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NETL Researchers Study CO2
Sequestrations in Unmineable Coal Seams
Researchers at DOE's National Energy Technology
Laboratory (NETL) have shown that changes to the produced
water chemistry and the potential for mobilizing toxic trace
elements from coal beds are important factors to be
considered when evaluating deep, unmineable coal seams for
CO2 sequestration. The research was focused on
changes in the produced water during enhanced coal bed
methane production, using a CO2 injection
process. Details of this exploratory evaluation of
mobilization of trace elements from coal have been published
in the International Journal of Environment and Pollution.
A high volatile bituminous coal, Pittsburgh No. 8, was
reacted with synthetic produced water and gaseous carbon
dioxide to evaluate the potential for mobilization of toxic
metals during CO2-enhanced coal bed methane
sequestration. Microscopic and X-ray diffraction analysis of
the post-reaction coal samples clearly show evidence of
chemical reaction, and chemical analysis of the synthetic
produced water shows substantial changes in composition.
For more information, view the article online at
www.netl.doe.
gov/newsroom/labnotes/08-2007.html#2.
Economic Impact of DOE's National Energy
Technology Laboratory Estimated
A recently prepared
economic report indicates that DOE's National Energy
Technology Laboratory (NETL) contributed $283 million and
supported nearly 3,200 jobs during 2006 in the Pennsylvania
and West Virginia region. This reflects both the direct and
indirect impact of NETL's operational activities and
research funding. The report was prepared by NETL in
conjunction with Carnegie Mellon University and West
Virginia University.
The report,
entitled National, State, and Regional Economic and
Environmental Impacts of NETL, details the results of a
12-month study that examined NETL's impacts in the region
surrounding the laboratory's sites in Pittsburgh, PA. and
Morgantown, W.Va. For 2006, every $1 spent by NETL generated
$1.47 in economic activity. Also, every $1 million spent by
NETL supported 20 jobs
within the region.
According to NETL economist Lisa Phares, "The
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results from the study
are conservative as they do not include regional impacts of
technology deployment, educational outreach programs, or
induced impacts, namely those derived from employee
spending."
For more
information, view DOE's TechLine at
www.fe.doe.gov/news/
techlines/2007/07069NETL_
Impacts_Local_Economy.html.
RMOTC Testing Geothermal Power from Oilfield Brine
DOE's Rocky
Mountain Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC) intends to expand
its testing and demonstration of power production from
low-temperature co-produced oilfield water. Initial projects
will use 190ºF water co-produced with oil, primarily from
the Tensleep Formation, at depths of about 2,500 feet. An
abundance of relatively fresh, hot water (180º-200ºF) is
produced there. Further development of the geothermal
resource may come from production of water from deeper and
hotter aquifer rocks below the oil-producing zones. View
project information online at
www.rmotc.doe.
gov/Pdfs/geothermal.pdf.
This past June,
Southern Methodist University hosted a two-day conference
that focused on "Geothermal Energy Utilization Associated
With Oil & Gas Development" (www.smu.edu/geo
thermal/Oil&Gas/2007/Geothermal
_energy_utilization.htm).
Those interested in exploring how "value" might be realized
from previously wasted energy are encouraged to investigate
the possibilities. Geothermal energy can be extracted from
the well fluids using newly designed compact turbines with
binary fluids. These systems are now sized to fit single
wells or multiple wells with an approximate fluid
temperature differential of 120°F+ between produced and
cooling temperatures. Thus, in the Gulf Coast, temperatures
of 200°F or higher are eligible.
This electrical
production (geothermal energy) is renewable and considered a
baseload source since it is capable of producing 24 hours a
day. This capability gives new life to low yield producers
with high water volume, providing a reason to keep them
pumping. Undesirable high water flow geopressure wells
become an immediate revenue path if converted to electrical
production. Converting wells to be abandoned to geothermal
energy production may be an option.
Deep Trek Projects Reach Milestones
Deep Trek, NETL's
program to develop technologies for the extreme downhole
conditions encountered in ultra-deep natural gas drilling,
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continues to make
progress with several projects recently achieving major
milestones.
Honeywell Electronic Components:
In 2003, NETL awarded a $9.3 million, cost-shared contract
to Honeywell to develop four critical high-temperature
electronic components. Testing has been successful for four
key components that industry indicated they need.
- An
electrically erasable, programmable, read-only memory (EEPROM)
chip.
- A precision
amplifier (OpAmp), which conditions data signals
received from downhole sensors.
- A
field-programmable gate array (FPGA), which is a
semiconductor device whose components and
interconnections feature programmable logic. These
flexible chips can be reprogrammed in the field to
accommodate a change in purpose for a particular
electronic circuit.
- An 18-bit
Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC), which converts
continuous signals to discrete digits.
End users will be
responsible for providing packaging that will withstand
anticipated high pressures.
MWD tools: Schlumberger
Ltd. successfully tested a NETL-funded prototype HT/HP MWD
tool under development at its Sugar Land, TX, research
facility. Schlumberger conducted tests at its Genesis test
facility, which simulates real-world HT/HP conditions. Data
gathered there were used to prepare for planned field
testing. Work is continuing on issues identified during the
tests.
Supercement: CSI
Technologies chose two cement types for further field
testing as "supercements" needed for HT/HP wells. CSI
determined that resin and magnesium oxide cements showed
very good mechanical strength and bonding characteristics as
well as exhibiting properties that remain controllable at
HT/HP conditions. A second supercement formulation developed
by CSI is Portland cement-based. This cement expands to a
greater degree than conventional cements during the curing
process, and in the confined wellbore environment develops
significant cement matrix compressive stress during cure,
resulting in a compressive pre-load.
For more
information on these and other DOE projects, view DOE's E&P
Focus online at
www.netl.
doe.gov/technologies/oil-gas/
ReferenceShelf/EPFocusApril
2007.html. |
DOE
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