Geothermal Exploration

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Geothermal Exploration Development in Australia
Richard Hillis, RIsCCS SeminarTuesday 25 March
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Conventional Geothermal Energy
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Enhanced Geothermal Systems
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Resources Pyramid
Better quality resource
Increasing technology
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Geothermal Resources Pyramid
High Geothermal Gradient High Permeability
Shallow high permeability hot volcanic aquifers
Deeper permeable hot sedimentary aquifers
Deep permeable hot basement
Deep tight hot basement
Deep tight basement
Increasing technology
1 km3 of 250C rock contains stored energy of 40
million barrels of oil
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OUR PLAN IS TO FIND VERY HOT, VERY PERMEABLE,
SHALLOW ROCKS UNDER THE GRID
GEOTHERMAL ENERGY COULD AMELIORATE CLIMATE CHANGE
THE VISIONARY LEADERSHIP WORK IS DONE. HOW LONG
WILL YOUR PART TAKE?
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Pacific Hydro
Marla
Geodynamics
Oodnadatta
Habanero 1,2
Eden
Eden
Moomba
Osiris
Proactive
Eden
Coober Pedy
Petratherm
Yerila 1

• end July 2007
• 157 GELs/GELAs in SA
• 17 companies
• 7 in 2003
• 200 nationally
• 27 companies
• 700M in 5-year licence commitments nationally

Proactive
Petratherm
Olympic Dam
Paralana 1
Eden
Green Rock
Blanche 1
Tarcoola
Leigh Creek
Proactive
Torrens
Geothermal
Port Augusta
Green Rock
Wudinna
Eden
Torrens
Petratherm
Port Lincoln
ADELAIDE
Geothermal
Osiris
Heat Flow 1,3,4
Scopenergy
Image Courtesy of PIRSA
Mount Gambier
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brown coal
black coal
gas
clean brown coal
clean black coal
clean gas
geothermal
nuclear
wind
Electricity Supply Industry Planning Council
(2006)
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20/MWhr
40/MWhr
60/MWhr
brown coal
black coal
CO2 0/tonne
gas
clean brown coal
clean black coal
clean gas
geothermal
nuclear
wind
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80/MWhr
brown coal
60/MWhr
black coal
40/MWhr
gas
clean brown coal
clean black coal
clean gas
geothermal
nuclear
wind
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40/MWhr
60/MWhr
80/MWhr
brown coal
black coal
gas
clean brown coal
clean black coal
clean gas
geothermal
nuclear
wind
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How Will We Make it Work?

• geothermal gradient (drill cost and water
  temperature)
• reservoir permeability (flow rate)
• generation plant (generation efficiency and cost)
• grid or market (transmission cost and electricity
  price)
• risk management (project portfolios and JVs)
• sharing expertise (JVs and international
  expertise)

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Natural Selection in Action?

• GDY known hot rock geothermal resource near
  Innamincka
• PTR explore for high geothermal gradient closer
  to grid plus off grid market
• GRK cooler hot rocks in vicinity Olympic Dam
• PAX cooler hot rocks in deep aquifers in SE

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Thermally Anomalous Granites
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Paralana Hot Springs 62C
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Sedimentary Basin Over Hot Basement
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September 2005 Drilling Campaign Yerila-1
Paralana-1B
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Yerila-1 64C at 675 m (68C/km) Paralana-1B 58
C at 485 m (81C/km)
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target temperatures in the Adelaidean cover
overlying basement HEWI
109C at 1800m 50C/km
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Paralana Future Plans

• drill production and injection wells to 3.5-4 km
  and circulation test (2008-2009)
• Beach Joint Venture 5M REDI Grant
• consider other JV partners
• develop and commission 5-7.5 MW geothermal plant
  (2009)
• transmission line (10 kms) to Beverley Uranium
  Mine and test to 2010
• towards 260 MW power plant (using 18 MW
  increments) connected to power system at Port
  Augusta via 300km 275 kV line

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Summary

• HR geothermal offers emissions-free, renewable
  energy
• slicing deeper into the geothermal resources
  pyramid
• SA global focus of EGS activity due to its
  geological endowment of hot rocks and licencing
  legislation
• companies testing a portfolio of geothermal
  plays will natural selection allow us to slice
  deeper into the geothermal resources pyramid?