Fluid/Rock Interactions in Canada’s Geothermal Systems

The purpose of this project is to understand physical and chemical interactions between geothermal fluids and geothermal reservoir rocks.  Geothermal fluids include hydrothermal water, basin brines and engineered geofluids such as captured supercritical CO2.  Reservoir rocks of interest are carbonates, sandstones and crystalline rocks.  Research will involve determining the kinetics of fluid/rock chemical reactions at reservoir conditions, the effects these reactions will have on the long term productivity of the reservoir, and the risks these reactions may pose to industrial infrastructure.  

Research is focused on specific reservoirs in the Western Canadian Sedimentary, with a view towards global applicability.  Fluid/rock interactions are studied in the context of specific reservoir models that also being built in the context of this project.


Faculty and academic staff involved in this project include:

Jonathan Banks (EAS): experimental geochemistry; geochemical modeling

Nick Harris (EAS): Reservoir Modeling


Victor Liu (Petroleum and Mining ENG): Numerical simulations


Dan Alessi (EAS): Brine geochemistry; brine analytical chemistry


Rick Chalaturnyk (CivE): Geomechanics; cross-over to CO2 theme

Calgary Lecture Series; Energy Panel: To provide continuing education opportunity in Calgary that showcases excellence and innovation at the University of Alberta

M Anne Naeth, John R Parkins, Steven Bergens, Maggie Cascadden

Event

Characterizing Deep Basin Siliciclastic Reservoirs for Geothermal Use Near Hinton, Alberta

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris, Christopher Noyahr

Conference/Workshop

Completed Lab Renovations

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris

Misc: Lab Development

Evaluation of three geothermal project SIA reports

Nadine Suliman Abdelrahman

Conference/Workshop

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Geothermal resource characterization of the Slave Point Formation at Clarke Lake Field, B.C., Canada

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris, Evan Renaud

Conference/Workshop

Geothermal resource characterization of the Slave Point Formation at Clarke Lake Field, B.C., Canada

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris, Evan Renaud

Conference/Workshop

Hired Therme Adminstrator

Jonathan C. Banks, Martyn Unsworth

Misc

Petrophysical Characterization of a Geothermal Reservoir near Hinton, Alberta

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris, Christopher Noyahr

Conference/Workshop

Ross River Geothermal Well Drilling

Jonathan C. Banks

Misc: Research

APEGA Summit Award

Lianne M. Lefsrud

Award

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A numerical study on compositional modeling of two-phase fluid flow and heat transfer in vertical wells.

David S. Nobes, Jonathan C. Banks, Sara Eghbali

Scholarly Refereed Journal

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A reservoir model for geothermal energy production from the Middle Devonian Slave Point Formation

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris, Evan Renaud

Scholarly Refereed Journal

Analysis of Alberta Precambrian Basement core and modelling the fracture characteristics necessary to for operating and Enhanced Geothermal System in the Alberta Precambrian Basement

Jonathan C. Banks, Samuel Johnson

Bachelors Thesis

Analysis of social components within environmental assessments of geothermal projects

John R Parkins, Nadine Suliman Abdelrahman

Research Report

Considering buried depth in the moving finite line source model for vertical borehole heat exchangers - a new solution

Jonathan C. Banks, Wei Victor Liu, Xincheng (Alex) Hu

Scholarly Refereed Journal

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Dynamic geothermal reservoir modeling in the Clarke Lake Gas Field, NE British Columbia

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris, Evan Renaud

Research Report

Estimating parasitic loads related to brine production from a hot sedimentary aquifer geothermal project: a case study from the Clarke Lake gas field, British Columbia

Jonathan C. Banks, Evan Renaud, Arif Rabbani

Scholarly Refereed Journal

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Geochemical changes associated with high-temperature thermal heat storage at intermediate depth: thermodynamic equilibrium models for the DeepStor site in the Upper Rhine Graben, Germany

Jonathan C. Banks, Spencer Poulette

Scholarly Refereed Journal

Geological Society of America Conference Poster

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris, Evan Renaud

Conference Proceedings

Geothermal Energy in Canada – Times Are “a Changing”

Jonathan C. Banks, Martyn Unsworth

Conference Proceedings

Geothermal Theme Website

Jonathan C. Banks, Shyra Craig

Website

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Identifying potential scale-forming minerals minerals from Leduc brines during geothermal power production

Jonathan C. Banks, Ashley Went

Bachelors Thesis

Lab Equipment Installation

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris

Misc: lab Development

Long-term Prediction on a Tube-and-annulus Geothermal Production Model via Abandoned Oil/gas Wells in Hinton, Alberta, Canada

Jonathan C. Banks, Wei Victor Liu, Xincheng (Alex) Hu

Scholarly Refereed Journal

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Multivariate analysis of water chemistry in Devonian Strata of the Western Canada Sedimentary Basin: Implications for geothermal energy development Applied Geochemistry

Jonathan C. Banks, Arif Rabbani

Scholarly Refereed Journal

Numerical modeling of an enhanced geothermal system for geothermal energy production from abandoned wells, Applied Thermal Engineering.

Jonathan C. Banks, Wei Victor Liu, Xincheng (Alex) Hu, Yunting Guo

Scholarly Refereed Journal

Power Relations and the Energy Transition: A Critical Review on Discourses, Ideologies and Perspectives for Sustainable Geothermal Energy Development in Valemount, British Columbia

Nadine Suliman Abdelrahman

Conference Proceedings

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Powering Alberta’s Energy Future Panel

M Anne Naeth, John R Parkins, Steven Bergens, Maggie Cascadden

Invited/Keynote

Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by using geothermal energy from doublet enhanced geothermal systems as a heat source for oil sands separation: A numerical evaluation

Jonathan C. Banks, Wei Victor Liu, Xincheng (Alex) Hu, Yunting Guo

Scholarly Refereed Journal

Regional evaluation of the geothermal potential in the Cardium Formation in Alberta

Bennett Braun

Bachelors Thesis

Resource Assessment of Geothermal Reservoir in Western Alberta and Evaluation of Utilization Options Using Non-Renewable Energy Displacement

Casey Lavigne

Masters Thesis

Retrofitting abandoned petroleum wells as doublet deep borehole heat exchangers for geothermal energy production—a numerical investigation Renewable Energy

Jonathan C. Banks, Wei Victor Liu, Xincheng (Alex) Hu, Yunting Guo

Scholarly Refereed Journal

Roadmaps and Roadblocks for Energy Transformation: Converting Oil and Gas Wells to Geothermal Resources

Jonathan C. Banks, Lianne M. Lefsrud, Daniel Schiffner

Scholarly Refereed Journal

Sedimentary Basin Geothermal Favourabiity Mapping and Power Generation Assessments.

Jonathan C. Banks

Scholarly Refereed Journal

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Techno-economic Assessment of Geothermal Energy Resources in the Sedimentary Basin in Northeastern British Columbia

Jonathan C. Banks

Research Report

The Intertwined Relationship between Power and Patriarchy: Examples from Resource Extractive Industries

Nadine Suliman Abdelrahman

Scholarly Refereed Journal

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Thermodynamic equilibrium models of geochemical risks associated with geothermal energy production and storage in the Upper Rhein Graben, Germany

Jonathan C. Banks

Scholarly Refereed Journal

Using Oil and Gas Data to Estimate Geothermal Resources in Sedimentary Basing: A Case Study from the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin

Jonathan C. Banks, Nick Harris

Scholarly Refereed Journal

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