AAPG ANNUAL CONFERENCE AND EXHIBITION
Making the Next Giant Leap in Geosciences
April 10-13, 2011, Houston, Texas, USA

Geothermal in the Oil Field

Will Gosnold¹; Michael Mann³; Hossein Salehfar²

(1) Geology and Geological Engineering, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND.

(2) Electrical Engineering, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND.

(3) Chemical Engineering, University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND.

Sedimentary basins have great potential for development of geothermal energy from fluids in strata that are exploited for oil, gas and water. All categories of geothermal applications, e.g., space heating, direct use, power generation, and EGS, may be available depending on heat flow, geothermal gradients, and the depths of permeable strata. Recent advances in small scale organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and other heat-to-power conversion technologies have created interest in electrical power generation using fluid temperatures of 90 C to 150 C. We are testing the feasibility of generating power from co-produced fluids in the Williston basin in collaboration with an oil field operator with funding support from the DOE Geothermal Technologies program. In addition to parameters of temperature and produced fluid volume, the design, foot print, complexity/simplicity and efficiency of the power conversion system are critical. An optimized system could be economically beneficial by providing power for the oil field and extending the productive life of a field.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90124 © 2011 AAPG Annual Convention and Exhibition, April 10-13, 2011, Houston, Texas