Performance Evaluation of an Enhanced Geothermal System in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

Kazemi, Alireza; Mahbaz, SeyedBijan; Dusseault, Maurice B.; Fraser, Roydon

doi:10.1016/j.rser.2019.109278

Cited by 43 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 48 publications

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“…Although initial reservoir temperature (T o ) is the dominant variable, which defines the energy content, the amount of energy production is also related to the reservoir pressure-P (natural or maintained if fluid injection is being exploited). Overall, a higher temperature and pressure reservoir is better [8], but there are a variety of other variables such as reservoir volume, permeability, porosity, storativity, and natural recharge rate (if any) that are important to the commercially viable project duration. Site assessment factors include reservoir geometry (depth, thickness, and lateral extent), flow characteristics (permeability heterogeneity, fracture vs. porous media flow, channels, etc.…”

Section: Geothermal Energy Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unextracted hea in the primary loop fluid is returned to the reservoir through fluid re-injection; if there are low-grade waste heat sources to increase Tout through a downstream heat exchanger, the project life may be extended, and the low-grade heat exploited. The parameter ̇ is mainly a function of the aquifer's permeability, thickness, and layering, the amount o energy desired or achievable, the aquifer's thermal properties and heat recovery time [8] and several secondary factors. A reasonable value for cp is 4180 J/kg•K for pure freshwater somewhat different for geofluids of different salinities.…”

Section: Groundwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Energy is an essential and unavoidable need in today's world and has played a crucial role in human civilization [1][2][3]; demand is increasing, with the principal reasons being the world's growing population and the general desire for an improved life quality [4][5][6][7]. Fossil fuels comprise over 80% of primary energy sources [8,9], but effects arising from greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and air pollution, leading to environmental degradation, global warming, and climate change, are of increasing concern [10][11][12][13]. Geothermal energy, a sustainable and green source, is now meeting some communities' thermal and electrical energy requirements [10,11,14]; it can be reliable in the long term, is environmentally friendly [7,15], and could help reduce fossil fuel consumption [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Well-Doublets: A First-Order Assessment of Geothermal SedHeat Systems

Mahbaz

Yaghoubi

Sarvaramini³

et al. 2021

Applied Sciences

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Renewable and sustainable energy sources can play an important role in meeting the world’s energy needs and also in addressing environmental challenges such as global warming and climate change. Geothermal well-doublet systems can produce both electrical and thermal energy through extracting heat from hot-water aquifers. In this paper, we examine some potential challenges associated with the operation of well-doublet systems, including heat conductivity, chemical, and mechanical issues. In these systems, geomechanics issues such as thermal short-circuiting and induced seismicity arise from temperature and pressure change impacts on the stress state in stiff rocks and fluid flow in fractured rock masses. Coupled chemical processes also can cause fluid channeling or formation and tubular goods plugging (scaling) with precipitates. Mechanical and chemical disequilibrium conditions lead to increased production uncertainties; hence risk, and therefore coupled geo-risk assessments and optimization analyses are needed for comparative commercialization evaluations among different sites. The challenges related to heat transfer processes are also examined. These studies can help better understand the issues that may arise during the operation of geothermal well-doublet systems and improve their effectiveness, subsequently reducing associated costs and risks.

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Section: Geothermal Energy Characteristicsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Groundwatermentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Well-Doublets: A First-Order Assessment of Geothermal SedHeat Systems

Mahbaz

Yaghoubi

Sarvaramini³

et al. 2021

Applied Sciences

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“…Overall, geothermal systems in both Resolute and the considered communities in ON appear to be cost-effective and practical solutions. Mahbaz et al [106], Kazemi et al [24], Soltani et al [22,23], and Dehghani-Sanij et al [107] reported that geothermal energy is renewable, environmentally friendly, local, reliable, resilient, self-contained, self-powered, year-round, robust, and flexible in terms of energy provision. Therefore, the use of geothermal energy systems in cold and remote regions of Canada is an appropriate solution to provide heat for inhabitants.…”

