Feasibility analysis of the implementation of geothermal energy in waters associated for the production of hydrocarbons

Abstract

The water-cut or ratio of water to oil is about 92% or higher per day in Colombia. In some oil basins like Los Llanos or Putumayo, the water is extracted with relatively high temperatures that are 115 °C, a potential geothermal resource of low-to-medium enthalpy. Usually, this hot water is wasted instead of being used as a resource to generate electricity by the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) technology. In this paper, an ORC power plant’s technical and economic feasibility analysis is carried out for an oil field with the characteristics mentioned above. The base case for the technical simulation compiles the characteristics and optimal conditions that allow the ORC plant’s proper performance. A sensitivity analysis of mass flow and temperature allows the best working fluid and optimum mass flows to obtain the ORC plant’s best efficiency. As a result, an ORC module with a geothermal fluid input of 30 kg/s and a power output of 1.5 MW is technically feasible. Economically, this module presents an IRR higher than 17% over 8 years. The production of efficient, favorable, and sustainable energy through the development of co-generation projects such as ORC geothermal plants can contribute to an oil field’s energy demand with positive impacts in a noon carbon tax causation. In addition, this type of project also has social impacts facilitating remote communities to access electricity and clean energy.