An investigation of the potential for geothermal energy recovery in the Calgary area in southern Alberta, Canada, using petroleum exploration data

Geophysics ◽  
1986 ◽  
Vol 51 (8) ◽  
pp. 1661-1670 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. L. Lam ◽  
F. W. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Geothermal Gradient ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Petroleum Exploration ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Successful Recovery ◽  
Southern Alberta ◽  
The City

The geothermal gradient in the Calgary area of southern Alberta is about 24 °C/km. Although this is only an average geothermal gradient, the city lies on the flank of a deep portion of the western Canadian basin with sediment thickness of over 4 km so that a wide temperature range exists in the sediments. This factor, and the substantial population of the city and surrounding area, satisfy two prerequisites for successful recovery and use of low‐grade geothermal energy. The Calgary area is, therefore, a suitable candidate for an investigation of its geothermal energy potential. The results of a study of petroleum exploration data show that good aquifers exist in the carbonate rocks of the Elkton formation of the Mississippian and the Wabamun formation of the Upper Devonian. The water temperatures range from 60 °C to 90 °C with salinities of 70 000 to 100 000 mg/l, which is two to three times that of average sea water. High water flow rates up to [Formula: see text] from the Elkton formation at moderate depths may be obtained in areas northwest and south of the city. Although the flow rates for the Wabamun formation are lower, the Wabamun and the deeper Leduc formations could supplement the Elkton as the main target for geothermal purposes. The availability of hot water of reasonable quality and at reasonable depth, together with the large population, means that Calgary presents an attractive location for geothermal energy recovery and use.

Geothermal energy potential in the Hinton–Edson area of west-central Alberta

1985 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 369-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
H.-L. Lam ◽  
F. W. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Water Movement ◽  
Geothermal Gradient ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Petroleum Exploration ◽  
Low Grade ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Bottom Hole ◽  
Geothermal Potential ◽  
Water Analyses

The Hinton–Edson area, located about 200 km west of Edmonton in Alberta, coincides with a geothermal anomaly of relatively high average geothermal gradient (~36 °C/km). The anomaly was discovered by Lam et al. during a study of a large number of bottom-hole temperatures. The high gradient and the thick sedimentary section in the area (4–6 km) provide a possible low-grade geothermal energy source for the growing population centres and industry. A survey of petroleum exploration data in the area has been made to determine if aquifers exist from which hot water may be recovered with reasonable flow rates and salinities for low-grade geothermal use. The results show that aquifers with prospective geothermal potential exist in the porous carbonate rocks of the Mississippian and Upper Devonian. Also, water movement is inferred from formation-water analyses, and this supports the suggestion that the geothermal anomaly is caused by the movement along fault planes of water that has been heated at depth.

Analytical solution for estimating the influence of a pre-existing ground water flow on a geothermal heat production-injection well system

2011 ◽  
Vol 2 (1) ◽  
pp. 13-17
Author(s):  
I. David ◽  
M. Visescu
Keyword(s):  
Ground Water ◽  
Water Flow ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Flow Direction ◽  
Energy Resource ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Injection Well ◽  
Production Well ◽  
Ground Water Flow ◽  
The Earth

Abstract Geothermal energy source is the heat from the Earth, which ranges from the shallow ground (the upper 100 m of the Earth) to the hot water and hot rock which is a few thousand meters beneath the Earth's surface. In both cases the so-called open systems for geothermal energy resource exploitation consist of a groundwater production well to supply heat energy and an injection well to return the cooled water, from the heat pump after the thermal energy transfer, in the underground. In the paper an analytical method for a rapid estimation of the ground water flow direction effect on the coupled production well and injection well system will be proposed. The method will be illustrated with solutions and images for representative flow directions respect to the axis of the production/injection well system.

