| Abstract |
Potentially productive geopressured sediments have been identified in more than twenty specific onshore fairways in Louisiana and Texas (Behout, Loucks, e al, 1978; Bebout, Gavenda, et al 1978; Barnard, 1979, Hawkins, 1977; interalia). A total of at least 232 trillion cubic feet (TCF) of dissolved methane and 367 x 10/15 Btu (367 quads) of thermal energy may be contained in the water within the sandstones in these formations. As a result of conversion efficiencies, the greater portion of useable energy recovered is form the natural gas (mostly methane), so its economics will gone by comparison to the other energy forms. Natural gas costs from a geopressured facility will probably range upward from five dollars per thousand cubic fee for the most favorable reservoirs and most optimistic conditions, assuming high values of dissolved methane is the geopressured water. |