Geothermal energy potential of Indian oilfields

Abstract

Geothermal energy is one of the renewable energy sources that have gained extensive recognition as an alternative energy source to fossil fuel energy because of its sustainability and low impact on the environment. However, in spite of the benefits of geothermal energy, drilling costs often hinders the development of geothermal fields for production. The drilling costs can be reduced to a great extent by using the abandoned oil and gas wells, surrounded by hot water, for geothermal resource development. The depth and abundance of abandoned wells in oilfields make them an economically attractive source for geothermal energy. Indian oilfields have several abandoned oil/gas wells and have huge potential for geothermal energy. Such oilfields are discussed in this paper. Geothermal energy resources in the oilfields can be categorized in two categories: (1) High temperature co-produced water—from deep oil/gas wells or from high-temperature shallow formation, thus, heat can be extracted through double-pipe heat exchanger in a single well, (2) Another approach to extract geothermal energy could be in situ combustion of difficult-to-extract hydrocarbons from the formation. In-situ combustion of hydrocarbons produces enormous heat that can be utilized for power generation. A detailed design for the heat recovery from the oil field is also discussed here.