Abstract:
In Pakistan, about 689 Oil & Gas exploratory wells have been drilled down to depth ranging from +230m to +6400m. Out of these wells more than 450 wells have been abandoned. In spit of all exploratory efforts, the present Oil & Gas production and new discoveries fall much shorter than ever-increasing energy needs of the country. Present study anticipates that the huge investment on the abandoned wells can indirectly be cashed back by using achieve subsurface data relevant to thermal characteristics of the deeper rock sequences. Present study shows encouraging geothermal gradient anomalies in lower Indus Basin associated with buried fossil-fail-rift basement structures. Aeromagnetic investigation has also revealed significant prospects for the “hot dry rock” geothermal energy in Kharan-Panjgur tectonic depression in western part of Pakistan. Literature research shows that the hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal environment offers enormous potential for electricity production. These resources are generally deeper than the hydrothermal resources. Hot dry rock energy c comes f from r relatively water-free hot r rock f found at a depth of about 4,000 meters or more beneath the earth`s surface. In contrast to a geothermal field in one of the volcanic/tectonic anomalies, the HDR system depends on the artificial stimulation of tight formations by hydraulic fracturing to create an underground heat exchanger. Fluid will, in operation, be circulated in a closed circuit mode, whereby reservoir pressures and fluid throughputs are managed by balanced production and injection rates in multiple well arrays. Present paper describes the unique application of archive data of Oil & Gas exploratory wells to develop renewable and sustainable energy generation option in Pakistan.
Page(s):
145-151
DOI:
DOI not available
Published:
Journal: Proceedings SPE-PAPG Annual Technical Conference, Volume: 0, Issue: , Year: 2008