Energy transfer systems

• US 6,250,371 B1
• Filed: 12/12/1999
• Issued: 06/26/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Enlink Geoenergy Services Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Enlink Geoenergy Services Incorporated
• Inventors: Amerman, Thomas R., Johnson, Howard E. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lazarus, Ira S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MCKINNON, TERRELL L
• Application Number:
  US09/459,416
• Time in Patent Office: 562 Days
• Field of Search: 165/45, 165/DIG.2, 165/47, 166/64, 166/290, 166/57, 166/302, 622/60, 622/387, 237/2.B, 374/39, 374/136
• 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: F24S 2201/00 Prediction; Simulation
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 10/15 using bent tubes; using tubes assembled with connectors or with return headers
• CPC Class Codes: F24T 2010/53 Methods for installation
• 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

An earth energy loop transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring energy for an entity, the system having means for measuring an amount of energy transferred for the entity to or from the moving energy transfer fluid, and means for invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred. The system including means for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price. The system including means for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the means for measuring to the means for invoicing. Methods are disclosed for using such systems to measure and calculate an amount of energy transferred and/or to invoice an entity for the transferred energy.

Claims

1. An earth energy loop transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring energy for an entity, the system including

means for measuring an amount of energy transferred for the entity to or from the moving energy transfer fluid,

means for invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred, and

wherein the earth energy loop transfer system comprises

a loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth to a bottom of the wellbore,

a loop disposed in the loop wellbore and extending down to a position near the bottom thereof, the loop comprised of loop pipe and a bottom member, the 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, and

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

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising

means for calculating a price for the amount of energy transferred, said invoicing based on said price.

3. The system of claim 1 further comprising

means for transmitting a signal indicative of a measured amount of energy transferred from the means for measuring to the means for invoicing.

4. The system of claim 1 the system further comprising

a metering system for measuring the volume of energy transfer fluid flowing through the system between the loop and the facility.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the metering system includes at least two temperature sensors for sensing temperature of energy transfer fluid, one for the input line and one for the output line, for measuring the temperature of energy transfer fluid input into the loop and the temperature of energy transfer fluid exiting the loop.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein the metering system includes at least two temperature sensors for measuring temperature of energy transfer fluid including at least a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor located at a point at which the output line enters the facility of the entity for measuring temperature of energy transfer fluid entering the facility and second temperature sensor location at a point at which the input line exits from the facility of the entity for measuring temperature of energy transfer fluid exiting the facility.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein the means for invoicing is remote from the means for measuring.

8. The system of claim 1 further comprising

the means for invoicing including means for producing an invoice.

9. The system of claim 8 further comprising

the means for invoicing including means for sending the invoice to the entity.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the earth energy loop transfer system has a loop in the earth with an input end and input line in fluid communication therewith and the system further comprising

means for extracting heat from the input line, the means for extracting heat from the input line located between a facility of the entity'"'"'s and an earth input of the earth energy loop transfer system so that heat extracted by the means for extracting heat from the input line is not introduced into the earth via the earth energy loop transfer system, and

means in the facility for extracting heat from the facility and transferring the heat to energy transfer fluid in the input line.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising

means for transferring heat extracted from the input line to another item.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the another item is from the group consisting of a heat sink, a heat using apparatus, and a heater.

13. The system of claim 1 further comprising

a heat pump system for a facility of the entity'"'"'s, the heat pump system in fluid communication with an energy transfer fluid flowing from an earth loop of the earth energy loop transfer system.

14. The system of claim 1 the system further comprises

filler material around the loop in the wellbore, the filler material comprising a gel comprising

an amount of water,

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

15. An earth energy loop transfer system with a moving energy transfer fluid, the system for transferring energy for an entity, the system including

means for measuring an amount of energy transferred for the entity to or from the moving energy transfer fluid, and

means for invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred,

the earth energy loop transfer system including a loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth to a bottom of the wellbore, a loop disposed in the loop wellbore and extending down to a position therein, the loop comprised of loop pipe, the loop having a fluid input end and a fluid output end, an input line in fluid communication with input end of the loop and in fluid communication with a facility of the entity'"'"'s, an output line in fluid communication with the output end of the loop and in fluid communication with the facility of the entity'"'"'s,

the earth energy loop transfer system further comprising

a body member securable to the loop,

releasable means on the body member for holding and from which a grout pipe is selectively releasable, and

the body member with the loop and grout pipe connected thereto introducible into a wellbore and movable to a point in the wellbore at which point the grout pipe is releasable from the body member,

the body member comprising a hollow member with a fluid flow channel therethrough an inlet opening, and an outlet opening, and

the loop including an inlet pipe and an outlet pipe, the inlet pipe in fluid communication with the inlet opening of the body member and the outlet pipe in fluid communication with the outlet opening so that fluid flows through the inlet pipe, through the body member, and then into the outlet pipe,

the earth energy loop system further comprising

a metering system for measuring the volume of energy transfer fluid flowing through the system between the loop and the facility.

16. A method for providing energy transfer services to an entity, the entity having a facility to or from which energy is to be transferred, the method comprising

transferring an amount of energy for the facility with an earth energy loop transfer system, the earth energy loop transfer system including means for measuring an amount of energy transferred for the entity to or from a moving energy transfer fluid, and means for invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred, wherein the earth energy loop transfer system comprises a loop wellbore in the earth extending from an earth surface down into the earth to a bottom of the wellbore, a loop disposed in the loop wellbore and extending down to a position near the bottom thereof, the loop comprised of loop pipe and a bottom member, the 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, and the second bore not in fluid communication with the first bore, and measuring the amount of energy transferred, and invoicing the entity for the amount of energy transferred.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the earth energy loop system further comprises a metering system for measuring the volume of energy transfer fluid flowing through the system between the loop and the facility, the method further comprising

measuring the volume of energy transfer fluid flowing through the system between the loop and the facility.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the earth energy loop transfer system has filler material around the loop in the wellbore, the filler material comprising a gel comprising an amount of water, an amount of a gel material mixed with the water forming a gelled mixture.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the loop is comprised of loop pipe and a bottom member, the 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 loop pipe, and 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.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the metering system includes at least two temperature sensors for measuring temperature of energy transfer fluid including at least a first temperature sensor and a second temperature sensor, the first temperature sensor located at a point at which the output line enters the facility of the entity for measuring temperature of energy transfer fluid entering the facility and second temperature sensor located at a point at which the input line exits from the facility of the entity for measuring temperature of energy transfer fluid exiting the facility, the method further comprising

measuring temperature of energy transfer fluid entering and exiting the facility.