There is a quite the story being written today about the ways geothermal energy can help transition an existing oil and gas field into an electricity-generating system. SMU has been leading the research, development and promotion of such a concept for over two decades.
The following is a summarized timeline, featuring historical developments that have helped advance geothermal proof of concepts within O&G fields throughout the US.
1975: Texas Geothermal Resources Act written
1989: First Geopressure power plant in the US, Brazoria County, TX
1992: SMU completes first Geothermal Map of North America
2004: SMU publishes first full-coverage Geothermal Map of North America
2005: UTC builds prototype of PureCycle® (now under PWPS)
2005: Steve Bergman with SMU “discover” RMOTC’s high fluid flow
2006: Chena Hot Springs Resort, Alaska develops geothermal power (500 kw)
2006: 1st SMU Geothermal Conference on Utilizing Oil & Gas Fields
2008: ORMAT Technologies, Inc. installs binary unit at Rocky Mtn Oilfield Testing Center (RMOTC), WY
2008: ElectraTherm, Inc. demonstrates Green Machine on SMU Campus
2009: Texas H.B. 4433 Hydrocarbon Tax Exemption from Severance Oil/Gas Tax for Geothermal Wells
2009: RPSEA.org awards project to Gulf Coast Green Energy and Denbury Resources Inc. in central MS
2009: DOE Geothermal Technologies Program funds projects in ND, TX, LA
2010: Oregon Institute of Technology powers-up with PWPS PureCycle®
2010: DOE Geothermal Low-Temperature “Road Mapping” plan established
2011: North Dakota research compares the current binary technologies for oil field settings and presents at SMU Geothermal Conference
2012: China producing 400 kW electricity from Huabei Oilfield
2013: National Geothermal Database System includes all of Texas RRC O/G data for geothermal projects
2016: Continental Resources, Inc. produce 250 kW of power from waterflood injection using Access Energy Thermapower ORC near Marmarth, ND.
