Calpine Northwest Geysers Enhanced Geothermal

Calpine
Northwest Geysers Enhanced Geothermal System Demonstration
Water “Injection” Under Vacuum
The NW Geysers EGS Demonstration Project is “injecting” water under vacuum conditions
(as with all water injection at The Geysers)
Micro-fracture development relies primarily on thermal effects, not pressure
Control Valve
Benefits of Water Injection:
Well head under vacuum
Water Flow
Ground Surface
Reservoir Recharge
Steam Power Generation:
75% loss to atmosphere
25% condensed and re-injected
Waste Water Disposal Solution
SEGEP and SRGRP
Numerous Environmental Awards
California Department of Conservation
Top of standing water column
Reduce Non-Condensible Gas Concentrations
NCGs Reduce Plant Efficiency, Increase Costs
Water exits well bore
to formation fractures
Microfracture Development (Thermal)
Increased Fluid Flow in Low Permeability Zones
Monitored with Microseismicity
Water entering well head experiences vacuum conditions beyond the control valve
causing it to break up into a "heavy rainfall". A standing water column forms at the
bottom of the well. (gas
Watershale),
exits thewaste
well bore
through formation
fractures.
Hydrofracturing
injection,
CO2 sequestration
and
pressure fluid
jjb\exhibits\injvac.dwg
oil/gas waterflood all utilize high
Calpine NW Geysers EGS Demonstration
Seismicity Analysis: 6 October 2011 to 26 March 2012
Prati 32 Injection Area