The economic potential of reinjection into geopressured aquifers
This paper evaluates the technical potential, the energy balance, and the economics of reinjecting produced brines into geopressured/geothermal aquifers. This analysis of reinjecting brines shows that, depending on the hydraulic turbine technology, 50 to 90% of the power requirements of reinjection into the producing aquifer can be met by extracting the thermal and kinetic energy from the produced geopressured/geothermal brines. Moreover, the technically recoverable methane resource could be increased 20 times by reinjecting the brines into the producing formation, compared to using more conventional disposal options. In addition, the reinjection of brines would reduce the potential for environmental damage. Reinjecting the produced brines could enable geopressured aquifers to become economical in the future, particularly when the gas content of the produced brine is relatively large. In addition, the resource will become more economical as real energy prices increase, since a reinjection-based system, to a large degree, will be independent of outside purchased power. However, because of high costs and risk, geopressured aquifers are not yet an economically competitive energy source.
- Research Organization:
- Lewin and Assocs. Inc.
- OSTI ID:
- 6161135
- Journal Information:
- J. Pet. Technol.; (United States), Journal Name: J. Pet. Technol.; (United States) Vol. 36:8; ISSN JPTJA
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Economic potential of reinjection into geopressured aquifers
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Related Subjects
030900* -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
ALKANES
AQUIFERS
BRINES
ECONOMICS
EFFICIENCY
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
ENERGY SYSTEMS
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS
HYDRAULIC TURBINES
HYDROCARBONS
MACHINERY
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REINJECTION
TURBINES
TURBOMACHINERY