Partially cased wellbore in magma reservoir
A geothermal system may include a partially cased wellbore. The partially cased wellbore includes a first borehole portion extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir. The first borehole portion includes a casing extending from a first end. The partially cased wellbore includes a second borehole portion extending from the first end to a terminal end of the wellbore. The second borehole portion extends into the underground magma reservoir and a wall of the second borehole portion is hardened magma.
1 . A partially cased wellbore, the partially cased wellbore comprising:
a first borehole portion extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, the first borehole portion comprising a casing extending from a first end;
a second borehole portion extending from a terminal end of the first borehole to a terminal end of the wellbore, wherein the second borehole portion extends into the underground magma reservoir, wherein a wall of the second borehole portion is hardened magma; and
a fluid pathway extending from an inlet at the surface to the terminal end of the wellbore and then from the terminal end to an outlet at or above the surface, wherein the fluid pathway is configured to receive a heat transfer fluid at the inlet and expel heated heat transfer fluid from the outlet, wherein the outlet is fluidically connected to the inlet, and wherein the fluid pathway comprises:
an annular pathway formed in the first borehole portion between the casing and an external wall of a fluid conduit positioned within the partially cased wellbore,
an annular pathway in the second borehole portion between the wall of the second borehole portion and the external wall of the fluid conduit, and
a pathway within the fluid conduit,
wherein the fluid conduit is a drill stem with a drill bit removed such that fluid flows in a first direction during drilling and fluid flows in an opposite direction during operation.
2 . The partially cased wellbore of claim 1 , wherein the fluid conduit comprises an insulation layer.
3 . The partially cased wellbore of claim 1 , wherein the casing comprises an alloy attached to an internal wall of the first borehole portion.
4 . The partially cased wellbore of claim 1 , further comprising at least one secondary borehole extending from the second borehole portion within the underground magma reservoir.
5 . The partially cased wellbore of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of secondary boreholes extending from the second borehole portion within the underground magma reservoir, wherein the plurality of secondary boreholes forms a network of boreholes with the underground magma reservoir.
6 . The partially cased wellbore of claim 1 , wherein, during operation, the annular pathway in the first and second borehole portions are configured to accommodate a fluid traveling toward the underground magma reservoir and the pathway in the fluid conduit is configured to accommodate a fluid traveling toward the surface.
7 . A geothermal system, comprising:
a partially cased wellbore that includes:
a first borehole portion extending from the surface into the underground magma reservoir, the first borehole portion comprising a casing extending from a first end,
a second borehole portion extending from a terminal end of the first borehole portion to a terminal end of the wellbore, wherein the second borehole portion extends into the underground magma reservoir and a wall of the second borehole portion is hardened magma, and
a fluid pathway extending from an inlet at the surface to the terminal end of the wellbore and then from the terminal end to an outlet at or above the surface, wherein the fluid pathway is configured to receive a heat transfer fluid at the inlet and expel heated heat transfer fluid from the outlet, wherein the outlet is fluidically connected to the inlet, wherein the fluid pathway further comprises:
an annular pathway formed in the first borehole portion between the casing and an external wall of a fluid conduit positioned within the partially cased wellbore,
an annular pathway in the second borehole portion between the wall of the second borehole portion and the external wall of the fluid conduit, and
a pathway within the fluid conduit,
wherein the fluid conduit is a drill stem with a drill bit removed such that fluid flows in a first direction during drilling and fluid flows in an opposite direction during operation;
a fluid pump configured to provide a flow of the heat transfer fluid through the partially cased wellbore from the surface and toward the underground magma reservoir; and
a heat-driven process apparatus, wherein the heat-driven process apparatus comprises one or more of turbines, reaction vessels, condensers, a heat driven chilling apparatus, and a residential heating system.
8 . The geothermal system of claim 7 , wherein the fluid conduit comprises an insulation layer.
9 . The geothermal system of claim 7 , wherein the casing comprises an alloy attached to an internal wall of the first borehole portion.
10 . The geothermal system of claim 7 , wherein the partially cased wellbore further comprises at least one secondary borehole extending from the second borehole portion within the underground magma reservoir.
11 . The geothermal system of claim 7 , wherein the partially cased wellbore further comprises a plurality of secondary boreholes extending from the second borehole portion within the underground magma reservoir, wherein the plurality of secondary boreholes form a network of boreholes with the underground magma reservoir.
12 . The geothermal system of claim 7 , wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises one or more of: water, a brine solution, one or more refrigerants, and one or more thermal oils.
13 . The geothermal system of claim 7 , wherein the heat transfer fluid comprises one or more of a molten salt, an ionic liquid, and a nanofluid.
14 . The geothermal system of claim 7 , wherein at least a portion of the heat transfer fluid from the heat-driven process apparatus is returned to the wellbore.
15 . The geothermal system of claim 7 , wherein, during operation, the annular pathway in the first and second borehole portions are configured to accommodate a fluid traveling toward the underground magma reservoir and the pathway in the fluid conduit is configured to accommodate a fluid traveling toward the surface.
16 . A method, comprising:
supplying heat transfer fluid to a partially cased wellbore, the partially cased wellbore comprising:
a first borehole portion extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, the first borehole portion comprising a casing extending from a first end;
a second borehole portion extending from a terminal end of the first borehole to a terminal end of the wellbore, wherein the second borehole portion extends into the underground magma reservoir and a wall of the second borehole portion is hardened magma;
a fluid pathway extending from an inlet at the surface to the terminal end of the wellbore and then from the terminal end to an outlet at or above the surface, wherein the fluid pathway is configured to receive the heat transfer fluid at the inlet and expel heated heat transfer fluid from the outlet, wherein the outlet is fluidically connected to the inlet, wherein the fluid pathway further comprises:
an annular pathway formed in the first borehole portion between the casing and an external wall of a fluid conduit positioned within the partially cased wellbore,
an annular pathway in the second borehole portion between the wall of the second borehole portion and the external wall of the fluid conduit, and
a pathway within the fluid conduit,
wherein the fluid conduit is a drill stem with a drill bit removed such that fluid flows in a first direction during drilling and fluid flows in an opposite direction during operation;
receiving the heat transfer fluid heated in the partially cased wellbore; and
providing at least part of a gas-phase portion of the heated heat transfer fluid to a heat-driven process.
17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein providing at least part of the gas-phase portion of the heated heat transfer fluid to the heat-driven process comprises:
providing at least part of the gas-phase portion of the heated heat transfer fluid to a turbine;
operating the turbine with the gas-phase heat transfer fluid to generate electricity; and
directing at least some condensed heat transfer fluid back to the partially cased wellbore.
18 . The method of claim 16 , wherein, during operation, the annular pathway in the first and second borehole portions are configured to accommodate a fluid traveling toward the underground magma reservoir and the pathway in the fluid conduit is configured to accommodate a fluid traveling toward the surface.