Print this pageUsing BHT Values to Redefine Texas Geothermal
Maria Richards1, David Blackwell1, Kamil Erkan1, Patrick Stepp1, and Paul Sandwell2
1Geological Sciences, SMU, Dallas, TX
2Energy Frontiers Services, Arlington, TX
The SMU Geothermal Lab received a grant from the Texas State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to improve the knowledge of subsurface temperatures in the South and Eastern portions of Texas. The area studied cover the Texas Railroad Commission (RCC) Districts 2, 3, 4, 5 (eastern counties), and 6. Data from 4000 wells were combined into a temperature-depth database. The RRC data was then combined with the 1972 AAPG data base of over 4500 BHTs from oil and gas wells in the same area. Using the Harrison correction and the SMU Gradient correction on the data, the corrected temperatures were examined for outliers and then areas were researched in detail for greatest heat potential. Measured temperatures are highest in South Texas with over 400°F at depths of 16,000 ft. East Texas is hottest in the near surface with wells reaching 250°F by 9000 ft.
Combining the temperature data with the Railroad Commission production data, the areas of high heat potential were then divided into fields with low, medium, high production density. Areas with a high density of wells, high heat, and high water volume are one the prime locations for generating co-produced geothermal energy or using the abandoned wells directly for geothermal energy production. Multiple wells can be combined to build MW sized commercial power plants.
Geopressure areas with high temperature are common along the Gulf Coast and have already been shown to be sustainable in geothermal electrical production based on the 1989-90 Department of Energy test at Pleasant Bayou, Texas, where 1 MW of energy was produced from a combination of geothermal energy and dissolved gas using binary turbine developments the ability to generate electricity is now possible in Texas with temperatures in the 200 - 250°F range.
AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90078©2008 AAPG Annual Convention, San Antonio, Texas