Magma wellbore with directional drilling
A method is provided for forming a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground reservoir of magma. The method includes drilling a primary borehole from the surface into the underground reservoir of magma and drilling a secondary borehole extending from the primary borehole and further into the underground reservoir of magma.
1. A method of forming a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground reservoir of magma, the method comprising:
drilling a primary borehole from the surface into the underground reservoir of magma;
drilling a secondary borehole extending from the primary borehole and further into the underground reservoir of magma; and
providing a flow of a cooling fluid into the secondary borehole during or after drilling of the secondary borehole to cause the magma in the underground reservoir to harden and form a wall of the secondary borehole.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising applying a casing to at least a portion of the primary borehole.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein applying the casing comprises conveying a well casing into the primary borehole while or after advancing a drill bit used to drill the primary borehole towards the underground reservoir.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein drilling the primary borehole comprises drilling in a first direction from the surface to a target depth.
5. The method of claim 4 , wherein drilling the secondary borehole comprises drilling further into the underground reservoir at an angle relative to the first direction.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising drilling an additional borehole extending from the secondary borehole.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising drilling a plurality of secondary boreholes extending from the primary borehole, each of the of the plurality of secondary boreholes extending in a different direction into the underground reservoir of magma.
8. A wellbore comprising:
a primary borehole with an opening at a surface and an end at a predetermined depth within an underground reservoir of magma; and
at least one secondary borehole extending from the primary borehole into the underground reservoir of magma, wherein the secondary borehole comprises a wall formed of hardened magma.
9. The wellbore of claim 8 , further comprising a casing applied to at least a portion of the primary borehole.
10. The wellbore of claim 8 , wherein the secondary borehole extends further into the underground reservoir at an angle relative to a first direction of the primary borehole.
11. The wellbore of claim 8 , further comprising an additional borehole extending from the secondary borehole.
12. The wellbore of claim 8 , further comprising a plurality of secondary wellbores extending from the primary wellbore, each of the of the plurality of secondary wellbores extending in a different direction into the underground reservoir of magma.
13. A geothermal system, comprising:
a wellbore comprising:
a primary borehole with an opening at a surface and an end at a predetermined depth within an underground reservoir of magma;
at least one secondary borehole extending from the primary borehole into the underground reservoir of magma, wherein the at least one secondary borehole comprises a wall formed of hardened magma; and
a fluid pump configured to provide a flow of heat transfer fluid into the wellbore.
14. The geothermal system of claim 13 , further comprising a casing applied to at least a portion of the primary borehole.
15. The geothermal system of claim 13 , wherein the secondary borehole extends further into the underground reservoir at an angle relative to a first direction of the primary borehole.
16. The geothermal system of claim 13 , further comprising an additional borehole extending from the secondary borehole.
17. The geothermal system of claim 13 , further comprising a plurality of secondary wellbores extending from the primary wellbore, each of the of the plurality of secondary wellbores extending in a different direction into the underground reservoir of magma.