| Abstract |
Low enthalpy resource development is gathering momentum in the local geothermal energy industry and technologies. Several technologies (organic rankine, inhibition systems, etc.) gained maturity in different range of installations worldwide. This study focused at the installation of an generation plant at the Manito Lowlands prospect, previously developed with a conventional steam turbine. Several non-attractive issues in the 2000 development can now be matched with mature technologies such as a plant configurations and various inhibition techniques for wellbore and surface scaling. Estimated potentials were calculated for the available wells. Economic assessment included the need for chemical inhibition systems and requirement of work over. Scaling from geothermal fluids has been recognized as a major obstacle in the development of geothermal energy. In the present contribution a summary is presented of the main types of scales encountered in geothermal systems, the basic concepts of precipitation fouling/scaling are discussed and the various measures to mitigate the problem are descrybed. Emphasis is given to calcium carbonate, which is the most common scale type found in low-entlhalpy geothermal sytems. The use of scale inhibitors appears to be the most suitable method to control carbonate scaling, and brine acidification seems to be a valid option in controlling silica and sulphide scaling from high-enthalpy geothermal brines. |