Natural gas liquefaction and processing using geothermal energy

Abstract

A method for producing liquefied natural gas includes receiving heated heat transfer fluid from a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, receiving an initial natural gas stream, performing a purification operation on the initial natural gas stream to form a purified natural gas stream using the heated heat transfer fluid, and condensing the purified natural gas stream.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for producing liquefied natural gas, the method comprising:
 receiving heated heat transfer fluid from a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, the wellbore configured to heat the heat transfer fluid via heat transfer with the underground magma reservoir to form the heated heat transfer fluid;   receiving an initial natural gas stream;   performing a purification operation on the initial natural gas stream to form a purified natural gas stream using the heated heat transfer fluid; and   condensing the purified natural gas stream.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising compressing the purified natural gas stream using energy obtained from the heated heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the heated heat transfer fluid comprises steam; and   compressing the purified natural gas stream using energy obtained from the heated heat transfer fluid comprises operating a compressor using the steam.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the heated heat transfer fluid comprises steam; and   compressing the purified natural gas stream using energy obtained from the heated heat transfer fluid comprises:
 generating electricity using the steam; and 
 operating a compressor using the generated electricity. 
   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the purification operation comprises:
 receiving, by an absorption chiller, the heated heat transfer fluid;   using, by the absorption chiller, the heated heat transfer fluid to generate a cooling fluid; and   cooling the initial natural gas stream using the cooling fluid.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein condensing the purified natural gas stream comprises:
 receiving, by an absorption chiller, the heated heat transfer fluid;   using, by the absorption chiller, the heated heat transfer fluid to generate a cooling fluid; and   cooling the purified natural gas stream using the cooling fluid below a condensation temperature of the purified natural gas stream.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the initial natural gas stream comprises one or more of methane, ethane, propane, mercury, water, sulfur compounds, and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         8 . A system for producing liquefied natural gas, the system comprising:
 a wellbore extending from a surface into an underground magma reservoir, the wellbore configured to heat transfer fluid via heat transfer with the underground magma reservoir to form a heated heat transfer fluid; and   a pretreatment system configured to:
 receive an initial natural gas stream; and 
 perform a purification operation on the initial natural gas stream to form a purified natural gas stream using the heated heat transfer fluid; and 
   a condenser configured to condense the purified natural gas stream.   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising a compressor configured to compress the purified natural gas stream using energy obtained from the heated heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the heated heat transfer fluid comprises steam; and   the compressor is configured to compress the purified natural gas stream using mechanical energy obtained from the steam.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the heated heat transfer fluid comprises steam;   the system further comprises a turbine configured to generate electricity using the steam; and   the compressor is configured to operate at least in part using the generated electricity.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an absorption chiller configured to:
 receive the heated heat transfer fluid;   generate a cooling fluid; and   provide the cooling to the pretreatment system to perform the purification operation.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising an absorption chiller configured to:
 receive the heated heat transfer fluid;   generate a cooling fluid; and   provide the cooling to the condenser to cool the purified natural gas stream below a condensation temperature of the purified natural gas stream.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the initial natural gas stream comprises one or more of methane, ethane, propane, mercury, water, sulfur compounds, and carbon dioxide. 
     
     
         15 . A system for producing liquefied natural gas, the system comprising:
 a pretreatment system configured to:
 receive an initial natural gas stream; and 
 perform a purification operation on the initial natural gas stream to form a purified natural gas stream using a heated heat transfer fluid, the heated heat transfer fluid obtained via heat transfer with an underground magma reservoir; and 
   a condenser configured to condense the purified natural gas stream.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising a compressor configured to compress the purified natural gas stream using energy obtained from the heated heat transfer fluid. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the heated heat transfer fluid comprises steam; and   the compressor is configured to compress the purified natural gas stream using mechanical energy obtained from the steam.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein:
 the heated heat transfer fluid comprises steam;   the system further comprises a turbine configured to generate electricity using the steam; and   the compressor is configured to operate at least in part using the generated electricity.   
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 15 , further comprising an absorption chiller configured to:
 receive the heated heat transfer fluid;   generate a cooling fluid; and   perform one or both of the following:
 providing the cooling to the pretreatment system to perform the purification operation; and 
 provide the cooling to the condenser to cool the purified natural gas stream below a condensation temperature of the purified natural gas stream. 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein the initial natural gas stream comprises one or more of methane, ethane, propane, mercury, water, sulfur compounds, and carbon dioxide.