The Control of Iron Bacterial Plugging of a Well by Tyndallization Using Hot Water Recycling

1986 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-57 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. R. Cullimore ◽  
N. Mansuy
Keyword(s):  
Direct Injection ◽  
Small Diameter ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Water Recycling ◽  
Water Heater ◽  
Time Intervals ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Water Well ◽  
Flow Loss ◽  
The Town

Abstract A small diameter water well drilled in 1977 in the Town of Bulyea, Saskatchewan generated such a rapid plugging (biofouling) that by 1979 the flow rate was reduced by 59%. Heavy growths of non-specific iron bacteria were found in the water and biofouling projected to be the principal cause of the flow loss. Tyndallization (repeated pasteurizations) treatment was applied using a hot water recycling system installed above the well head. Using a displacement passive gravity direct injection of hot water at 82°C from a water heater into the well, a sequential elevation of water column temperatures occurred until bio-film dispersion occurred (pasteurization) at 45°C+. A recovery to original flow specifications was repeatedly obtained at time intervals ranging from 6 to 403 days. Between treatments, a recurrence of biofouling was noted with flow reductions of 0.06 – 0.07 1/min/day frequently being noted. The rate of plugging appeared to be affected by the previous sequence of pasteurization treatments. Tyndallization was found to satisfactorily control iron bacterial biofouling and maintain flow rates.

scholarly journals Energy Recovery Using Micro-Hydropower Technology in Water Supply Systems: The Case Study of the City of Fribourg

Water ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (8) ◽  
pp. 344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Irene Samora ◽  
Pedro Manso ◽  
Mário Franca ◽  
Anton Schleiss ◽  
Helena Ramos
Keyword(s):  
Water Supply ◽  
Energy Recovery ◽  
Water Supply Systems ◽  
Supply Systems ◽  
The City

scholarly journals Deep Geothermal Heating Potential for the Communities of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 706
Author(s):  
Jacek Majorowicz ◽  
Stephen E. Grasby
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Northwest Territories ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Sedimentary Basin ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Foreland Basin ◽  
Geothermal Gradient ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Western Canada Sedimentary Basin ◽  
Geothermal Heating

We summarize the feasibility of using geothermal energy from the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) to support communities with populations >3000 people, including those in northeastern British Columbia, southwestern part of Northwest Territories (NWT), southern Saskatchewan, and southeastern Manitoba, along with previously studied communities in Alberta. The geothermal energy potential of the WCSB is largely determined by the basin’s geometry; the sediments start at 0 m thickness adjacent to the Canadian shield in the east and thicken to >6 km to the west, and over 3 km in the Williston sub-basin to the south. Direct heat use is most promising in the western and southern parts of the WCSB where sediment thickness exceeds 2–3 km. Geothermal potential is also dependent on the local geothermal gradient. Aquifers suitable for heating systems occur in western-northwestern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, and southwestern Saskatchewan. Electrical power production is limited to the deepest parts of the WCSB, where aquifers >120 °C and fluid production rates >80 kg/s occur (southwestern Northwest Territories, northwestern Alberta, northeastern British Columbia, and southeastern Saskatchewan. For the western regions with the thickest sediments, the foreland basin east of the Rocky Mountains, estimates indicate that geothermal power up to 2 MWel. (electrical), and up to 10 times higher for heating in MWth. (thermal), are possible.

Bubble dynamics and oxygen transfer in a hypolimnetic aerator

1998 ◽  
Vol 37 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-300 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vickie L. Burris ◽  
John C. Little
Keyword(s):  
Gas Phase ◽  
Bubble Size ◽  
Oxygen Transfer ◽  
Bubble Dynamics ◽  
Water Flow Rate ◽  
Flow Rates ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
The City ◽  
Close Fit ◽  
Water Supply Reservoirs

A hypolimnetic aerator operating in one of the City of Norfolk's water supply reservoirs was tested. Dissolved oxygen (DO) profiles, water flow rate, and gas-phase holdup were measured over a wide range of applied air flow rates. A model that was developed to predict oxygen transfer in a Speece Cone was modified to conform to the conditions of the hypolimnetic aerator. By varying a single parameter (the initial bubble size) the model was found to provide a close fit to the experimental DO profiles as well as the observed gas-phase holdup. The model was used to show that a doubling in oxygen transfer may be achieved if initial bubble size is reduced from 5 mm to 2.5 mm. Knowing the initial bubble size, it should be possible to predict water velocity by incorporating the effect of momentum. Further work is now underway to test this approach and to examine the possibility of extending this generalized model to cover the range of hypolimnetic aeration and oxygenation devices.