Section: Comparison Of Different Energy Production Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Additionally, burning fossil fuels for electricity generation, heating and cooling needs is deemed a major contributor to emissions of GHGs [3,[18][19][20][21][22][23].Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is a principal GHG agent, and new, long-residence CO 2 is being added to the atmosphere through fossil fuel use. The burning of fossil fuels has produced nearly 500 billion tons of CO 2 since the early 18th century, with almost half of it remaining in the atmosphere [6,24,25]. Yearly anthropogenic CO 2 emissions have increased twofold in the last four decades [22,26,27]; CO 2 emissions in 2011 were 32 billion tons [26,27], and this is expected to reach 36 billion tons by 2020 [27][28][29].…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Geothermal Energy for Sustainable Food Production in Canada’s Remote Northern Communities

et al. 2019

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The cold, remote, northern regions of Canada constitute a challenging environment for the provision of reliable energy and food supply to communities. A transition from fossil fuels to renewables-based sources of energy is one positive step in reducing the greenhouse gases from the energy supply system, which currently requires long-distance transport of diesel for electricity and heating needs. Geothermal energy can not only displace diesel for part of this energy need, it can provide a base-load source of local energy to support food production and mitigate adverse impacts of food insecurity on communities. In this proof-of-concept study, we highlight some potential benefits of using geothermal energy to serve Canada's northern communities. Specifically, we focus on food security and evaluate the technical and economic feasibility of producing vegetables in a "controlled environment", using ground sources of heat for energy requirements at three remote locations-Resolute Bay, Nunavut, as well as Moosonee and Pagwa in Ontario. The system is designed for geothermal district heating combined with efficient use of nutrients, water, and heat to yield a diverse crop of vegetables at an average cost up to 50% lower than the current cost of these vegetables delivered to Resolute Bay. The estimates of thermal energy requirements vary by location (e.g., they are in the range of 41 to 44 kW of thermal energy for a single greenhouse in Resolute Bay). To attain adequate system size to support the operation of such greenhouses, it is expected that up to 15% of the annually recommended servings of vegetables can be provided. Our comparative analysis of geothermal system capital costs shows significantly lower capital costs in Southern Ontario compared to Northern Canada-lower by one-third. Notwithstanding high capital costs, our study demonstrates the technical and economic feasibility of producing vegetables cost-effectively in the cold northern climate. This suggests that geothermal energy systems can supply the heat needed for greenhouse applications in remote northern regions, supplying a reliable and robust source of cost-competitive sustainable energy over the long-term and providing a basis for improved food security and economic empowerment of communities.Energies 2019, 12, 4058 2 of 25 and food insecurity, water scarcity, ocean pollution, and environmental threats, such as climate change, ozone layer depletion, acid rain, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and air pollution [3,[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Limitations of nonrenewable energy sources such as oil, coal, natural gas, and uranium [2,15,16], including the high cost of exploration, exploitation, and transportation, as well as ancillary factors such as political issues [17], have resulted in concerns over energy. Additionally, burning fossil fuels for electricity generation, heating and cooling needs is deemed a major contributor to emissions of GHGs [3,[18][19][20][21][22][23].Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) is a principal GHG agent, and new, long-residence CO 2 is...

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Critical review of multigeneration system powered by geothermal energy resource from the energy, exergy, and economic point of views

Azizi

Esmaeilion

Moosavian

et al. 2022

Energy Science & Engineering

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Concerns about greenhouse gas emissions from fossil fuels have made the use of renewable sources the world's most important energy challenge. Among renewable energies, geothermal energy has a special place due to its sustainable resources and shallow environmental impacts. These energy sources are classified as low-grade thermal energy sources, so they cannot independently provide a high amount of thermal energy. Therefore, extensive studies have been conducted on practical methods of using geothermal energy for multigeneration productions. Studies on geothermal energy-based systems to supply energy to various systems such as chillers, electrolyzers, turbines, and desalination units are reviewed in this study. As the methods, scenarios, and practical possibilities of multigenerational system (MGS) are limited, in this study, while expressing the limitations and problems of these systems, the most critical issues raised in this issue are examined and analyzed, and compatibility, products, Levelized cost of energy, energy and exergy efficiencies, and technical issues are summarized. Also, due to the limitations of geothermal energy sources in recent studies, their combination with other renewable energy sources has been evaluated. Therefore, the classification of studies conducted to combine renewable energy sources with the geothermal system to achieve multigeneration productions is thrown in the last part of this study. The results of the studies show that the combination of geothermal energy with other renewable energy sources is used in 90% of cases to provide heat and cold load and in 10% of cases to generate electrical power. These systems also improve energy and exergy efficiency and economic viability by increasing stability.

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Performance Evaluation of an Enhanced Geothermal System in the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin

Cited by 43 publications

References 48 publications

Well-Doublets: A First-Order Assessment of Geothermal SedHeat Systems

Well-Doublets: A First-Order Assessment of Geothermal SedHeat Systems

Geothermal Energy for Sustainable Food Production in Canada’s Remote Northern Communities

Critical review of multigeneration system powered by geothermal energy resource from the energy, exergy, and economic point of views

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