News

Canada: Borealis GeoPower’s co-production project with provincial funding

Alexander Richter 28 Sep 2009

Canadian geothermal developer Borealis GeoPower's co-production project receives provincial funding in Alberta. The project goal is to research the effective utilization of geothermal energy from deep oil and gas wells in the Canadian Foothills for the production of electrical power.

Canadian geothermal developer Borealis GeoPower already announced this in August, but I thought it still would be very much valid to post. Thanks to my Canadian friends to point out this very interesting project to me.

“Alberta Energy Research Institute has approved “The Borealis Project” under the Clean Air and Climate Change: Technology and Innovation Program. The project goal is to research the effective utilization of geothermal energy from deep oil and gas wells in the Canadian Foothills for the production of electrical power.

Recognition that former oil and gas wells and facilities have the potential for geothermal production was recently initiated by Dr. David Blackwell with SMU (Southern Methodist University) and applied to the oil fields in Texas and other southern states. For more information about similar projects in the US market visit the Rocky Mountain Oilfield Testing webpage “Geothermal electrical generation holds promise for older oil fields”

At present, this hot water resource is readily available through the existence of numerous deep, end-of-life oil and gas wells in the Canadian Foothills and the use of the hot water resource for electricity production has the potential to increase energy efficiency and offer carbon offsets for the oil and gas companies. Borealis Geopower is currently working on advancing a geothermal energy pilot project involving the use of this heated waste water for electricity generation.

This innovative “co-production” research project has recently been approved for $2.6 million in funding through the Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI): Clean Air and Climate Change: Technology and Innovation Initiative http://www.aeri.ab.ca. Borealis is currently open to discussion with Oil and Gas Partners that have oil and gas production programs with significant waste water at 80C plus temperatures. For more information please contact craig at borealisgeopower.com.”

Source: Borealis GeoPower