jay nathwani u.s. department of energy idaho operations office march 20, 2003 doe financial...
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Jay NathwaniU.S. Department of EnergyIdaho Operations OfficeMarch 20, 2003
DOE Financial Assistance Programs
GrantsUniversity Research Area
Kansas State University – Daniel Swenson EGS
New Mexico Technology Institute – James C. Witcher Exploration
Pennsylvania State University – Peter Heaney ESR&T
Southern Methodist University – David Blackwell Exploration
Stanford University – Roland Horne Reservoir Engineering
University of California – San Diego – Nancy Moller Fundamental Research
University of Nevada – Reno – Lisa Shevenell EX & EGS
University of North Carolina – Jose Rial EGS & Reservoir Engineering
University of North Dakota – Ahmad Ghassemi EGS
University of Utah – Energy and Geoscience Institute
Task 1 – Jeff Hulen
Task 2 – Joe Moore
Task 3 – Greg Nash
Task 4 – Phil Wanamaker
Task 5 – Mike Adams
Task 6 – Pete Rose
Fundamental Science
Fundamental Science
Exploration Technology
Exploration Technology
Tracer R&D
EGS
University of Wisconsin – David L. Alumbaugh Exploration
Type of Research
• Reservoir Characterization & Management• Remote Sensing and Imaging Tools• Exploration Models• Resource Analysis• Thermoelastic Hydraulic Fracture Design• Production and Injection Strategies• Permeability• Tracers• Gas Analysis of Geothermal Fluid Inclusions
Status
• 27 current research projects – 15 in a process of closeout
• Last solicitation was announced in July 2002– 22 proposals received – 4 new projects selected for funding– 5 projects selected for possible future funding
• FY2003 commitments– $3,565K for current research proposed– $0K for new research– $2,600K Earmark by congress
• Future Solicitation in FY2004
Field Studies of Geothermal Reservoirs Rio Grande Rift, NM
James C. WitcherNew Mexico State University
AchievementsIdentified Common Structural Settings of Rift Reservoirs
• Structurally-high bedrock uplifts at low surface elevation• Regional aquitards removed by erosion or faulting• Pre-rifting basement control (Mesozoic compressional and
transpressional structures)• Transfer zones at fault, graben, and rift scales• Post mid-Miocene structural inversion
Benefits and Use• First-order hydrogeologic exploration model• Framework for blind reservoir discovery• Locate best drill targets at known reservoirs
A Geochemical and Microanalytical Study of Silica Scale Deposition in Geothermal Brines
Peter HeaneyPenn State
Achievements• Examined the rates of silica condensation and precipitation in
supersaturated solutions using brine chemistries suggested by the Geothermal Power and Operations section of Unocal.
• Relationships between silica concentration, pH, and ionic strength have been incorporated into computer models used by engineers at Unocal for assessing brine behaviors in new systems.
• Explored the nature of the silica complexes formed with simple alcohol-rich molecules using molecular dynamical simulation methods with the program Cerius2.
• Compared the rates of silica condensation and precipitation in solutions with and without dissolved sulfite, a potential silica scale inhibitor.
• Investigate the growth and stability of colloidal silica using gel filtration chromatography, ultrafiltration, atomic force microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and light scattering analysis.
Benefits and Use• Publications
Application of Thermal Techniques for Exploration and Assessment of Basin and Range Geothermal Resources
David BlackwellSMU
Achievements
• Thermal and drilling data from the Dixie Valley Geothermal Field
• Geophysical surveys of Dixie Valley including gravity and aeromagnetics and integrated the geophysical, seismic, geological and drilling data at Dixie Valley into local and regional geologic models
• Natural state mass and energy transport fluid flow models of generic Basin and Range systems based on Dixie Valley data
• Relation between natural heat loss for geothermal and electrical power production potential and determined heat flow for 27 different geothermal systems
• Developed web based data base including information from over 5,900 geothermal exploration wells
Benefits and Use
• Publications
Laboratory Measurements of Properties for Steam/Water Flow in Geothermal Rocks
Roland HorneStanford
Achievements
• Measurement of multiphase flow properties of geothermal rocks under boiling conditions.
• Fundamental study of flow in fractures, in support of the development of techniques to optimize production and reinjection design.
• Development of methods to determine reservoir saturation from surface measurements.
Benefits and Use
• Improved resource recovery and effectiveness.
• Methodology to reduce the uncertainty of reservoir performance calculations
• Clearer predictions of the remaining life of the reservoir for planning purposes
• Stanford Workshop
• Publications
Technology for Increasing Geothermal Energy Productivity
Nancy Moller-Weare an John WeareUCSD
Achievements• TEQUIL: Comprehensive models of solid-liquid-gas equilibria
in the H-Na-K-Ca-OH-Cl-HSO4-SO4-HCO3-CO3-H4SiO4o-H3SiO4--H2O-CO2(g)-SiO2 system to high brine concentration and temperature (< 300°C).
