Seminar on Utilization of Geothermal Energy in Oil Wells

The two day seminar on use of geothermal energy in oilfields held at Casper during 18th and 19th August allowed the participants from educational institutions, business, utilities and industries, first hand exposure on producing electricity by utilizing hot water from oil and gas fields. The project mainly concentrates on oil wells that produce higher volumes of water than oil.

The concept of producing electricity from hot water used in oil and gas fields was demonstrated at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC) in the Teapot Dome oilfield. During the demonstration process electric pumps were used to remove the residual oil or gas. The water with an inherent heat of over 190°F was then made to pass through a heat exchanger that is used in an Organic Rankine Cycle generator which was used to boil the liquid isopentane, a hydrocarbon related compound kept inside the heat exchanger vessel to produce isopentane gas which is used to rotate the turbine connected to a power generator to produce electric power. The gaseous isopentane is cooled and attains a closed loop for functioning again. It is proved that the generated electric power can either be used to continue the oil extraction process in the field or can be sent to the grid to receive cash credits and also save on infrastructure as they are already erected.

At the RMOTC site the water is not drinkable but clean enough to be let into the Little Teapot Creek and stockpiled in ponds before release to benefit agriculture and wildlife with a production capacity of 220 kW.

A research on the use of Geothermal power at oil extracting sites conducted under the supervision of Will Gosnold at University of North Dakota showed that the implementation of geothermal feature at such oil well sites will pay for itself within seven years time. The research further detailed that in a 25 year life span the oil field can earn around $2.5 million by utilizing the geothermal facility available at the site.