MULTI-SEGMENT WEIGHT AND SPACED-APART CABLE MODULES IN WELLBORE ENERGY STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL

摘要

A system for storing and retrieving energy may include a cable and a multi-segment weight connected to the cable. The multi-segment weight may include a chain of weight segments. The chain of weight segments may be flexible so as to permit each weight segment to rotate with respect to each of its neighboring weight segments. A plurality of cable modules may be attached at spaced-apart locations to the cable above the multi-segment weight. Each cable module may prevent the cable above and below the cable module from coming in contact with a neighboring stationary wall. A hoist may controllably raise and lower the multi- segment weight by sequentially grabbing each neighboring cable module.