• GEOFLUIDS: New equation of state models for supercritical applications that can accurately predict multiple phase conditions, critical behavior and PVTX properties of compressible fluids in the system, salt--CO2-CH4-H2O.
• GEOHEAT: Enthalpy models of NaCl-H2O brines (T < 300°C) and H2O-CO2-CH4 gas phases.
Benefits and Use• Interactive web site, GEOTHERM.UCSD.edu, and user
interface software. • Publications
Great Basin Center for Geothermal Energy
Lisa ShevenellUNR
Achievements
• Predicted the spatial trends of known high temperatures using GPS
• Enhanced understanding of the subsurface geologic framework of the Hot Springs Mountains, including depth to basement and geometry of faults
• A regional geophysical database supporting the exploration for new, hidden geothermal fields has been initiated with a resolution of 8 km, which was supplemented by a successful deep seismic sounding experiment
Benefits and Use
• In 2002, the funded projects led to 14 technical publications, and nine presentations at the annual GRC meeting plus five additional presentations in other venues.
• Collaborations with industry partners
• Publications
Characterization of Fracture Patterns in the Geysers Geothermal Field
Jose RialUNC
Achievements
• Compiled the largest and most complete data set on shear-wave splitting parameters (fast shear-wave polarization and differential time delay pairs) in the world, from micro-earthquake seismic records recorded at The Geysers and Coso geothermal fields.
• Constructed 3D maps showing fracture patterns and crack densities under all the array stations at The Geysers and Coso.
• Developed and implemented a Matlab-based, interactive, graphics-oriented inversion computer code for shear-wave splitting data processing, measurement of split parameters, forward modeling and inversion of crack-induced anisotropy.
• Inverted shear-wave splitting parameter data sets to obtain subsurface crack geometry and crack densities in NW and SE Geysers and in selected stations at Coso.
Benefits and Use
• Publications
Thermoelastic Hydraulic Fracture Design Tool
Ahmad GhassemiUND
Achievements
• Analysis of fracture initiation from a wellbore
• Development of a two-dimensional boundary element code for modeling fracture propagation;
• Theoretical study of fluid flow and heat exchange in induced fractures and related stresses (2D and 3D)
• Integration of the analytic and numerical algorithms into a user-friendly software package
Benefits and Use
• Quantitatively consider fracture propagation for development of EGS, including the influence of faults on fracture direction
• Study influence of cooling on stress distribution and fracture slip/propagation
• Guide drilling strategies
• Publications
Improved Conceptual Modeling of High-Temperature, Western U.S. Geothermal Systems
Jeff HulenUniversity of Utah - EGI
Achievements• Refine and develop new conceptual geological,
geochemical, and numerical models for magmatically-heated and “deep circulation” systems
• Discovered and mapped a huge region of pervasive, mineralized but interconnected and permeable natural hydraulic fractures in the proposed 185 MWe “Unit 6” development area at the Salton Sea field.
• Discovered that much of the shallow “quartzite” at the Dixie Valley field is actually silicified, gold-bearing alluvium
Benefits and Use• Industry partners• 26 Publications
Improving Exploration Models of Andesite-Hosted Geothermal Systems
Joe MoreUniversity of Utah - EGI
Achievements• Showed how and why volcanic-hosted vapor-dominated systems form • Characterized permeability evolution and controls on permeability in a
volcanic-hosted system
Benefits and Use• 3 industry partners• 20 Publications
Improved Technologies for Geothermal Resource Evaluation
Greg NashUniversity of Utah - EGI
Achievements• Dixie Valley, NV: Hyperspectral
mineralogy/soil mineral anomaly study completed
• Cove Fort-Sulphurdale, UT: Vegetal-spectral anomaly/structure correlation study completed
• Dixie Valley, NV: Thermal infrared study completed
• The Geysers, CA: Three high-precision gravity and GPS field campaigns completed
• Great Basin: Code developed to facilitate semi-automated extensional-tectonic geomorphometric calculations
• Web-based GIS setup for technology transfer and data distribution
Benefits and Use• 12 Publications
Enhanced TIR image - thermal anomalies appear as light areas. TIR data is useful in exploration, hydrologic studies, and field monitoring.
