Patent US4074754A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4074754A
Expired / Lapsed
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Method for producing geothermal energy and minerals
Assignee: ExxonMobil Upstream Research Co
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Filing: 1976-09-27
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Granted: 1978-02-21
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Expires: 1996-09-27
Abstract
Abstract A method for producing geothermal energy and minerals from subterranean high temperature and high salinity water reservoirs by injecting low salinity water at ambient surface temperature into the reservoir through a well bore, allowing the injected water to become heated in the reservoir and then producing water through the well bore to the surface for use as a source of energy and, optionally, minerals. Simultaneously with the employment of certain wells for injection-production cycles, other wells may be employed predominantly for injection of water to displace heat and in-situ well brines to well bores which produce such water and brines to the surface for utilization of their heat energy and dissolved minerals.
Inventors
- 👤 Lawrence D. Christian
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 17:25
CPC Classifications
E; E21; E21B; E21B43/00; E21B43/30; E21B43/16; E21B43/18; E21B43/20; F; F24; F24T; F24T10/00; F24T10/20; Y; Y02; Y02E; Y02E10/00; Y02E10/10
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for producing geothermal energy and/or minerals from subterranean high temperature, high salinity brine reservoirs comprising the steps of: injecting fresh or low salinity water into said reservoir and into contact with said reservoir brine; halting said injection of said fresh or low salinity water; and producing said injected water from said reservoir, said reservoir heat heating said injected water in said reservoir.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
64 words
A method for producing geothermal energy and/or minerals from subterranean high temperature, high salinity brine reservoirs comprising the steps of: injecting fresh or low salinity water into said reservoir and into contact with said reservoir brine; halting said injection of said fresh or low salinity water; and producing said injected water from said reservoir, said reservoir heat heating said injected water in said reservoir.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 1 in which said water is injected through a well drilled into said reservoir and said water is produced through said well.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as recited in claim 2 including repeating said injection-production cycle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 3 in which the volume of water injected in each cycle is preselected.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method as recited in claim 4 in which said volume of water is retained in said reservoir for a preselected period of time before producing said water from said reservoir.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method as recited in claim 5 in which said reservoir brine is produced along with said injected water in said production step.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
98 words
A method as recited in claim 6 in which first, second and third spaced apart rows of wells are drilled into said reservoir; and conducting injection-production cycles in each well of said first row of wells; shutting in each of said first row of wells; conducting injection-production cycles in each well of said second row of wells; conducting injection-production cycles in each well of said third row of wells; and then conducting injection in each well of said second row of wells while producing from each well of said first row of wells and third row of wells.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 1 in which said injected water displaces said reservoir brine.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for producing geothermal energy from a subterranean brine reservoir comprising the steps of: injecting water into said reservoir and into contact with said reservoir brine, the uppermost limit of salt content of said injected water being that at which no substantial amount of salt precipitates and drops out of water later produced from said reservoir; halting said injection of said water; and producing water from said reservoir, said reservoir heat heating said injected water in said reservoir.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
79 words
A method for producing geothermal energy from a subterranean brine reservoir comprising the steps of: injecting water into said reservoir and into contact with said reservoir brine, the uppermost limit of salt content of said injected water being that at which no substantial amount of salt precipitates and drops out of water later produced from said reservoir; halting said injection of said water; and producing water from said reservoir, said reservoir heat heating said injected water in said reservoir.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
12 words
A method as recited in claim 8 including repeating said injection-production cycle.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
A method as recited in claim 8 in which at least two spaced apart well bores are drilled into said reservoir and including: conducting injection-production cycles through each of said well bores; halting said injection-production cycles conducted through each of said well bores; injecting water into one of said well bores to displace heat to at least one other of said well bores; and producing water from said other well bore.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for producing geothermal energy and/or minerals from subterranean brine reservoirs comprising the steps of: injecting water through a well bore into said reservoir and into contact with said reservoir brine; halting said injection of said water; and producing water from said reservoir; said injected water ranging in salinity from zero to a selected amount such that when said water is produced from said reservoir through said well bore substantially no precipitation of salts occurs in said well bore.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for producing geothermal energy and/or minerals from subterranean brine reservoirs comprising the steps of: injecting water through a well bore into said reservoir and into contact with said reservoir brine; halting said injection of said water; and producing water from said reservoir; said injected water ranging in salinity from zero to a selected amount such that when said water is produced from said reservoir through said well bore substantially no precipitation of salts occurs in said well bore.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1981-02-20 | 1981-08-22 | 1982-02-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1985-02-20 | 1985-08-22 | 1986-02-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1989-02-20 | 1989-08-22 | 1990-02-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |