The Geopressured-Geothermal Program: Energy conversion status and future possibilities

Conference · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989

OSTI ID:5621872

Negus-de Wys, J; Lawford, T W; Faulder, D D ^[1]

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1. EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)

The Geopressured-Geothermal Program, sponsored by the Department of Energy (DOE) began in 1976 with the Wells of Opportunity. This early research concentrated on resource characterization at several locations in Texas and Louisiana. More recently, the program has included well operations and supporting university research in geoscience and engineering. Long term flow testing, reinjection of brine, and scale prevention were accomplished at the Gladys McCall Well. The Pleasant Bayou Well provided additional data for modeling and predicting geopressured reservoir behavior. This year a hybrid power system (HPS) was constructed at Pleasant Bayou in cooperation with the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). This is the first conversion of the geopressured-geothermal resource to electricity. An economic review of geopressured-geothermal resource development concludes that using off-the-shelf technology, electricity can be produced for $$0.125/kWh from a Gladys McCall type resource (40,000 bpd brine production, 27 scf methane/bbl, 288{degree}F brine, and 10-year resource life). The Pleasant Bayou type resource can produce electricity for $$0.32/kWh. Advanced technology could reduce the cost to $0.16/kWh. A review and status of the HPS is presented with future possibilities for the program, including (1) recovery of medium and heavy oil with hot geopressured brine, (2) direct use, especially aquaculture, and (3) development and use of advanced technology for conversion at the Hulin Well, the deepest, hottest well in the program. The estimated improvement in efficiencies with advanced conversion technology range from 100 to 160%. This would greatly reduce the cost to produce electricity. 6 refs., 7 figs., 2 tabs.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (USA)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE/CE
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5621872
• Report Number(s): EGG-M-89174; CONF-891031-7; ON: DE89016188
• Resource Relation: Conference: Annual meeting of the Geothermal Resources Council, Santa Rosa, CA (USA), 1-4 Oct 1989
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY CONVERSION
COST
EFFICIENCY
ELECTRICITY
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
GEOTHERMAL WELLS
HYDRAULICS
POWER GENERATION
CONVERSION
ENERGY
ENERGY CONVERSION
ENERGY SOURCES
ENERGY SYSTEMS
FLUID MECHANICS
MECHANICS
POWER PLANTS
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
THERMAL POWER PLANTS
WELLS
Geothermal Legacy
150800* - Geothermal Power Plants
150900 - Geothermal Engineering