The sustainability of production from geothermal resources

Conference · Wed Jul 01 04:00:00 EDT 1998

OSTI ID:20002765

Wright, P M

Natural hydrothermal convection systems have occurred throughout geologic time. The typical lifetime for geothermal activity around magmatic/volcanic intrusive centers ranges from a minimum of perhaps 5,000 years to more than 1,000,000 years, depending on the size of the intrusive body and the vigor or hydrothermal convection, among other variables. Geothermal resources are, thus, renewable by any reasonable definition. The natural recharge rate of geothermal reservoirs from deeper sources of heat and fluids varies from a few to more than 1,000 thermal megawatts. This natural recharge rate represents the minimum rate at which geothermal systems could, in principal, be produced for tens of thousands of years. In commercial development, however, geothermal systems are usually produced at rates that exceed their natural recharge rates because to do otherwise would be uneconomic. Thus, geothermal systems have a finite lifetime during which they will produce economic electrical power, although this lifetime may be supplemented by a further period during which they can be used for direct-heat applications that require lower temperatures. The exact lifetime of useful production from a given geothermal system is difficult to determine early on, but projections into the future become more reliable as a production history is established. This paper explores the various factors affecting the sustainability of production from hydrothermal systems, and concludes that geothermal energy is a reliable, safe, and clean source of thermal energy that will contribute increasingly to the world's energy demands in the future.

• Research Organization: Univ. of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT (US)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-95ID13274
• OSTI ID: 20002765
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANTS
GROUNDWATER RECHARGE
HEAT EXTRACTION
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
SERVICE LIFE