scholarly journals Evaluation of geothermal energy resources in parts of southeastern sedimentary basin, Nigeria

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 195-211
Author(s):  
I.M. Okiyi ◽  
S.I. Ibeneme ◽  
E.Y. Obiora ◽  
S.O. Onyekuru ◽  
A.I. Selemo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spectral Analysis ◽  
Heat Flow ◽  
Curie Point ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Sedimentary Basin ◽  
Geothermal Gradient ◽  
Geothermal System ◽  
Magnetic Vector ◽  
Geothermal Gradients ◽  
Vector Inversion

Residual aeromagnetic data of parts of Southeastern Nigerian sedimentary basin were reduced to the equator and subjected to magnetic vector inversion and spectral analysis. Average depths of source ensembles from spectral analysis were used to compute depth to magnetic tops (Z), base of the magnetic layer (Curie Point t Depth (CPD)), and estimate geothermal gradient and heat flow required for the evaluation of the geothermal resources of the study area. Results from spectral analysis showed depths to the top of the magnetic source ranging between 0.45 km and 1.90 km; centroid depths of 4 km - 7.87 km and CPD of between 6.15 km and 14.19 km. The CPD were used to estimate geothermal gradients which ranged from 20.3°C/km to 50.0°C/km 2 2 and corresponding heat flow values of 34.9 mW/m to 105 mW/m , utilizing an average thermal conductivity -1 -1 of 2.15 Wm k . Ezzagu (Ogboji), Amanator-Isu, Azuinyaba, Nkalagu, Amagunze, Nta-Nselle, Nnam, Akorfornor environs are situated within regions of high geothermal gradients (>38°C/Km) with models delineated beneath these regions using 3D Magnetic Vector Inversion, having dominant NW-SE and NE-SW trends at shallow and greater depths of <1km to >7 km bsl. Based on VES and 2D imaging models the geothermal system in Alok can be classified as Hot Dry Rock (HDR) type, which may likely have emanated from fracture systems. There is prospect for the development of geothermal energy in the study area. Keywords: Airborne Magnetics, Magnetic Vector Inversion, Geothermal Gradient, Heat Flow, Curie Point Depth, Geothermal Energy.

scholarly journals A Project To Estimate The Power Capacity Of Geothermal Power Plants Based On The Enthalpy Of Geothermal Fluid And Plant Design

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Obumneme Oken
Keyword(s):  
Power Plant ◽  
Geothermal Energy ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Power Plants ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Power Capacity ◽  
Geothermal Fluid ◽  
Direct Heating ◽  
Single Flash ◽  
Geothermal Power

Nigeria has some surface phenomena that indicate the presence of viable geothermal energy. None of these locations have been explored extensively to determine the feasibility of sustainable geothermal energy development for electricity generation or direct heating. In this context, the present study aims to provide insight into the energy potential of such development based on the enthalpy estimation of geothermal reservoirs. This particular project was conducted to determine the amount of energy that can be gotten from a geothermal reservoir for electricity generation and direct heating based on the estimated enthalpy of the geothermal fluid. The process route chosen for this project is the single-flash geothermal power plant because of the temperature (180℃) and unique property of the geothermal fluid (a mixture of hot water and steam that exists as a liquid under high pressure). The Ikogosi warm spring in Ekiti State, Nigeria was chosen as the site location for this power plant. To support food security efforts in Africa, this project proposes the cascading of a hot water stream from the flash tank to serve direct heat purposes in agriculture for food preservation, before re-injection to the reservoir. The flowrate of the geothermal fluid to the flash separator was chosen as 3125 tonnes/hr. The power output from a single well using a single flash geothermal plant was evaluated to be 11.3 MW*. This result was obtained by applying basic thermodynamic principles, including material balance, energy balance, and enthalpy calculations. This particular project is a prelude to a robust model that will accurately determine the power capacity of geothermal power plants based on the enthalpy of fluid and different plant designs.

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