Earth loop energy systems

• US 20040031585A1
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1995
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Enlink Geoenergy Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Enlink Geoenergy Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Tinkler, Gregory M., Johnson, Howard E. Jr., Amerman, Thomas R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,017,650 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/45
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 23/00 Apparatus for displacing, setting, locking, releasing or removing tools, packers or the like in boreholes or wells setting of casings, screens or liners E21B43/10
• CPC Class Codes: E21B 33/13 Methods or devices for cementing, for plugging holes, crevices or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/15 using bent tubes; using tubes assembled with connectors or with return headers
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 2010/56 Control arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 30/06 characterised by the source of low potential heat
• CPC Class Codes: F28D 20/0052 using the ground body or aquifers as heat storage medium
• CPC Class Codes: F28F 27/00 Control arrangements or safety devices specially adapted for heat-exchange or heat-transfer apparatus control arrangements in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 10/10 Geothermal energy
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

Wellbore heat loop ssystems, fillers for bores in the systems, and methods of the use of such systems; the systems in certain aspects having a heat loop wellbore in the earth having heat loop pipe extending down to one side of a bottom memeber and up therefrom on another side thereof, the bottom member in certaqin aspects having a body with first and second bores therethrough, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing; and, in certain aspects, filler material around the heat loop in the wellbore with a gel material mixed with the water.

Claims

1. A wellbore heat loop system comprising

a heat loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth,

a heat loop disposed in the heat loop wellbore, the heat loop comprised of heat loop pipe and a bottom member, the heat loop pipe extending member on another side thereof,

the bottom member comprising

a body,

a first bore through the body extending from a first opening of the body to a second opening of the body, the first opening and the second opening each sized and configured for receipt therein of an end of heat loop pipe,

a second bore having at least one opening on the body, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing, and

the second bore not in fluid communication with the first bore.

2. The wellbore heat loop system of claim 1 further comprising coil tubing releasably secured to the bottom member.

3. The wellbore heat loop system of claim 1 further comprising filler material around the heat loop in the wellbore.

4. The wellbore heat loop system of claim 3 wherein the wellbore is defined by an interior earth surface, the filler material comprises gel, a portion of the gel is in direct contact with said interior earth surface, and the gel further comprising

an amount of water,

an amount of a gel material mixed with the water.

5. The wellbore heat loop system of claim 4 wherein the gel material is a polymer and the polymer and water are present, by weight, in the ranges of

6. The wellbore heat loop system of claim 3 wherein the filler material comprises a mixture of polymer, thermally conductive solids and water, the thermally conductive solids suspended in and disbursed homogeneously throughout the polymer and water.

7. The wellbore heat loop system of claim 6 wherein the polymer, water, and solids are present, by weight, in the ranges of

8. The wellbore heat loop system of claim 4 wherein the filler material has a thermal conductivity of at least 1.4.

9. The wellbore system of claim 6 wherein the filler material has a thermal conductivity of at least 1.4.

10. A bottom member for an earth bore heat loop system, the bottom member comprising

a body,

a first bore through the body extending from a first opening of the body to a second opening of the body, the first opening and the second opening each sized and configured for receipt therein of an end of heat loop pipe,

a second bore having at least one opening on the body, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing, and

the second bore not in fluid comunication with the first bore.

11. The bottom member of claim 10 further comprising

at least one fluid exit port in fluid communication with the second bore.

12. A method for emplacing filler material in an earth heat loop wellbore, the method comprising

installing a heat loop in a wellbore with coil tubing, the wellbore comprising an earth heat loop wellbore, the wellbore extending down into the earth, the heat loop comprising heat loop pipe and a bottom member, the heat loop pipe extending down to the bottom member on one side thereof and up from the bottom member on another side thereof, the bottom member comprising a body, a first bore through the body extending from a first opening of the body to a second opening of the body, the first opening and the second opening each sized and configured for receipt therein of an end of heat loop pipe, a second bore having at least one opening on the body, the second bore sized and configured for securement thereat of an end of coil tubing, the second bore not in fluid communication with the first bore, the coil tubing releasably secured to the bottom member,

disposing the heat loop so that a lower end thereof extends down into the wellbore,

moving the heat loop into the wellbore by injecting the coil tubing into the wellbore, the coil tubing pushing on the bottom member to push the heat loop down into the wellbore,

releasing the coil tubing from the bottom member,

raising the coil tubing within the wellbore and pumping wellbore filler material out from a lower end of the coil tubing into the wellbore, and

removing the coil tubing from the wellbore.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the filler material comprises

an amount of water,

an amount of a gel material mixed with the water forming a gelled mixture.

14. Any invention disclosed herein.