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COST MODELLING OF HOT DRY ROCK GEOTHERMAL SYSTEMS.

Obiettivo

TO DEVELOP AN ECONOMIC MODEL OF A GEOTHERMAL HOT DRY ROCK DEVELOPMENT.
A cost model of hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal systems is being developed under contract to the United Kingdom Department of Energy and the Commission of the European Communities. During the first phase of this study, the basic structure of the model has been defined and modelling approaches which are appropriate to the level of knowledge of different areas of this system have been identified. The development of the cost model is now in progress and the main features of the modelling approach have been ascertained. An interim model has also been brought together in order to obtain some indications of sensitivities and so assist with the model process.

Although the results are not definite at this stage, they do indicate important features of the technoeconomic aspects of the system. Thus the size and the spatial arrangement of the reservoir emerge as important issues, together with thermal gradient and depth.

The ultimate objective of this study is to develop a full engineering cost model of electricity producing HDR systems which includes all surface and subsurface systems and components.

Once developed the aims of the model are to:
estimate capital and operating costs of HDR systems and their development over time;
investigate the sensitivity of unit electricity costs to changes in parameters defining the HDR reservoir and also those defining the size and design of the power station;
assist in the assessment of European HDR resources, as a function of cost and location.

The cost of creating a reservoir, by drilling and stimulation, is likely to form a significant fraction of the total cost of constructing any proposed hot dry rock (HDR) geothermal energy system. The cost of these operations can be estimated using a cost model that has been developed to the assist the management of HDR geothermal energy research and development programmes.

The model, which is formulated as a spreadsheet programme written on SMART software for an Olivetti M24 personal computer, can either be run as an integrated package or as individual components. Although preliminary versions of the cost model have been completed, development will continue.

The final version of the drilling and stimulation cost model will be able to account for the affect of varying depth, geothermal gradient, geology (in terms of subsequent rates of penetration and bit life), borehole breakout, thickness of sedimentary cover, well design (including configuration angle of deviation and casing programme) and reservoir characteristics (such as volume, shape and number of stimulated zones).

Other factors that will be taken into consideration include the type of logging and coring programmes selected and the general drilling market conditions which affect the cost of drilling supplies and services.
DESCRIPTION:

THIS STUDY BUILDS ON PREVIOUS WORK BY THE CONTRACTOR IN MODELLING THE VARIOUS ASPECTS OF AN HDR OPERATION, AND WILL BE DESIGNED TO PROVIDE RESULTS APPLICABLE IN ALL THE EUROPEAN MEMBER STATES. IT WILL ALLOW ESTIMATION OF THE COSTS OF ENERGY DERIVED FROM AN HDR RESERVOIR TOGETHER WITH AN ANALYSIS OF THE SENSITIVITY OF THOSE COSTS TO VARIOUS ASPECTS OF RESERVOIR CREATION, DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION. THE MODEL WILL RUN ON A PC-COMPATIBLE MICROCOMPUTER.

Argomento(i)

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Invito a presentare proposte

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Meccanismo di finanziamento

CSC - Cost-sharing contracts

Coordinatore

UNIVERSITY OF SUNDERLAND
Contributo UE
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Indirizzo
Ryhope road, langham tower
SR27EE Sunderland
Regno Unito

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