An Estimate of the Near-Term Electricity-Generation Potential of Coproduced Water From Active Oil and Gas Wells

Abstract

Summary This study estimates the near-term market electricity-generation potential of water produced as a byproduct from active oil and gas operations. A geographic information system (GIS) was developed to combine oil- and gas-well location, depth, and water-production information from 2.5 million wells (half a million of which were identified as active, producing wells) with geothermal-resource maps and to estimate the power-generation potential of the coproduction resource. The study found that the near-term market potential for the coproduction resource from active oil and gas wells is approximately 300 MW of electrical output (MWe), which is less than suggested in previous studies.