Geopressured-Geothermal Energy Field Operations: Testing Today, Useful Power Production in the Future

Abstract

America's increasing dependence on foreign energy sources and the national environmental initiatives based on the increasing awareness of the need for protection of environment have led to the Department of Energy's (DOE) development of domestic U.S. alternative energy programs. One of these programs is the current geopressured geothermal five year program conducted at three sites in Louisiana and Texas. Excellent results have been obtained in reaching the objectives for this well operation and energy conversion project, which are: to determine geopressured geothermal reservoir sizes and drive mechanism by long term, high volume flow testing, prove long term inject ability of large volumes of spent brine, develop technology for automated operation of geopressured geothermal production systems, develop modified scale inhibitor treatment procedures, develop technology to produced power economically from the geopressured geothermal resource.