Eavor Technologies Inc.

Michael Holmes

Matthew Toews

Ariel Torre

Paul Cairns

Jonathan Hale

Andrew Curtis-Smith

Peter Andrews

Aleksandr Vetsak

Mark Hodder

A method includes circulating a heat transfer working fluid in a closed loop between a geothermal well residing in a subterranean zone and at least one of a heat exchanger or a turbine. The well is substantially sealed to limit fluid loss of the working fluid into the subterranean zone. While circulating the working fluid, at least one of a viscosity of the working fluid or a pressure differential between the working fluid and the subterranean zone is controlled in relation to a flow of fluid between the subterranean zone and the well.

Mitigating fluid loss or inflow in a closed-loop geothermal system

Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling in sequenced operations with utilization of phase change materials to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface in high temperature applications. The techniques may be chemical, thermal, mechanical, biological and are fully intended to irreversibly damage the formation in terms of the permeability thereof. With the permeability negated, the wellbore may be used to create a closed loop surface to surface geothermal well operable in the absence of well casing for heat transfer surfaces for maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Forming high efficiency geothermal wellbores

A method for drilling a geothermal well in a subterranean zone includes drilling, with a drill string, a wellbore of the geothermal well in the subterranean zone. An inherent temperature of the rock adjacent a rock face at a downhole end of the wellbore is at least 250 degrees Celsius. While drilling, a drilling fluid is flowed at a temperature at the rock face such that a difference between the inherent temperature of the rock adjacent the rock face and the temperature of the drilling fluid at the rock face is at least 100 degrees Celsius.

Cooling for geothermal well drilling

Methods for drilling in higher temperature rock formations such as geothermal formations with phase change material augmented drilling fluid include observing flow rate of the augmented fluid. Heat exchange between the annulus returning fluid and tubular fluid can be minimized thereby facilitating a cooler fluid for contact with a rock face being drilled. The cooling assists in pre-fracturing the rock face prior to destruction by the drill bit.

Growing community of inventors

Calgary, Canada

Michael Holmes