Generation of electricity during the injection of a dense fluid into a subterranean formation
First Claim
1. A method for the generation of electricity during the injection of a dense fluid through an injection well and into a subterranean formation having a connate fluid pressure less than the available downhole pressure of the dense fluid in the injection well, which method comprises:
- placing a fluid engine/generator at a preselected position in said injection well, thereby defining upper and lower zones in said well above and below said fluid engine/generator, respectively, said fluid engine/generator including means for converting the motive power of a flowing stream of said dense fluid to electricity;
establishing a column of said dense fluid in said upper zone of said well;
flowing said dense fluid from said upper zone through said fluid engine/generator and into said subterranean formation, thereby generating electricity; and
transmitting said electricity to the surface.
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Abstract
Electricity is generated during the injection of a dense fluid through an injection well and into a subterranean formation having a connate fluid pressure less than the available downhole pressure of injection fluid in the injection well. A fluid engine/generator is positioned in the well to define upper and lower zones in the well; a level of dense fluid is established in the upper zone; and dense fluid is flowed from the upper zone through the fluid engine/generator and into the subterranean formation to thereby generate electricity, which is subsequently recovered. Control of the downhole fluid pressure is also achieved.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for the generation of electricity during the injection of a dense fluid through an injection well and into a subterranean formation having a connate fluid pressure less than the available downhole pressure of the dense fluid in the injection well, which method comprises:
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placing a fluid engine/generator at a preselected position in said injection well, thereby defining upper and lower zones in said well above and below said fluid engine/generator, respectively, said fluid engine/generator including means for converting the motive power of a flowing stream of said dense fluid to electricity; establishing a column of said dense fluid in said upper zone of said well; flowing said dense fluid from said upper zone through said fluid engine/generator and into said subterranean formation, thereby generating electricity; and transmitting said electricity to the surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. In a method for generating electricity wherein a hot geothermal fluid is produced from a subterranean geothermal reservoir, the thermal energy of the hot fluid is extracted therefrom to produce a cool geothermal liquid, and the geothermal liquid is injected through an injection well into a subterranean formation having a connate fluid pressure less than the available hydrostatic head of the geothermal liquid in the injection well, the improvement comprising:
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placing a fluid engine/generator at a preselected position in said injection well, said fluid engine/generator including means for converting the motive power of a flowing stream of said geothermal liquid to electricity, said preselected position being at least about 5,000 feet below the earth surface but above said subterranean formation; establishing in said injection well a column of said geothermal liquid above said fluid engine/generator; flowing said geothermal liquid through said fluid engine/generator and into said subterranean formation, thereby generating electricity; and transmitting said electricity to the earth surface.
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11. In the method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation, in which a displacement fluid comprising a normally gaseous fluid is introduced into the top of an injection well as a dense fluid and is flowed downwardly through said injection well to a downhole point adjacent said subterranean formation and into said formation to displace oil through the formation to a production well, the pressure of said displacement fluid at said downhole point being in excess of a desired displacement pressure, the improvement comprising:
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positioning a fluid engine/generator at a preselected position in said injection well, said fluid engine/generator including means for converting the motive power of a flowing stream of said displacement fluid to electricity thereby reducing the pressure of said displacement fluid; introducing said displacement fluid into the top of said injection well at the desired fluid injection rate and at a pressure sufficient to maintain said displacement fluid in the dense fluid state throughout said injection well; flowing said displacement fluid through said fluid engine/generator and into said subterranean formation, thereby generating electricity and reducing the pressure of said displacement fluid at said downhole point to about said desired displacement pressure; and transmitting said electricity to the earth surface. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. In the method for recovering oil from a subterranean formation by miscible-displacement of the oil with a displacement fluid comprised of carbon dioxide, wherein said displacement fluid is introduced into the top of an injection well as a dense fluid, and is flowed downwardly through said injection well to a downhole point adjacent said formation and into said formation to miscibly displace oil through the formation to a production well, the pressure of said displacement fluid at said downhole point being at least about 500 p.s.i. above the miscible-displacement pressure, the improvement comprising:
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positioning a fluid engine/generator at a preselected position in said injection well, said fluid engine/generator including means for converting the motive power of a flowing stream of said displacement fluid to electrical energy and thereby reduce the pressure of said displacement fluid; introducing said displacement fluid into the top of said injection well at the desired flow rate and at a pressure sufficient to maintain said displacement fluid in the dense fluid state throughout the well; flowing said displacement fluid through said fluid engine/generator and into said subterranean formation, thereby generating electricity and reducing the pressure of said displacement fluid at said downhole point to about said miscible-displacement pressure; and transmitting said electricity to the earth surface.
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Specification