OMV completes testing of old natural gas well for geothermal production
Geothermal production test in Vienna Basin (source: OMV)
Carlo Cariaga
25 Nov 2022
OMV has collected positive results from a test for geothermal production at an old natural gas well in the Vienna Basin, Austria.
Austrian oil, gas, and chemicals company OMV has completed production and injection testing of an old natural gas well, Aderklaa-96, to assess its viability for geothermal energy production. The OMV experts are satisfied with the results of the test, indicating a temperature of 102 degrees Celsius and a reinjection rate of up to 40 m3/hour or about 11 liters/second.
A workover had to be done to prepare the Aderklaa-96 well for testing to a depth of 2900 meters. Formation water was produced, stored temporarily at surface facilities, and reinjected back to the formation. Aside from testing several reservoir parameters, samples of the formation water were also collected to evaluate its suitability for geothermal direct use applications.
The testing facility has since been dismantled. The data will be analyzed in the next months to assess both the technical feasibility and economic viability of geothermal energy production at the site.
We had reported on the start of this test a few weeks ago. Well Aderklaa-96 taps into the basement of the Vienna Basin or the “Hauptdolomit.” Project manager Bernhard Novotny explained that the Vienna Basin has a geothermal gradient of about 3 degrees Celsius per 100 meters. This is in line with the actual temperature of the well measured during the test.
“OMV aims to become a net-zero emissions company by no later than 2050. That is why geothermal energy plays an important role in OMV’s low carbon business. Our strength in the geothermal sector is our extensive expertise above and below ground. We are using our know-how to drive the energy transition,” said Angelika Zartl-Klik, OMV Senior Vice President Low Carbon Business.
OMV is also in partnership with ZeroGeo Energy for Projekt THERMO – an exploration project to evaluate the potential for geothermal power generation in Lower Saxony, Germany. The aerial surveys for this project had just recently commenced.
Source: OMV
