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Potential for heat production by retrofitting abandoned gas wells into geothermal wells

Author

Listed:
  • Asif Mehmood
  • Jun Yao
  • Dongyan Fan
  • Kelvin Bongole
  • Junrong Liu
  • Xu Zhang

Abstract

Using abandoned gas wells as geothermal resources for energy production is an effective way to extract geothermal energy from geological formations. These abandoned wells have the potential to significantly contribute in the rising global demand for energy without requiring the land disruption resulting from deep drilling or digging, processes necessary for energy extraction from geological formations via more traditional methods. In this paper, a method to extract geothermal energy from abandoned gas wells is proposed. The method offers an efficient, economical, and environmentally-conscious way to generate electricity. A mathematical model of a thermal and hydraulic coupling process is constructed, and a 3D numerical model is generated to study the process of geothermal energy extraction by retrofitting an abandoned gas reservoir into a geothermal reservoir. Using the model, heat extraction and fluid flow are analyzed over a period of 50 years. The heat production, electricity generation, and thermal recovery over the lifetime of the reservoir indicate that a commercially viable geothermal dual well system can produce geothermal energy effectively. Dual-well systems contain at least one injection well and one production well. They are composed of a two-way flow system in which the fluid flows into the reservoir via an injection well and returns from the production well having absorbed thermal energy from the surrounding rocks. Sensitivity analysis of the main parameters controlling the average outlet temperature of the fluid from the sedimentary geothermal system reveals that abandoned gas wells are a suitable source of geothermal energy. This energy can be harvested via a method whose use of reservoir fluids differs from that of the traditional method of closed-loop circulation via a borehole heat exchanger. Here, it is demonstrated that abandoned oil and gas fields can be repurposed to be geothermal energy sources that provide low-cost electricity and are economically sustainable.

Suggested Citation

  • Asif Mehmood & Jun Yao & Dongyan Fan & Kelvin Bongole & Junrong Liu & Xu Zhang, 2019. "Potential for heat production by retrofitting abandoned gas wells into geothermal wells," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 14(8), pages 1-19, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0220128
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0220128
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    3. Li, Xinxin & Li, Chengyu & Gong, Wenping & Zhang, Yanjie & Wang, Junchao, 2023. "Probabilistic analysis of heat extraction performance in enhanced geothermal system based on a DFN-based modeling scheme," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 263(PC).
    4. Gola, Gianluca & Di Sipio, Eloisa & Facci, Marina & Galgaro, Antonio & Manzella, Adele, 2022. "Geothermal deep closed-loop heat exchangers: A novel technical potential evaluation to answer the power and heat demands," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 1193-1209.
    5. Chaohui Zhou & Yue Hu & Yuce Liu & Rujie Liu & Yongqiang Luo & Xiao Wang & Huiheng Luo, 2024. "Study on the Operation Optimization of Medium-Depth U-Type Ground Source Heat Pump Systems," Energies, MDPI, vol. 17(13), pages 1-15, June.
    6. Duggal, R. & Rayudu, R. & Hinkley, J. & Burnell, J. & Wieland, C. & Keim, M., 2022. "A comprehensive review of energy extraction from low-temperature geothermal resources in hydrocarbon fields," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    7. Isa Kolo & Christopher S. Brown & Gioia Falcone & David Banks, 2023. "Repurposing a Geothermal Exploration Well as a Deep Borehole Heat Exchanger: Understanding Long-Term Effects of Lithological Layering, Flow Direction, and Circulation Flow Rate," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-24, February.
    8. Luka Boban & Dino Miše & Stjepan Herceg & Vladimir Soldo, 2021. "Application and Design Aspects of Ground Heat Exchangers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-31, April.

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