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U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Geopressured brines. Volume 4

Book ·
OSTI ID:6290141
The objectives of the study of geopressured brines as a source of unconventional natural gas are as follows: (1) examine regional geology and identify prospects for development in the tertiary trend of the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast; (2) study prospects in detail in order to estimate reservoir performance, drilling programs, production and water disposal methods, geothermal and hydraulic energy potential, producing rates and recoverable reserves, and detailed estimates of costs and economics of field development; (3) predict addition of ultimate recovery and production rate by year to the year 2000 as a function of gas price; (4) report on environmental and legal considerations; (5) determine potential for technical improvements; and (6) comment on critical technical factors, risk, and uncertainty. It is concluded that it is possible to develop commercial production of gas from geopressured brines at certain gas prices from selected areas of the US Gulf Coast. However, large-scale gas production is considered unlikely prior to the year 2000 because of the deterrents of high capital investment and operating expense requirements, low value of the resource, low recovery efficiency potential, and elements of mechanical and geologic risk. 15 references.
OSTI ID:
6290141
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English