New DOE research initiative will tap vast oil production waste resource

In Washington, a new collaboration between the Office of Fossil Energy (FE) and the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy’s (EERE) Geothermal Technologies Program (GTP) to demonstrate low temperature geothermal electrical power generation systems using oilfield fluids produced at the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC) in Wyoming has been announced by the Department of Energy (DOE).

The DOE says that an incredible 10 barrels of hot water are estimated to be produced along with each barrel of oil in the U.S., which for the time being is considered a waste by-product. The multi-year collaboration is intended to demonstrate the versatility, reliability, and widespread deployment capabilities of low temperature geothermal electricity production systems that work off of this co-produced water from oilfield operations.

Ultimately the GTP hopes to collect operational and performance data for various climates and system configurations from the project and make the information freely available, educating the industry and public about the high potential of geothermal renewable energy from this wasted resource.

Under the deal, EERE is providing funding for the purchase of a low temperature geothermal electricity producing unit from Ormat Technologies, Inc. The electricity produced will power field production equipment, offsetting purchased electricity and other applications are being explored. RMOTC, which has a producing oilfield and long standing expertise with fossil energy, will showcase its capability to serve as the optimal testing facility for geothermal technologies, while facilitating knowledge sharing between the geothermal and petroleum industries.

DOE says that the project’s intent is to bridge a gap between the two disciplines that can both benefit from synergistic activities. Low temperature geothermal sources and co-produced fluids hold significant promise for electrical generation in the near term.