SMU Researchers Return to Dallas

October 4, 2016

Nome and Home Safe

By Casey Brokaw, SMU Master’s student

After two exhilarating weeks of collecting heat flow and temperature data on the Beaufort Sea, we finally saw some land and successfully ported in Nome, Alaska on Monday September 26th, 2016. Our journey let us behold sights we had never seen before, such as a mother polar bear and her cubs, sea ice in all shapes and sizes, and the Northern Lights, though the first sight of land in two weeks had to rank near the top. The sighting was of Sledge Island, Alaska, a primitive piece of land covered in clouds located west of Nome, AK along the Bering Strait. After the surreal sighting of Sledge Island we safely pulled into the harbor of Nome, AK, a truly frontier town and our first piece of solid ground in 14 days. Making sure our onboard equipment was properly stowed and accounted before disembarking was a key and mission critical task and once completed we safely stepped foot on dry land, and step foot we did.

The mysterious Sledge Island, AK, our first sighting of land in 2 weeks.
The mysterious Sledge Island, AK, our first sighting of land in 2 weeks.
Waiting to pull into to the harbor at Nome, AK
Waiting to pull into to the harbor at Nome, AK.

Fighting our sea legs, the researcher team explored Nome on Monday night and Tuesday morning before our homeward flights, enjoying the local fare and sights Nome had to offer. The history of Nome rivals that of any major city in the lower 48 states, with its gold rush and the classic shipment of diphtheria serum by dog sled in the beginning of the 20th century, which led to some very interesting and rightly deserved monuments throughout the town. After our exploration of Nome, we made sure all of our equipment and bags were in order and we headed off to the airport to head home. All in all the trip was fantastic, with numerous heat flow data points collected in the Arctic Ocean and everyone remaining safe and sound, we were happy to be headed back home.

Old Saint Joseph's Church in Nome, AK at sunrise. One of the oldest buildings in Nome (1901) the church would light up at night in order to guide in wayward land travelers during the gold rush.
Old Saint Joseph’s Church in Nome, AK at sunrise. One of the oldest buildings in Nome (1901) the church would light up at night in order to guide in wayward land travelers during the gold rush.

For more information on SMU Geothermal Lab research, check our website.

The History of Geothermal and O&G Working Together

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

Early collection of temperature-depth data by the SMU Geothermal Lab
Early collection of temperature-depth data by the SMU Geothermal Laboratory
Collection of temperature-depth data by the SMU Geothermal Lab
Collection of temperature-depth data by the SMU Geothermal Laboratory

2004: SMU publishes first full-coverage Geothermal Map of North America

2004 SMU Geothermal Map of North America
2004 SMU 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

Demonstration of the Green Machine at SMU
Demonstration of the Green Machine at SMU

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

Green Machine at the Denbury Project in Mississippi
Green Machine at the Denbury Project in Mississippi

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.

Access Energy / University of North Dakota project with Continental Resources, Inc. in North Dakota
Access Energy / University of North Dakota project with Continental Resources, Inc. in North Dakota

Welcome to the SMU Geothermal Laboratory Blog

First, an introduction to who we are and what we do.

The SMU Geothermal Laboratory is part of the Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Science at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.  The Lab was established in 970 by Dr. David Blackwell, Professor Emeritus and former Hamilton Professor.

The Geothermal Lab is a self-funded research facility, with a variety of ongoing geothermal resource projects.  Our faculty, staff, and students strive to broaden the understanding and use of geothermal energy, from the simplest form – geothermal heat pumps for buildings, to the large-scale deployment of geothermal power plants providing energy for our cities.

Our research also explores opportunities to integrate renewable geothermal projects in an oil & gas setting.  To further this goal, we are hosting our 8th international energy conference and workshop, Power Plays: Geothermal Energy in Oil and Gas Fields, April 25-26, 2016 on the SMU Campus in Dallas, Texas.

Our expertise includes:

Academic research by faculty, staff, and students

SMU 2011 US Heat Flow Map
SMU 2011 US Heat Flow Map
  • Research projects, such as the National Geothermal Data System, Enhanced Geothermal Potential of the Cascades, Geothermal Synthesis of Dixie Valley, Nevada, the use temperature logs for climate change; and the stability of methane hydrates along continental shelves
  • Well logging with high precision Temperature-Depth measurements
SMU Thermal Conductivity Measurement Apparatus
SMU Thermal Conductivity Measurement Apparatus

The Lab assists the public through:

  • Hosting of a Geothermal Energy Utilization conference
  • Teacher and student educational classroom materials
  • A monthly newsletter on the geothermal, oil/gas, and energy industries, along with general information for the public on events, funding, and research opportunities
  • News articles and press releases
  • Suggested publications and papers for those interested in learning more

We are always interested in learning about new geothermal projects, and connecting the others interested in geothermal energy.  Our contact information is:

Maria Richards
Geothermal Lab Coordinator
214-768-1975
mrichard@smu.edu

Cathy Chickering Pace
Project Specialist
214-768-1510
catherine@smu.edu

SMU Geothermal Laboratory
Roy M. Huffington Department of Earth Sciences
P.O. Box 750395
Dallas, TX 75275-0395
Phone: 214-768-2749
Fax: 214-768-2701
geothermal@smu.edu
http://www.smu.edu/geothermal
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