the fluid-delivery system, the valve controlling a rate of flow of the disposal fluid into the conduit and establish a height of a column of disposal fluid above a fluid-receiving device located inside the conduit below the valve; a coaxial space defined between an outside surface of the conduit and inside surfaces of the internal casing; a sealing member having upper and lower surfaces, the sealing member being located vertically below the valve in the wellbore, the sealing member being in the coaxial space, the conduit passing through the sealing member, an exit opening at a lower end of the conduit, the exit opening allowing for the passage of the fluid into the formation once the fluid has passed through the conduit, the lower surface of the sealing member being positioned such that the lower surface of the sealing member is pressurized by formation fluids existing below the sealing member, the sealing member preventing back flow of hydrocarbons into the coaxial space; the fluid-receiving device receiving the fluid and generating rotational mechanical energy at a speed at least in part due to the height of the column of disposal fluid established, the system configured to expel the fluid at a depth substantially below the ground water level; a mechanical-energy utilization system, the utilization system configured to use the rotational mechanical energy created in a location outside of the wellbore. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system for generating energy using a wellbore made into a formation to a depth below a ground water level, the system comprising:
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a fluid source; a valve above ground between the fluid source and a fluid-receiving device located in the wellbore, the fluid-receiving device receiving fluid travelling downward inside a conduit inside the wellbore, and generating rotational mechanical energy inside the wellbore, the valve controlling a flow rate of the fluid to set the mechanical energy generated, the valve further being configured to establish a height of a column of the fluid; a mechanical-energy utilization system, the utilization system comprising one of;
(i) a mechanical to electrical conversion device for converting the mechanical energy into electrical power for consumption; and
(ii) a mechanical energy consumption arrangement configured to use the rotational mechanical energy generated in the wellbore for some mechanical application in a location outside the wellbore; anda fluid outlet from the conduit, the outlet being located substantially below the ground water level and thus substantially limiting exposure to any ground water, the fluid outlet injecting the fluid into a high-pressure hydrocarbon level in the formation. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for generating energy comprising:
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selecting one of a disposal and injection well made into a formation; extending a conduit down inside the selected well; locating a mechanical-energy generating device in the conduit to create mechanical rotation of a shaft in the conduit upon the introduction of a waste-water fluid down into the conduit; establishing a column of the waste-water fluid in the conduit at a location above the mechanical-energy generating device using a valve; sealing off the well outside of the conduit against an upward force created by hydrocarbon induced pressure in the formation, the sealing off occurring at a vertical position; controlling the speed of the mechanical-energy generating device by using the valve to determine the height of the column of the waste-water fluid; and receiving the column of the waste-water fluid through the mechanical-energy generating device when the column of the waste-water fluid has reached a height which establishes hydrostatic pressures sufficient to overcome a hydrocarbon pressure existing below the mechanical-energy generating device; and generating electrical energy using the mechanical rotation of the shaft for use outside of the selected well. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification