Economic potential of reinjection into geopressured aquifers
The technical potential, the energy balance, and the economics of reinjecting produced brines into geopressure-geothermal aquifers are evaluated. The engineering study summarized shows that 70% to 100% of the power requirements of deep reinjection can be met by extracting the thermal and kinetic energy from the produced geopressure-geothermal brines. Moreover, the technically recoverable methane resource could be increased up to twenty times by reinjecting the brines into the producing formation. Finally, the reinjection of brines would reduce the potential for environmental damage. Reinjecting the produced brines could enable geopressured aquifers to become economic as real energy prices increase, since the system is essentially independent of outside purchased power. At the present time however, because of high costs and risk, the economics of geopressured aquifers are not favorable.
- Research Organization:
- Lewin and Associates, Inc., Washington, DC
- OSTI ID:
- 6740753
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-811015-
- Journal Information:
- Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States), Journal Name: Trans. - Geotherm. Resour. Counc.; (United States) Vol. 5; ISSN TGRCD
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Economic potential of reinjection into geopressured aquifers
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Related Subjects
150101 -- Geothermal Energy-- Resources & Availability-- USA-- (-1989)
150600* -- Geothermal Energy-- Environmental Aspects
ALKANES
AQUIFERS
BRINES
ECONOMICS
ENERGY BALANCE
ENERGY SYSTEMS
GEOPRESSURED SYSTEMS
HYDROCARBONS
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
REINJECTION
RESOURCE POTENTIAL