Hydraulic geofracture energy storage system

摘要

Energy is stored by injecting fluid into a hydraulic fracture in the earth and producing the fluid hack while recovering power. The method is particularly adapted to storage of large amounts of energy such as in grid-scale electric energy systems. The hydraulic fracture may be formed and treated with resin so as to limit fluid loss and to increase propagation pressure.

主权项

1. A method for storing and producing energy, comprising:
pumping a fluid down a well at a pressure greater than fracturing pressure and into a hydraulic fracture in a rock formation around the well; before leakoff of the fluid from the hydraulic fracture, reducing pressure in the well so as to produce a portion of the fluid up the well and using the pressure of the produced fluid to produce power.