The feasibility of applying geopressured-geothermal resources to direct uses

Technical Report · Sun Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5975559· OSTI ID:5975559

Lunis, B C; Negus-de Wys, J; Plum, M M ^[1]; Lienau, P J ^[2]; Spencer, F J ^[3]; Nitschke, G F ^[4]

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1. EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
2. Oregon Inst. of Tech., Klamath Falls, OR (United States). Geo-Heat Center
3. International Management Services (United States)
4. Nitschke (George F.) (United States)

This study concludes that direct use technologies, especially desalinated water production, can contribute significantly to the value added process and the overall economic viability in developing a geopressured resource. Although agriculture and aquaculture applications are marginal projects when they are the only use of a geopressured well, the small margin of profitability can contribute to improving the overall economics of the direct use development. The added complexity from a technical and management aspect may add to the overall risk and unpredictability of the project. Six combination of direct uses received economic evaluation that resulted in 15% discounted payback periods ranging from 4 to over 10 years. Many other combinations are possible depending on the resource and market variables. Selection of appropriate technologies and sizes of applications will be established by the developer that engages in geopressured resource utilization. Currently, many areas of the country where geopressured resources are located also have surplus electrical capacity and generation, thus power utilities have been selling power for less than 2 cents per kWH, well below a reasonable breakeven value for geopressured produced electricity. However, when the energy demand of the integrated geopressured facility is large enough to install power generation equipment, operating expenses can be reduced by not paying the 10 to 12 cents per kWH utility rate. The study includes an analysis of a geothermal turbine unit installed with a desalination and an agriculture/aquaculture facility, taking advantage of the cascading energy values. Results suggest that this scenario becomes profitable only where the market price for electricity exceeds five cents per kWH.

• Research Organization: EG and G Idaho, Inc., Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
• Sponsoring Organization: DOE; USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
• DOE Contract Number: AC07-76ID01570
• OSTI ID: 5975559
• Report Number(s): EGG-EP-9839; ON: DE92003361
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150500 -- Geothermal Energy-- Economics
Industrial
& Business Aspects
151000* -- Geothermal Energy-- Direct Energy Utilization
AGRICULTURE
AQUACULTURE
BUILDINGS
DEMINERALIZATION
DESALINATION
ECONOMICS
FEASIBILITY STUDIES
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GREENHOUSES
Geothermal Legacy
INDUSTRY
POWER GENERATION
RESOURCES
SEPARATION PROCESSES
USES