Deep geothermal single well heat production: critical appraisal under UK conditions

Westaway, R. (2018) Deep geothermal single well heat production: critical appraisal under UK conditions. Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, 51(4), pp. 424-449. (doi: 10.1144/qjegh2017-029)

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Abstract

The idea of Deep Geothermal Single Well (DGSW) heat production has existed for many years, but with no consensus regarding its potential applicability: proponents have made claims regarding thermal outputs that appear exaggerated, whereas detractors have stated that the concept can never be economic unless the capital cost of drilling has already been discounted. However, because this technology offers the potential of delivering geothermal heat projects ‘off the shelf’ with a minimum of site-dependent research, the possibility exists of achieving cost-effective solutions. The present study sets out to investigate this topic subject to environmental and subsidy regimes applicable in the UK; the results might also be useful for other jurisdictions. Under these conditions, the variant of the technology with greatest potential for cost effectiveness is the hcDGSW, or conductive DGSW with heat production via heat pump. Analytic modelling enables the physics of the heat-exchange processes within a hcDGSW to be approximated. It is thus established that this option can indeed be cost-effective under the current UK subsidy regime for deep geothermal heat, provided boreholes are deep enough and in localities where the geothermal gradient is high enough. The environmentally optimum operational mode (optimizing savings in CO2e emissions) involves heat production at a lower rate than the economically optimum mode (maximizing profit). If such projects are subsidized from public funds, then a particular operational mode might be specified, maybe as a compromise between these optima. After the 20 year duration of the subsidy, the technology might well no longer be economic, but the infrastructure might be easily repurposed for seasonal heat storage, thus offering the potential of making a significant long-term contribution to sustainable future heat supply. These preliminary results indicate that more detailed appraisal of this technology variant is warranted.

Item Type:Articles
Additional Information:The author, who has no conflicts of interest, has been funded in part by European Commission Horizon2020 project EC-691728, DESTRESS (DEmonstration of soft Stimulation TREatmentS of geothermal reservoirS).
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Westaway, Dr Robert
Authors: Westaway, R.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology
Publisher:Geological Society
ISSN:1470-9236
ISSN (Online):2041-4803
Published Online:12 June 2018
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2018 The Author
First Published:First published in Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology 51(4): 424-449
Publisher Policy:Reproduced in accordance with the publisher copyright policy

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