Geothermal resources have been used in Poland since the 90s of the last century. Since then, several geothermal heating plants, recreation and balneological centers have been operated. Accessing geothermal resources is possible due to deep boreholes that are either brand-new wells or old but revitalized petroleum and/or exploratory wells. In this case, the construction of production and injection wells is of significant importance. The utilization of deep geothermal energy resources is strongly dependent on the binding domestic law regulations – primarily in case of acquiring the concession enabling an execution of geological and drilling works, and subsequently a proper exploitation. The paper presents the current state of development of the geothermal energy sector in Poland, indicating examples of exploitation systems based on deep boreholes. Furthermore, the constructions of existing wells are discussed extensively. The existing examples of old but reconstructed wells in Poland, are characterized. The importance of national law and its influence on the development of a geothermal investment is highlighted, as well.
Geothermal energy is an internal heat of the Earth, that is a prospective and sustainable source of renewable energy. In Poland, despite having significant amount of low-temperature geothermal resources, its share in the national energy mix remains marginal but growing. Currently, the utilisation of geothermal resources is related to hydrogeothermal resources, that are used mainly in space heating, recreation and balneotherapy. Nevertheless, the indication of potential electricity production is under research. The utilisation of geothermal resources entails a plenty of environmental benefits that are particularly important in the context of the present pollution problem. Therefore, the development of the geothermal energy sector is of relevant importance and with appropriate legal and financial conditions it may have a bearing on improvement of the environment’s quality and, ipso facto, living in Poland. Thus, this paper presents numerous possibilities of obtaining a financial support for investments in geothermal energy sector. Selected funding and financial backing systems currently available in Poland are discussed. The importance of opportunity of obtaining a financial support for an investment as one of the crucial factors for the geothermal sector development is emphasised. Moreover, the examples of installations implemented in the country in the context of obtained funding are presented.
There are many oil and gas fields around the world where the vast number of wells have been abandoned or suspended, mainly due to the depletion of reserves. Those abandoned oil and gas wells (AOGWs) are often located in areas with a prospective geothermal potential and might be retrofitted to a geothermal system without high-cost drilling. In Poland, there are thousands of wells, either operating, abandoned or negative, that might be used for different geothermal applications. Thus, the aim of this paper is not only to review geothermal and petroleum facts about the Eastern Carpathian Foredeep, but also to find out the areas, geological structures or just AOGWs, which are the most prospective in case of geothermal utilization. Due to the inseparability of geological settings with both oil and gas, as well as geothermal conditionings, firstly, the geological background of the analyzed region was performed, considering mainly the autochthonous Miocene formation. Then, geothermal and petroleum detailed characteristics were made. In the case of geothermal parameters, such as formation’s thickness, temperatures, water-bearing horizons, wells’ capacities, mineralization and others were extensively examined. Considering oil and gas settings, insights into reservoir rocks, hydrocarbon traps and migration paths issues were created. Then, for evaluating geothermal parameters for specific hydrocarbon reservoirs, their depths were established based on publicly available wells data. Thereafter, the average temperatures for selected reservoirs were set. As the effect, it turned out that most of the deposits have average temperatures of 40/50 °C, nonetheless, there are a few characterized by higher (even around 80 °C) temperatures at reasonable depths.
The paper describes application of the cross-impact method in the process of selecting locations and technologies used in a geothermal system based on energy accumulated in a dry rock formation, where CO2 is used as the working medium. The survey is based on the opinion of a group of 20 experts representing different fields of earth and technical sciences. They represent Norway and Poland, where the location of such a system is considered. Based on experts’ experience and opinions, all factors that seem to be significant were classified into the following groups: targets, key factors, results, determiners, motor and brakes, regulating factors, external factors, auxiliary factors, and autonomous factors. Direct influences between variables were indicated. Due to major differences in geological conditions in Poland and Norway, the factor of on- or offshore technology was pointed out as the primary determiner. Among key factors, the system operation’s long-term safety and level of technological readiness were indicated. As a target factor, an interest of local authority was pointed out. Among the variables that are important when selecting locations for this type of system, nine are essential: (1) Formal constraints related to local nature protection areas—this variable is essential in the case of an onshore system; (2) Availability of CO2 sources; (3) Level of geological recognition; (4) The distance of the CO2-EGS from a thermal energy user and electricity grid; (5) Existing wells and other infrastructure; (6) Depth of the EGS system; (7) Water depth if offshore, this variable is only important when offshore systems are involved; (8) Physical parameters of reservoir rocks; (9) Reservoir temperature.
Since the oil crises in the 1970s, geothermal resources have received much attention and researches aimed at its recognition have been conducted all around the globe. Nevertheless, the investment cost associated mainly with drilling works is a crucial limitation for the successful implementation of new geothermal projects. The radical solution affecting the cost effectiveness of any geothermal investments might be an adaptation of existing un-exploited boreholes of the oil and gas sector for geothermal purposes. Moreover, a few studies on heat and/or energy recovery from oil and gas provinces have indicated that a tremendous amount of geothermal energy co-exists with petroleum fields. Thereby, the article centres on global concepts related to the adaptation of boreholes after the exploitation of hydrocarbon deposits or negative exploratory wells in order to exploit geothermal energy resources. Selected concepts focused on possible electricity production and the space heating sector are discussed. Other potential technologies based on utilization of geothermal energy attained by borehole heat exchangers are also indicated.
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