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Repurposing Hydrocarbon Wells for Geothermal Use in the UK: The Onshore Fields with the Greatest Potential

Author

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  • Sean M. Watson

    (James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK)

  • Gioia Falcone

    (James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK)

  • Rob Westaway

    (James Watt School of Engineering, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ, UK)

Abstract

One potential opportunity for the decarbonisation of heat supply in the UK is the repurposing of onshore hydrocarbon wells for the production and/or storage of geothermal heat. This paper reports an investigation into the most favourable candidate sites for such repurposing, taking into consideration the available thermal energy outputs and technological options for heat use. A GIS mapping model was generated, combining public domain data on onshore wells and production data from onshore fields, provided by the UK Oil and Gas Authority, with available subsurface temperature data. This model has thus integrated information on location, depth, operational status, and bottom-hole temperature for onshore hydrocarbon wells with production rates from onshore fields in the UK. Of the 2242 onshore hydrocarbon wells thus reported, 560 have the potential to be repurposed, 292 of which are currently operating. Using aggregated water production data for all operating wells in each field, the fields with the greatest potential for geothermal repurposing are ranked. Two of these, the Wytch Farm and Wareham fields, are selected for more detailed analysis. Wytch Farm, the largest onshore oilfield in western Europe, produces water at ~65 °C that might yield a feasible thermal power output of ~90 MW. If an end use could be found where it might substitute for burning of natural gas, the value of this output would be ~£90,000 per day or ~£30 million per year. However, this field is located in a protected landscape where local development would be restricted by planning regulations. The Wareham field is not in a protected landscape, but the low temperature, ~44 °C, and low flow rate limit the scope of potential end uses. Nonetheless, these and the other highly ranked fields have potential heat outputs that are significant compared with other geothermal heat projects, thus offering the possibility of making useful contributions to the decarbonisation of UK energy use.

Suggested Citation

  • Sean M. Watson & Gioia Falcone & Rob Westaway, 2020. "Repurposing Hydrocarbon Wells for Geothermal Use in the UK: The Onshore Fields with the Greatest Potential," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-29, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:13:y:2020:i:14:p:3541-:d:382236
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Christopher S. Brown & Nigel J. Cassidy & Stuart S. Egan & Dan Griffiths, 2022. "Thermal and Economic Analysis of Heat Exchangers as Part of a Geothermal District Heating Scheme in the Cheshire Basin, UK," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Jello, Josiane & Baser, Tugce, 2023. "Utilization of existing hydrocarbon wells for geothermal system development: A review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 348(C).
    3. Christopher Simon Brown, 2023. "Revisiting the Deep Geothermal Potential of the Cheshire Basin, UK," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-19, January.
    4. Zolfagharroshan, Mohammad & Xu, Minghan & Boutot, Jade & Zueter, Ahmad F. & Tareen, Muhammad S.K. & Kang, Mary & Sasmito, Agus P., 2024. "Assessment of geothermal energy potential from abandoned oil and gas wells in Alberta, Canada," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 375(C).
    5. Theo Renaud & Patrick G. Verdin & Gioia Falcone, 2020. "Conjugated Numerical Approach for Modelling DBHE in High Geothermal Gradient Environments," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    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. Christopher S. Brown & Hannah Doran & Isa Kolo & David Banks & Gioia Falcone, 2023. "Investigating the Influence of Groundwater Flow and Charge Cycle Duration on Deep Borehole Heat Exchangers for Heat Extraction and Borehole Thermal Energy Storage," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-22, March.
    9. Alison A. Monaghan & David A. C. Manning & Zoe K. Shipton, 2020. "Comment on ‘Repurposing Hydrocarbon Wells for Geothermal Use in the UK: The Onshore Fields with the Greatest Potential. Watson et al. (2020)’," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-2, December.
    10. Brown, C.S. & Kolo, I. & Lyden, A. & Franken, L. & Kerr, N. & Marshall-Cross, D. & Watson, S. & Falcone, G. & Friedrich, D. & Diamond, J., 2024. "Assessing the technical potential for underground thermal energy storage in the UK," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 199(C).
    11. Sean M. Watson & Gioia Falcone & Rob Westaway, 2020. "Reply to Comment by Alison A. Monaghan, David A.C. Manning, and Zoe K. Shipton on ‘Repurposing Hydrocarbon Wells for Geothermal Use in the UK: The Onshore Fields with the Greatest Potential, by Watson," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-3, December.

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