Open AccessInvestigation and definition of parameters associated with testing geopressure water: An Interim Report, June 1, 1975--August 31, 1976
Author(s) -
O.C. Karkalits,
Jimmie Hodges,
Paul H. Jones
Publication year - 1976
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Reports
DOI - 10.2172/891049
Subject(s) - geothermal gradient , interim , resource (disambiguation) , aquifer , geological survey , environmental impact statement , geology , borehole , geothermal energy , drilling , hydrology (agriculture) , geography , archaeology , environmental impact assessment , paleontology , engineering , groundwater , computer science , ecology , mechanical engineering , computer network , geotechnical engineering , biology
Prior to the initiation of this project, considerable literature had appeared in technical journals, particularly geological journals, describing the potential value of the energy contained in hot geopressured waters along the northern Gulf of Mexico coast. The geographic region of interest was identified as the area between Brownsville and Pensacola, approximately 200 miles wide and 750 miles long and therefore containing about 150,000 square miles of surface area. The resource was estimated as lying at depths between 5,000 and 25,000 feet. Although many descriptions of this resource had been written, not much experimental data were available regarding the actual analyses of these waters, especially the methane content. ERDA Geothermal division sponsored the current project to find out the precise analysis of the waters in the geopressured zone in a specific South Louisiana shut in gas well. This information was desired as a prelude to additional resource development projects. If the experimental results of this project were negative, doubts would be raised that there should be serious attempts at other development projects. If the results were positive (i.e., the waters were saturated with methane suggested by hydrogeological theory of this region) then ERDA would feel encouraged to proceed with larger scale projects, especially the drilling and completion of an on-purpose geopressured geothermal well. The project was funded for the purpose of dynamic testing two aquifers tapped by an existing gas well in the Tigre Lagoon field in Vermilion Parish. Some information about the characteristics of the reservoir fluid and the behavior of the reservoir under varying flow conditions was to be obtained. The analyses of the water would be run concurrently with the flow tests