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Potential for production of geopressured geothermal energy, Texas Gulf Coast

Conference · · Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral., Annu. Meet. Abstr.; (United States)
OSTI ID:6340013
Tertiary strata of the Texas Gulf Coast include several terrigenous depositional wedges, some of which thicken abruptly at their downdip ends as a result of contemporaneous movement of growth faults and underlying salt. The Frio Formation is one of these wedges. Broad regional studies, followed by detailed local investigations, were pursued in order to delineate prospective areas for production of geopressured geothermal energy. A prospective area must meet the following minimum requirements: reservoir volume of 3 cu miles (12.5 cu km), minimum permeability of 20 md, and fluid temperatures of 300 F (140 C). Several geothermal fairways were identified as a result of the Frio study. However, only the Brazoria Fairway meets all of the specifications for a geothermal prospect. In the Brazoria Fairway, located in Brazoria and Galveston Counties, Texas, several hundred feet of deltaic sandstones have fluid temperature greater than 300 F (140 C). Permeabilities within these reservoirs are greater than 20 md; this high permeability is related to secondary leached porosity, which developed in the moderate to deep subsurface.
OSTI ID:
6340013
Report Number(s):
CONF-7904212-
Conference Information:
Journal Name: Am. Assoc. Pet. Geol. Soc. Econ. Paleontol. Mineral., Annu. Meet. Abstr.; (United States)
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English