Gulf Coast Geopressured-Geothermal Program Summary Report Compilation. Volume I, Executive Summary
The significant accomplishments of this program included (1) identification of the geopressured-geothermal onshore fairways in Louisiana and Texas, (2) determination that high brine flow rates of 20,000--40,000 barrels a day can be obtained for long periods of time, (3) brine, after gas extraction can be successfully reinjected into shallow aquifers without affecting the surface waters or the fresh water aquifers, (4) no observable subsidence or microseismic activity was induced due to the subsurface injection of brine, and no detrimental environmental effects attributable to geopressured--geothermal well testing were noticed, (5) sanding can be controlled by reducing flow rates, (6) corrosion controlled with inhibitors, (7) scaling controlled by phosphonate scale inhibitors, (8) demonstrated that production of gas from saturated brine under pressure was viable and (9) a hybrid power system can be successfully used for conversion of the thermal and chemical energy contained in the geopressured-geothermal resource for generation of electricity. The U. S. Department of Energy's geopressured-geothermal research program in the Gulf Coast achieved many significant findings and disproved and clarified many historical perceptions that had previously limited industry's interest in developing this resource. Though in today's economic market it may not be commercially profitable to exploit this resource, the rapid advance of technology in all its different aspects could potentially make this resource attractive in the not too distant future. The ideal situation would involve the development of a total energy system in which all three associated forms of energy--chemical, thermal and mechanical are utilized. The extraction of gas from brine combined with the large number of potential direct and indirect uses of this resource will add to its economic profitability. This U.S. DOE's visionary research program has essentially laid the foundations for characterization of this resource and all aspects connected with its development.
- Research Organization:
- Basin Research Institute, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- DE-FG07-95ID13366
- OSTI ID:
- 895335
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AQUIFERS
BRINES
CORROSION
ECONOMICS
ELECTRICITY
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
FLOW RATE
FRESH WATER
PHOSPHONATES
POWER SYSTEMS
PRODUCTION
RESEARCH PROGRAMS
SURFACE WATERS
TESTING
TOTAL ENERGY SYSTEMS
US GULF COAST
Geothermal Legacy