Design

United Geothermal can evaluate areas to optimize design by various simulation scenarios to produce more economic solutions. Goals are lower cost geothermal (heat and power) for urban and remote First Nations communities, large buildings and industrial needs. 

We can help you find, design and perform simulation to examine safe CCS sites to meet and exceed requirements of CO2 sequestration. Our extensive team experience in large area studies, provide the confidence to meet the challenges of identifying the combined caprock, reservoir quality and size plus seal required.

Heat extraction can be from either hot, permeable, water bearing rocks in the subsurface (Hydrothermal System) or from hot, low permeability rocks with man-made fractures (Enhanced Geothermal System or EGS) where hydraulic communication is established between an injector supplying cooler water and a producer extracting the heated water. The heat transfer mechanisms for both systems are conduction and convection. 

Subsurface heat production can be achieved through either an open-loop design in which interactions exist between the fluid being produced or circulated (e.g. water) and the hot rock, or a closed-loop system where there are no interactions between the circulated fluid and the hot rock. Conductive heat is transferred from the rock, through the casing and the circulated fluid. Several closed-loop designs exist. For example, the design of a co-axial closed-loop system involved fluid injection through the annulus; the fluid is heated and circulated out through the tubing. Green Source will be working on closed loop systems to avoid fracking the subsurface rock.

Designing the right solution for the client is important because of safety, social responsibility, technical and economic feasibility is of utmost priority. Proper design of geothermal systems is also necessary to minimize heat losses (the resource) and surface/environmental footprint, and maximize thermal energy from the subsurface and its scalability over a long period of time, with the least possible amount of pumping power and water, and considering current economic and regulatory framework.

Through leveraging expertise and technology, plans and development schemes are developed to optimize geothermal plays. Appropriate design for a 30-50 year heat use expectation for each project is necessary since there is an upfront investment for well(s) and surface equipment.