EM Geophysics
P. WannamakerUniversity of Utah - EGI
Achievements• Development, testing and
use of MT and DC inverse algorithms
• Monitoring of production-induced changes; 3-D algorithm development with industry
• Implementation of 2-D and 3-D codes on clusters
• New-generation MT field system
Benefits and Use• 14 Publications
Thermal Stability of Naphthalene Sulfonate Tracers
Tracing Geothermal Fluids
Mike AdamsUniversity of Utah - EGI
Achievements• Developed HFC vapor-
phase tracers
Benefits and Use• Publications and one
special volume of Geothermics resulting from this task
• Throughout The Geysers
THE DEVELOPMENT OF TOOLS FOR MANAGING INJECTION IN GEOTHERMAL RESERVOIRS
Pete RoseUniversity of Utah - EGI
Achievements• Developed 8 very
detectable naphthalene sulfonate tracers for tracing flow in liquid dominated reservoirs to temperatures > 340oC.
Benefits and Use• 16 Publications
Thermal Stability of Naphthalene Sulfonate Tracers
Jay NathwaniU.S. Department of EnergyIdaho Operations OfficeMarch 20, 2003
Geothermal Technologies
Program
Enhanced Geothermal
Systems (EGS)
Enhanced Geothermal Systems
• Engineered Geothermal Reservoir– Improves circulation and productivity
– Improves permeability
– Extends reservoir life
EGS Portfolio
I. Existing geothermal plant with additional generating capability
II. Separate generating facility adjacent to a known Geothermal Resource Area
III. Stand alone in an area with no existing geothermal development
EGS Status
• Solicitation I (April 2002)– Coso/EGI project downselected from 13 proposals
• China Lake Naval Air Weapon Station, CA• Additional 20 MW(e) production• $12M project with $4.5M DOE share (38-62)
• Solicitation II (July 2002)– Calpine
• Glass Mountain, CA• New 49 MW(e) plant• $425K for Phase II (60-40)
– ORMAT• Desert Peak East, NV• New 3-5 MW(e) plant• $464K for Phase I (80-20)
• Solicitation III (FY2005)
EGS I – Solicitation 2000
Coso/EGI project downselected from 13 proposals•China Lake Naval Air Weapon Station, CA•Additional 20 MW(e) production•$12M project with $4.5M DOE share
EGS II – Solicitation 2002
Calpine•Site selection not made•New 49 MW(e) plant•$425K for Phase II
ORMAT•Desert Peak East, NV•New 3-5 MW(e) plant•$360K for Phase I
Other EGS related Projects
• Injection Projects
•Geyser Basin Recharge Project
•Santa Rosa Pipe Line
The Coso EGS Concept
Description: Create and test an EGS through thermal and hydraulic stimulation. Understand the creative process of thermal and hydraulic stimulation.
Ultimately enhance the current geothermal power production by 20MWe.
Partners: Coso Operating Company (COC)United States Geological Survey (USGS)Geomechanics International (GMI)Kansas State University (KSU)Halliburton Energy SystemsTerraTekQuantecQ-con
The Coso Status
• Completed a preliminary analysis of the stress state of the EGS study area (This is needed in order to develop a predictive model about the likelihood of success of a stimulation experiment.)
• Completed an injection study including a microseismics analysis of a candidate EGS injection well (This is a first step in an EGS task to determine the relative importance of thermal and chemical effects on injectivity.)
• Completed a detailed petrographic, petrologic and fluid-inclusion analysis of drill cuttings from several Coso/EGS study wells (This is important for recognizing the geologic conditions that will result in a successful stimulation experiment.)
ORMAT Concept
Description: Define important technical and economical parameters crucial to cost-effective commercial development of EGS Geothermal Power Plant.Create and test an EGS reservoir at Desert Peak East that is capable of sustaining the operation of a power plant power, delivering up to 10 MWe to a utility or other power consumer.
Partners: GeothermEx
ORMAT Status
• Petrologic work has confirmed the correlation between the
cuttings and core from two wells within the EGS area
separated by approximately a mile.
• Thin section and XRD work has defined multiple intervals of
granitic intrusion in the area and is developing an geologic
history for the area.
• This information will be used in refining the target fracture
simulation zones in Phase II of the project.
Calpine Concept
Description: Apply known and new well permeability enhancement techniques to reduce the number of wells needed and demonstrate the applicability of the techniques to other undeveloped or under-developed fields.
Develop a reservoir that is capable of producing up to 49MW EGS geothermal electrical power.
Partners: Calpine and Halliburton
Calpine Status
• Identified production wells at the Geysers and Glass Mountain
that may be suitable for stimulation by acidizing and/or high-
rate injection.
• Updating Glass Mountain exploration and development
permits to include acidizing operations.
Lake County Basin Geothermal Project
Description: Expansion of an existing pipeline to provide additional treated municipal wastewater to The Geysers
DOE 2002 Funds: $1,873,000 (earmark of $2 million with Congressionally-approved reductions)
Partners: Calpine, NCPA, Lake County
Santa Rosa Geysers Project
Description: Construction of a 40-mile pipeline to provide treated municipal wastewater to northern part of The Geysers
DOE 2002 Funds: $1,873,000
Partners: City of Santa Rosa and Calpine