Abstract

A spallation drill head can include a drill head body having a primary face substantially oriented facing in a primary drilling direction along a longitudinal axis of the drill head body. A liquid inlet can be on the drill head body. The liquid inlet can be connected or connectable to a liquid supply line. An internal liquid connection can be oriented within the drill head body and fluidly connected to the liquid inlet. A plurality of liquid jets can be oriented on the primary face of the drill head. The liquid jets can be fed by the liquid inlet through the internal liquid connection. A mass flow controller can be associated with the liquid jets to control delivery of liquid by the liquid jet, and flowrates to at least two of the liquid jets can be independently controllable.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 7/18 - Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets
• E21B 7/06 - Deflecting the direction of boreholes
• E21B 36/00 - Heating, cooling or insulating arrangements for boreholes or wells, e.g. for use in permafrost zones
• E21B 21/08 - Controlling or monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid, e.g. automatic filling of boreholes, automatic control of bottom pressure
• E21B 21/10 - Valves arrangements in drilling-fluid circulation systems
• E21B 7/04 - Directional drilling

Abstract

A spallation drill head (100) can include a drill head body (102) having a primary face (104) substantially oriented facing in a primary drilling direction (106) along a longitudinal axis of the drill head body (102). A liquid inlet can be on the drill head body (102). The liquid inlet can be connected or connectable to a liquid supply line (110). An internal liquid connection (112) can be oriented within the drill head body (102) and fluidly connected to the liquid inlet. A plurality of liquid jets (114) can be oriented on the primary face (104) of the drill head (100). The liquid jets (114) can be fed by the liquid inlet through the internal liquid connection (112). A mass flow controller (116) can be associated with the liquid jets (114) to control delivery of liquid by the liquid jet, and flowrates to at least two of the liquid jets (114) can be independently controllable.

IPC Classes  ?

• E21B 10/60 - Drill bits characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids
• E21B 7/14 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling
• E21B 7/15 - Drilling by use of heat, e.g. flame drilling of electrically generated heat
• E21B 7/18 - Drilling by liquid or gas jets, with or without entrained pellets
• E21B 10/61 - Drill bits characterised by conduits or nozzles for drilling fluids characterised by nozzle structure
• E21B 43/114 - Perforators using direct fluid action, e.g. abrasive jets

Abstract

A geothermal heat mining system can operate within a single primary borehole in a geothermal reservoir. A primary fluid loop can include a cold working fluid line leading into the primary borehole and a hot working fluid line coming out of the primary borehole. A secondary fluid loop can be located down the primary borehole, where the secondary fluid loop is in thermal contact with the geothermal reservoir and is entirely subsurface. A downhole heat mining device can control a rate of heat transfer from the secondary fluid loop to the primary fluid loop by selectively controlling fluid flow through the primary fluid loop, the secondary fluid loop, or both.

IPC Classes  ?

• F24T 10/20 - Geothermal collectors using underground water as working fluidGeothermal collectors using working fluid injected directly into the ground, e.g. using injection wells and recovery wells
• F24T 10/00 - Geothermal collectors
• F24T 10/30 - Geothermal collectors using underground reservoirs for accumulating working fluids or intermediate fluids
• E21B 7/04 - Directional drilling
• E21B 43/26 - Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures
• E21B 43/30 - Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells

Abstract

A geothermal heat mining system can operate within a single primary borehole in a geothermal reservoir. A primary fluid loop can include a cold working fluid line leading into the primary borehole and a hot working fluid line coming out of the primary borehole. A secondary fluid loop can be located down the primary borehole, where the secondary fluid loop is in thermal contact with the geothermal reservoir. A downhole heat mining device can control a rate of heat transfer from the secondary fluid loop to the primary fluid loop by selectively controlling fluid flow through the primary fluid loop, the secondary fluid loop, or both.

IPC Classes  ?

• F24T 10/20 - Geothermal collectors using underground water as working fluidGeothermal collectors using working fluid injected directly into the ground, e.g. using injection wells and recovery wells
• F24T 10/00 - Geothermal collectors
• F24T 10/30 - Geothermal collectors using underground reservoirs for accumulating working fluids or intermediate fluids
• E21B 7/04 - Directional drilling
• E21B 43/26 - Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures
• E21B 43/30 - Specific pattern of wells, e.g. optimising the spacing of wells

Abstract

A geothermal heat mining system (100) can operate within a single primary borehole (110) in a geothermal reservoir (120). A primary fluid loop (130) can include a cold working fluid line (132) leading into the primary borehole (110) and a hot working fluid line (134) coming out of the primary borehole (110). A secondary fluid loop (140) can be located down the primary borehole (110), where the secondary fluid loop (140) is in thermal contact with the geothermal reservoir (120). A downhole heat mining device (150) can control a rate of heat transfer from the secondary fluid loop (140) to the primary fluid loop (110) by selectively controlling fluid flow through the primary fluid loop (110), the secondary fluid loop (140), or both.

IPC Classes  ?

• F03G 7/04 - Mechanical-power-producing mechanisms, not otherwise provided for or using energy sources not otherwise provided for using pressure differences or thermal differences occurring in nature
• F24T 10/10 - Geothermal collectors with circulation of working fluids through underground channels, the working fluids not coming into direct contact with the ground
• F24T 10/20 - Geothermal collectors using underground water as working fluidGeothermal collectors using working fluid injected directly into the ground, e.g. using injection wells and recovery wells
• F24T 10/30 - Geothermal collectors using underground reservoirs for accumulating working fluids or intermediate fluids
• F24T 50/00 - Geothermal systems