Fracturing hot rock
View Patent ↗A system and method for harnessing geothermal energy using fracturing of hot rock. The system has at least a first well and a second well. The method involves introducing an alkali metal downhole in a first well. A solution is also introduced into the first well. The solution produces an exothermic reaction with the alkali metal. The gas and heat fracture the hot rock producing fractures. The fractures fluidly connects the first well to the second well. A solution, such as water, can be pumped through the first well, through the fractures, and into the second well. The hot rock passes geothermal energy to the water which can then be utilized.
1 . A method for harnessing geothermal energy using at least a first well and a second well, said method comprising:
a. introducing an alkali metal downhole in a first well;
b. introducing a solution downhole in said first well, wherein said solution produces an exothermic and explosive reaction with said alkali metal, wherein said solution is introduced and kept separate from said alkali metal until said exothermic reaction is desired;
c. fracturing hot rock due to said exothermic reaction to produces fractures, wherein said fracturing results in said first well being fluidly connected to said second well;
d. introducing a solution into said first well which travels through said fractures to said second well;
wherein said first well comprises an outlet portion, wherein said outlet portion extends into a hot rock zone, and wherein said outlet portion comprises perforations, wherein said outlet end comprises an open end from which material can be deposited to said hot rock; wherein said alkali metal is deposited into said outlet portion.
2 . The method of claim 1 further wherein said solution of step d) comprises water.
3 . The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of recovering said solution from said second well.
4 . The method of claim 3 wherein said the solution recovered from said second well has a temperature, wherein said solution introduced into said first well has a temperature, and wherein the temperature of the solution recovered from the second well has a greater temperature than the solution introduced into the first well.
5 . The method of claim 4 further comprising the step extracting heat from the solution recovered from the second well.
6 . The method of claim 1 wherein said at least part of said first well extends into a hot rock zone.
7 . The method of claim 1 wherein said hot rock comprises granite.
8 . The method of claim 1 wherein said alkali metal comprises an aqueous sodium solution.
9 . A method for fracturing hot rock, said method comprising:
a. introducing an alkali metal downhole in a first well;
b. introducing a solution downhole in said first well, wherein said solution produces an exothermic reaction with said alkali metal, wherein said solution is introduced and kept separate from said alkali metal until said exothermic reaction is desired;
c. fracturing hot rock due to said exothermic reaction to produces fractures;
wherein said first well comprises an outlet portion, wherein said outlet portion extends into a hot rock zone, and wherein said outlet portion comprises perforations, wherein said outlet end comprises an open end from which material can be deposited to said hot rock, and wherein said alkali metal is deposited into said outlet portion.