Generalities
What is geothermal energy?
A heat transfer, from the earth core to the surface
Earth heat sources
- Remnant heat from the formation of the earth core
- Core heat from decay of long-lived radioactive isotopes
- Friction of crust plates (tectonics)
The earth temperature profile is the consequence of the heat transfer from the earth core to the surface.
Which thermal media and Where to extract geothermal energy?
Geothermal energy is possible nearly everywhere!
Warm ground and Hot water resources are the easiest and most economical geothermal applications.
Deep aquifers are lying in sedimentary basins settings, which are the more ubiquitous geological settings in most of the earth landmass.
Which use for each geothermal media
Our domain of activities: deep aquifers geothermal projects
Wells for deep aquifers
Summarized geothermal project risk map
* EGS is a technical solution for the enhancement of the reservoir properties, ranging from stimulation to fracking
PLUTON DG will assist you to de-risk your deep aquifer hot water project, in order to ensure the profitability of these capital intensive projects.
Why it’s worth looking at geothermal energy from deep aquifer
Potential per well: for the sake of comparison, an hospital of 4 000 m2 (approx. 200 bedrooms) will have an averaged overall energy consumption* of 210 KWh/m2 (power, heating, cooling), hence an installed capacity of 0,84 MW.
* 2015 survey for a sustainable development by 4 French hospital organizations
Because you have a large heat demand, such as:
heat distribution network, industry or agriculture needs.
- Usual deep aquifer well flow will be above 300 m3/h.
- 40% enthalpy withdrawn at surface
- Geothermal gradient 33,33 °C/km
Side graph presents results using the following hypothesis:
Because you want to be an ideal green power producer and:
- Generate power with nearly zero emissions
- Be a purveyor of a baseload or flexible power, to supplement at any time the variable grid demand*
- Enjoy to be the best in class power producer, for the capacity factor**
* Geothermal energy for power production is available around the clock, 365 days of the year.
** The EIA report (U.S. EIA 2013b) lists geothermal power as having the highest capacity factor (92%) of all the energy sources discussed, higher even than coal (85%), gas (87%), or biomass (83%). For comparison, the capacity factors for wind, solar and solar PV are listed as 34%, 20%, and 25% respectively.
A Geothermal project at a glance
The reservoir and the formation fluid characteristics are the key success factors of the project.
Old O&G sites: abandonment or geothermal conversion??
The main exercise is to qualify Oil & Gas reservoir for geothermal energy.
To do so, today besides the possibility to produce electricity thanks to the hot water co-processed (with t° > 80°C/175°F), there is the possibility to capitalize on the knowledge of:
- Reservoir production over decades (real dynamic production data)
- Specific (field proven) stimulation and injection models
- Huge cost savings due to the reuse (after reconditioning) of production and injection wells
If the retrofitting project of your old site is feasible: are you interested by a sustainable geothermal energy production for the next 30 to 50 years??