pumped well

Geothermal Well Productivity: Why Hotter is Not Always Better

Basic Information
Author: 
Sanyal, S.K.
Author: 
Morrow, J.W.
Author: 
Butler, S.J.
Description: 
This paper investigates the practical range of net power capacity available from conventional and Enhanced Geothermal System (“EGS”) wells as a function of temperature. For a geothermal resource temperature up to about 190°C, which is the operating temperature limit of presently available downhole pumps, wells are typically pumped and power is usually generated in a binary-cycle plant, and in rare cases in a flash-cycle or hybrid-cycle plant. In this temperature range under the current state of downhole pump technology, the net MW capacity of a well has a practical upper limit of about 7.3 MW, irrespective of how high the well’s productivity index is. This capacity limit cannot be improved unless technology can be improved to allow pumping at a higher rate than the present practical limit of about 160 l/s (2,500 gallons per minute); improving the temperature tolerance of pumps, by itself, will not increase this capacity limit. For resource temperatures greater than 190°C, wells must be self-flowed, and power is generated from such wells in a flash-cycle or hybrid-cycle plant.
Publication Date: 
Monday, January 1, 2007
Resource Language: 
English
Intelectual Originator Contact
Organization Name: 
GeothermEx, Inc.
Street Address: 
3260 Blume Drive,Suite 220
City: 
Richmond
State/Province: 
CA
Postal Code: 
94806
Country: 
United States
Phone: 
510-527-9876
Fax: 
510-527-8164
Resource Information
Access Statement: 
Abstract available online at http://www.geothermex.com/files/Sanyal_2007-4.pdf For a copy of this paper please e-mail us at mw@geothermex.com
Resource Distribution Contact
Organization Name: 
GeothermEx, Inc.
Street Address: 
3260 Blume Drive,Suite 220
City: 
Richmond
State/Province: 
CA
Postal Code: 
94806
Country: 
United States
Phone: 
510-527-9876
Fax: 
510-527-8164
Geographic Extent
North bounding latitude: 
39.5912
South bounding latitude: 
34.4005
West bounding longitude: 
-122.52
East bounding longitude: 
-117.07
Previous Citation
Bibliographic Citation: 
Subir K. Sanyal, James W. Morrow, and Steven J. Butle, 2007. Geothermal Well Productivity: Why Hotter is Not Always Better. GeothermEx, Inc., Richmond, California.
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