The Geopressured-Geothermal Resource: Transition to Commercialization

Abstract

The Geopressured Geothermal resource has an estimated 5,700 recoverable quad of gas and 11,000 recoverable quad of thermal energy in the onshore Texas and Louisiana Gulf Coast area alone. After 15 years the program is now beginning a transition to commercialization. The program presently has three geopressured geothermal wells in Texas and Louisiana. The Pleasant Bayou Well has a 1 MWe hybrid power system converting some gas and the thermal energy to electricity. The Gladys McCall Well produced over 23 MM bbls brine with 23 scf per bbl over 41/2 years. The deep Hulin Well has been cleaned out and short term flow tested. It is on standby awaiting funds for long term testing. In January 1990 an Industrial Consortium for the Utilization of the Geopressured Geothermal Resource was convened at Rice University, Houston, TX. Sixty five participants heard industry cost shared proposals of using the hot geopressured brine. Proposals ranged from thermal enhanced oil recovery to aquaculture, conversion, and environmental clean up processes. By the September meeting at UTA Balcones Research Center, industry approved charters will have been received, and Advisory Board will be appointed, and election of officers from industry will be held.