Abstract: A method includes flowing, in a closed loop geothermal well residing in a target subterranean zone, a first heat transfer working fluid and flowing, in the geothermal well, a second working fluid from the surface inlet to the downhole location of the geothermal well. The second working fluid resides upstream of the first heat transfer working fluid. The second working fluid includes a fluid density greater than a fluid density of the first heat transfer working fluid. The method also includes circulating, in the geothermal well, the second working fluid pushing, with the second working fluid, the first heat transfer working fluid toward a surface outlet of the geothermal well. The method also includes collecting energy from the mobilized first heat transfer working fluid received at the surface outlet of the geothermal well.

Abstract: A system and method for personalized diagnosis of human body surface conditions from images acquired from a mobile camera device. In an embodiment, the system and method is used to diagnose skin, throat and ear conditions from photographs. A system and method are provided for data acquisition based on visual target overlays that minimize image variability due to camera pose at locations of interest over the body surface, including a method for selecting a key image frame from an acquired input video. The method and apparatus may involve the use of a processor circuit, for example an application server, for automatically updating a visual map of the human body with image data. A hierarchical classification system is proposed based on generic deep convolution neural network (CNN) classifiers that are trained to predict primary and secondary diagnoses from labelled training images.

Abstract: 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° C. 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° C.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Methods for providing on demand power to an end user in a variety of embodiments are disclosed. Closed loop thermal recovery arrangements are disposed within a geologic formation having a predetermined potential thermal output capacity. A power generation device is incorporated in the loop to recover energy. A working fluid is circulated within the loop at varying flow rates to oscillate thermal output about the predetermined potential thermal output capacity, to produce on demand power where the average thermal output may equal the predetermined potential thermal output capacity. Integrations with intermittent renewable energy sources are provided which optimize performance and distribution.

Abstract: Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface. 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 maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for providing on demand power to an end user in a variety of embodiments are disclosed. Closed loop thermal recovery arrangements are disposed within a geologic formation having a predetermined potential thermal output capacity. A power generation device is incorporated in the loop to recover energy. A working fluid is circulated within the loop at varying flow rates to oscillate thermal output about the predetermined potential thermal output capacity, to produce on demand power where the average thermal output may equal the predetermined potential thermal output capacity. Integrations with intermittent renewable energy sources are provided which optimize performance and distribution.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a novel system, method and apparatus for encoding activations generated by a generic deep neural network from an image that can be used in conjunction with memory storage devices for highly sensitive and specific prediction of labels associated images of general objects, scenes or persons. The method and apparatus may involve the use of a processor circuit, for example an application server, for automatically predicting a plurality of labels (e.g., diagnostic indices) from an input image and non-image descriptive information associated with the image, where non-image information may include general descriptors of image content (e.g., ear, chest, skin, face), acquisition modality (e.g., hyperspectral image, magnetic resonance image, x-ray, computed tomography, ultrasound, acquisition parameters) and specific descriptors (e.g., unique name or ID, sex, ethnicity, age, date, disease status).

Abstract: Wellbore synthesis techniques are disclosed suitable for use in geothermal applications. Embodiments are provided where open hole drilled wellbores are sealed while drilling to form an impervious layer at the wellbore/formation interface. 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 maximizing thermal transfer to a circulating working fluid. Formulations for the working and drilling fluids are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for controlling temperature maxima and minima from the heel to toe in geothermal well lateral sections. The method includes disposing at least a pair of wells proximately where thermal contact is possible. Working fluid is circulated in one well of the pair in one direction and the working fluid of the second well is circulated in as direction opposite. to the first. In this manner temperature equilibration is attainable to mitigate maxima and minima to result in a substantially more uniform temperature of the working fluids in respective wells and the rock formation area there between. Specific operating protocol is disclosed having regard to the temperature control for maximizing thermal energy recovery.

Abstract: Closed loop wellbore configurations with unrestricted geometry for accommodating irregular or challenging thermal gradients within a thermally productive formation are disclosed. A working fluid is utilized in the loop for extraction of thermal energy there from. The loop and the unrestricted geometry are achieved using magnetic ranging of independent drilling operations which intersect from an inlet well and outlet well to form an interconnecting segment. In conjunction with the directional drilling, conditioning operations are incorporated to condition the rock face, cool the entire system, activate the wellbore for treatment to optimize thermal transfer inter alia. The significant degree of freedom in wellbore configuration is further optimized by the absence of mechanical impediments such as casing or liners in the heat transfer areas.

Abstract: There is disclosed a system and method for diagnosing plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome, associated primarily with in infants) from photographs of the head. The method and apparatus may involve the use of a processor circuit, for example an application server, for automatically identifying the contour of the head in a plurality of images, then computing geometrical measurements in order quantify plagiocephaly. Photographs are acquired from an overhead view of a head, where the images may be rotated manually or automatically to a standard orientation. For each image, an optimal head contour is identified as minimizing a mathematical cost function combining local image filter responses designed for edge detection and a global model of head contour shape combining smoothness and convexity constrains. Length measurements are then computed from the identified contour, e.g. head diameter, diagonal diameter, and used to quantify the degree of head asymmetry and diagnose plagiocephaly.

Abstract: A method for controlling temperature maxima and minima from the heel to toe in geothermal well lateral sections. The method includes disposing at least a pair of wells proximately where thermal contact is possible. Working fluid is circulated in one well of the pair in one direction and the working fluid of the second well is circulated in as direction opposite. to the first. In this manner temperature equilibration is attainable to mitigate maxima and minima to result in a substantially more uniform temperature of the working fluids in respective wells and the rock formation area there between. Specific operating protocol is disclosed having regard to the temperature control for maximizing thermal energy recovery.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Fluid classes for use in energy recovery in well and geothermal environments for power production are disclosed. The fluids fall into the classes of fluids being capable of increasing thermodynamic efficiency of electricity and/or heat generation from a closed-loop geothermal system. Numerous methods are disclosed which exploit the thermodynamics of the fluids for optimum energy recovery.

Abstract: Methods for providing on demand power to an end user in a variety of embodiments are disclosed. Closed loop thermal recovery arrangements are disposed within a geologic formation having a predetermined potential thermal output capacity. A power generation device is incorporated in the loop to recover energy. A working fluid is circulated within the loop at varying flow rates to oscillate thermal output about the predetermined potential thermal output capacity, to produce on demand power where the average thermal output may equal the predetermined potential thermal output capacity. Integrations with intermittent renewable energy sources are provided which optimize performance and distribution.

Abstract: Methods for drilling in higher temperature rock formations such as geothermal formations with phase change material augmented drilling fluid are disclosed. By 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.

Abstract: Operational protocol sequences for recovering energy from a thermally productive formation are disclosed.

Abstract: Guidance methods for guiding the drilling, of wells while reducing trajectory drift. Each drilled well incorporates signalling devices which are used together or in a selected sequence to guide additional well drilling. With the progressive addition of the signalling devices spacing, positioning and connection of wells, particularly multilateral wells, is focused and precise.

Abstract: A method for controlling temperature maxima and minima from the heel to toe in geothermal well lateral sections. The method includes disposing at least a pair of wells proximately where thermal contact is possible. Working fluid is circulated in one well of the pair in one direction and the working fluid of the second well is circulated in as direction opposite. to the first. In this manner temperature equilibration is attainable to mitigate maxima and minima to result in a substantially more uniform temperature of the working fluids in respective wells and the rock formation area there between. Specific operating protocol is disclosed having regard to the temperature control for maximizing thermal energy recovery.