| Abstract |
Chena Power, in collaboration with Quantum Resources Management, United Technologies Research Center (UTRC, Pratt & Whitney Power Systems (PWPS), and the United States Department of Energy will demonstrate that electric power can be generated from the geothermal heat co-produced when extracting oil and gas from the earth. Energy can be extracted from lowtemperature geothermal resource present in the water, oil, and gas. This untapped resource can be developed in an economically attractive manner. This summer, a mobile geothermal power plant installation will be installed and demonstrated at Quantum Resources’ Jay Oil Field, which covers 13 square miles of northwestern Florida and southern Alabama. Producing oil and gas wells are an underutilized source of geothermal energy. Most wells produce 95% water and 5% oil and gas. One of the significant economic barriers to developing geothermal power is the cost of drilling wells that have predictable access to fluid temperatures high enough to generate electricity. Chena Hot Springs Resort, Quantum Resources Management, UTRC, and PWPS are proving that geothermal energy production can coexist alongside current oil development operations. Chena Hot Springs Resort and UTRC have previously demonstrated the feasibility of developing low temperature geothermal resources for energy production. At Chena Hot Springs Resort, three organic rankine cycle (ORC) units are installed that have a gross capacity of producing 680 kW of electricity. The electricity produced at Chena Hot Springs Resort represents the lowest temperature geothermal resource (165°F) developed for electricity production in the world. Based on the success of this technology in Alaska, the Pure- Cycle®*1 Power System Model 280 is being used in the mobile power plant application used to demonstrate the potential of generating electricity from the heat of oil and gas wells. The Model 280 operates with the ORC using a non flammable working fluid. This technology has also proven to be constant and reliable, producing electricity 95% of the time while at Chena Hot Springs Resort. The power plant is designed to be non-site specific and mobile so that electricity can be produced in one location and be operational for the majority of the oil wells in the world without the need for permits associated with building and ground work. The dimensions of the ORC are designed for easy movement through all 50 states. Oil and gas resources are also only extracted when they can be developed economically. When a well is no longer producing economically, this mobile geothermal power plant can be relocated to another well. This non-site-specific power plant is capable of providing its own cooling and is able to extract cooling water from the hot water coming from the well. The power plant requires minimal on site work and can be installed in one hour from the time it is dropped off. |