SRI: future dim for Gulf geothermal resources

Journal Article · Mon Mar 16 04:00:00 EST 1981 · Oil Gas J.; (United States)

OSTI ID:6430491

The outlook for successful development of geopressured/geothermal resources along the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast has clouded. Lifetime production of natural gas and geothermal energy from 2 prime reservoirs thus far identified in the area may be only a fraction of what once was thought recoverable. Southwest Research Institute has estimated technically recoverable dissolved methane, without regard to cost, from known geopressured zones at only 7.6 tcf. That equals Texas current gas production for one year. The study estimated potential thermal energy from Gulf Coast geopressured/geothermal reservoirs at 12.6 quadrillion Btu. Hydraulic energy available from those reservoirs would amount to < 2% of their potential energy production. In addition, a large proportion of recoverable resources from these zones are in sands of low permeability casting further doubt on their productivity. Those findings challenge earlier, more optimistic assessments of Gulf Coast geopressured/geothermal resource potential - a development program stimulated in 1980 by a federal government offer of dry hole cost recoveries.

• OSTI ID: 6430491
• Journal Information: Oil Gas J.; (United States), Journal Name: Oil Gas J.; (United States) Vol. 79:11; ISSN OIGJA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
030900 -- Natural Gas-- Artificial Stimulation
Plowshare-- (-1989)
15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
150101* -- Geothermal Energy-- Resources &amp; Availability-- USA-- (-1989)
ALKANES
COST
ENERGY
ENERGY SOURCES
FEDERAL REGION VI
FLUIDS
FOSSIL FUELS
FUEL GAS
FUELS
GAS FUELS
GASES
GEOPRESSURE ANOMALIES
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY
GEOTHERMAL RESOURCES
GULF COAST
HYDROCARBONS
LOUISIANA
METHANE
NATURAL GAS
NORTH AMERICA
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERMEABILITY
RENEWABLE ENERGY SOURCES
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
RESOURCE POTENTIAL
RESOURCES
TEXAS
USA