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The feasibility and potential of geothermal heat in the deep Alberta foreland basin-Canada for CO2 savings

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  • Majorowicz, Jacek
  • Moore, Michal

Abstract

The identification, mapping and evaluation of geothermal resources are an important component of a diversified and resilient energy system. Geothermal resources offer an important series of contributions from direct (low temperature) heat to electric generation (from EGS or Enhanced Geothermal Systems). While not ideal, Alberta has a wide range of subsurface heat resources that are coincident with load and can be developed in the future at reasonable cost. We assess that geothermal energy output from sources at depth for temperature range between 120 and 150 °C accessed from 4 to 5 km wells in very western portions of the Alberta basin can be as competitive as gas burning even at these prices. For the 5 km depth and 150 °C, the cost of thermal energy can be as low as 2 $ per GJ thermal equivalence for expected EGS flow rates of 5–50 kg/s, with 30 year expected plant life. Replacement of gas heating utilizing EGS systems could form part of a long range target for industry emission reductions. For example, 1000 (2 wells each) heat generating systems across Alberta drawing 100 °C from deep wells in deep sedimentary basin or deep granites can save >30 MT CO2 per year. Oilsands operations generate some >40 MT per year and in Alberta more than 300,000 wells have been drilled by oil and gas industry.

Suggested Citation

  • Majorowicz, Jacek & Moore, Michal, 2014. "The feasibility and potential of geothermal heat in the deep Alberta foreland basin-Canada for CO2 savings," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 541-549.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:66:y:2014:i:c:p:541-549
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2013.12.044
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Simon Weides & Jacek Majorowicz, 2014. "Implications of Spatial Variability in Heat Flow for Geothermal Resource Evaluation in Large Foreland Basins: The Case of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-22, April.
    2. Schiffner, Daniel & Banks, Jonathan & Rabbani, Arif & Lefsrud, Lianne & Adamowicz, Wiktor, 2022. "Techno-economic assessment for heating cattle feed water with low-temperature geothermal energy: A case study from central Alberta, Canada," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 1105-1120.
    3. Palmer-Wilson, K. & Banks, J. & Walsh, W. & Robertson, B., 2018. "Sedimentary basin geothermal favourability mapping and power generation assessments," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 1087-1100.
    4. Lazzaroni, E. & Elsholkami, M. & Martelli, E. & Elkamel, A., 2017. "Design and simulation of a petcoke gasification polygeneration plant integrated with a bitumen extraction and upgrading facility and net energy analysis," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 880-891.
    5. Wang, Kai-Hua & Liu, Lu & Li, Xin & Oana-Ramona, Lobonţ, 2022. "Do oil price shocks drive unemployment? Evidence from Russia and Canada," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 253(C).
    6. Rahmanifard, Hamid & Plaksina, Tatyana, 2019. "Hybrid compressed air energy storage, wind and geothermal energy systems in Alberta: Feasibility simulation and economic assessment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 143(C), pages 453-470.
    7. Hu, Xincheng & Banks, Jonathan & Guo, Yunting & Liu, Wei Victor, 2022. "Utilizing geothermal energy from enhanced geothermal systems as a heat source for oil sands separation: A numerical evaluation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PA).
    8. Jacek Majorowicz & Vasile Minea, 2015. "Geothermal Energy Potential in Low Enthalpy Areas as a Future Energy Resource: Identifying Feasible Targets, Quebec, Canada, Study Case," Resources, MDPI, vol. 4(3), pages 1-24, July.
    9. Majorowicz, Jacek & Grasby, Stephen E., 2019. "Deep geothermal energy in Canadian sedimentary basins VS. Fossils based energy we try to replace – Exergy [KJ/KG] compared," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 141(C), pages 259-277.
    10. Jacek Majorowicz & Stephen E. Grasby, 2021. "Deep Geothermal Heating Potential for the Communities of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(3), pages 1-37, January.
    11. Moore, Kayla R. & Holländer, Hartmut M., 2020. "Feasibility of low-temperature geothermal systems: Considerations of thermal anomalies, geochemistry, and local assets," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 275(C).

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