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Heat depletion in sedimentary basins and its effect on the design and electric power output of CO2 Plume Geothermal (CPG) systems

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  • Adams, Benjamin M.
  • Vogler, Daniel
  • Kuehn, Thomas H.
  • Bielicki, Jeffrey M.
  • Garapati, Nagasree
  • Saar, Martin O.

Abstract

CO2 Plume Geothermal (CPG) energy systems circulate geologically stored CO2 to extract geothermal heat from naturally permeable sedimentary basins. CPG systems can generate more electricity than brine systems in geologic reservoirs with moderate temperature and permeability. Here, we numerically simulate the temperature depletion of a sedimentary basin and find the corresponding CPG electricity generation variation over time. We find that for a given reservoir depth, temperature, thickness, permeability, and well configuration, an optimal well spacing provides the largest average electric generation over the reservoir lifetime. If wells are spaced closer than optimal, higher peak electricity is generated, but the reservoir heat depletes more quickly. If wells are spaced greater than optimal, reservoirs maintain heat longer but have higher resistance to flow and thus lower peak electricity is generated. Additionally, spacing the wells 10% greater than optimal affects electricity generation less than spacing wells 10% closer than optimal. Our simulations also show that for a 300 m thick reservoir, a 707 m well spacing provides consistent electricity over 50 years, whereas a 300 m well spacing yields large heat and electricity reductions over time. Finally, increasing injection or production well pipe diameters does not necessarily increase average electric generation.

Suggested Citation

  • Adams, Benjamin M. & Vogler, Daniel & Kuehn, Thomas H. & Bielicki, Jeffrey M. & Garapati, Nagasree & Saar, Martin O., 2021. "Heat depletion in sedimentary basins and its effect on the design and electric power output of CO2 Plume Geothermal (CPG) systems," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 1393-1403.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:172:y:2021:i:c:p:1393-1403
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2020.11.145
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Adams, Benjamin M. & Kuehn, Thomas H. & Bielicki, Jeffrey M. & Randolph, Jimmy B. & Saar, Martin O., 2014. "On the importance of the thermosiphon effect in CPG (CO2 plume geothermal) power systems," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 409-418.
    2. Thomas R. Elliot & Thomas A. Buscheck & Michael Celia, 2013. "Active CO 2 reservoir management for sustainable geothermal energy extraction and reduced leakage," Greenhouse Gases: Science and Technology, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 3(1), pages 50-65, February.
    3. Ezekiel, Justin & Ebigbo, Anozie & Adams, Benjamin M. & Saar, Martin O., 2020. "Combining natural gas recovery and CO2-based geothermal energy extraction for electric power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 269(C).
    4. Adams, Benjamin M. & Kuehn, Thomas H. & Bielicki, Jeffrey M. & Randolph, Jimmy B. & Saar, Martin O., 2015. "A comparison of electric power output of CO2 Plume Geothermal (CPG) and brine geothermal systems for varying reservoir conditions," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 140(C), pages 365-377.
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    2. Mohamed Ezzat & Benjamin M. Adams & Martin O. Saar & Daniel Vogler, 2021. "Numerical Modeling of the Effects of Pore Characteristics on the Electric Breakdown of Rock for Plasma Pulse Geo Drilling," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-16, December.
    3. Justin Ezekiel & Diya Kumbhat & Anozie Ebigbo & Benjamin M. Adams & Martin O. Saar, 2021. "Sensitivity of Reservoir and Operational Parameters on the Energy Extraction Performance of Combined CO 2 -EGR–CPG Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-21, September.
    4. Loschetter, A. & Kervévan, C. & Stead, R. & Le Guénan, T. & Dezayes, C. & Clarke, N., 2025. "Integrating geothermal energy and carbon capture and storage technologies: A review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 210(C).
    5. Ezekiel, Justin & Vahrenkamp, Volker & Hoteit, Hussein A. & Finkbeiner, Thomas & Mai, P. Martin, 2024. "Techno-economic assessment of large-scale sedimentary basin stored–CO2 geothermal power generation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 376(PB).
    6. Schifflechner, Christopher & de Reus, Jasper & Schuster, Sebastian & Corpancho Villasana, Andreas & Brillert, Dieter & Saar, Martin O. & Spliethoff, Hartmut, 2024. "Paving the way for CO2-Plume Geothermal (CPG) systems: A perspective on the CO2 surface equipment," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    7. Norouzi, Amir Mohammad & Pouranian, Fatemeh & Rabbani, Arash & Fowler, Neil & Gluyas, Jon & Niasar, Vahid & Ezekiel, Justin & Babaei, Masoud, 2023. "CO2-plume geothermal: Power net generation from 3D fluvial aquifers," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 332(C).
    8. Malek, Adam E. & Adams, Benjamin M. & Rossi, Edoardo & Schiegg, Hans O. & Saar, Martin O., 2022. "Techno-economic analysis of Advanced Geothermal Systems (AGS)," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 186(C), pages 927-943.

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