SOULTZ E.G.S. Pilot PlantCurrent status of the project

January 2006

INTRODUCTION

• The Soultz “Enhanced Geothermal System” (EGS) Pilot Plant : an European Project (EC) with the support of France (ADEME) and Germany (BMU), co-financed by Industrial Partners (ES, PW, EDF)

• Starting of the investigation on the Soultz-sous-Forêts site : 1987

• First circulation test between GPK2 and GPK1 : 1997

• Current EGS Pilot Plant in 2 phases :– Phase I (2001-2005) : Drilling of the deep wells and reservoir

stimulation– Phase II (2004-2008) : Circulation tests and production of electrical

energy

PARTNERS AND SCIENTIFIC COOPERATION

• Funding Partners (Policy Group)

European Commission (EC)

ADEME (France)

BMU (Germany)

EEIG (contributing members)

• EEIG Partners (Consortium Agreement)

BRGM (France)

CNRS (France)

IFE (Norway)

DHM (Switzerland)

BGR (Germany)

GGA (Germany)

MeSy (Germany)

GTC (Germany)

• EEIG Members

Electricité de Strasbourg (ÉS)

Pfalzwerke (PW)

Electricité de France (EDF)

BESTEC (non contributing member)

• Other Partners

ARMINES (France)

GEOWATT (Switzerland)

EDF R&D (France & Germany)

5000m >200°C

#4250m

35 à 50 Kg/s

Sédiments

Granite

35 à 50 Kg/s

70 à 100Kg/s

1500m

GPK3

GPK2 GPK4

25MWth 25MWth

#600m

SCHEMATIC PRESENTATION OF THE EGS PILOT PLANT

Primary Loop (Underground) :2 production wells, 1 re-injection well“Closed” brine circulationExpected Flowrate : 70-100 l/sDepth : 4500-5000 mBottom temperature : 200 °CPumping system (EGS)

Principle : Extract geothermal heat from hot rocks

Secondary Loop (Surface) :Expected surface temperature : 185 °CHeat exchanging systemAvailable thermal energy : 50 MWthSurface power plant facilitiesProduced electrical energy : 5 MWe

Principle : Convert geothermal heat in useful energy (electricity)

FIRST HYDRAULIC CIRCULATION TEST (2005)

• Circulation test between the 3 wells without production pumps (buoyancy effect), with a cooling system (heat exchanger, lagoon), and re-injection of the cooled geothermal brine in the central well

• Closed loop under full automation• Duration of the test : 5 months (mid July – mid Dec.)• Tracing test by fluorescein spot in the injection well• Seismic monitoring

RESULTS OF THE TEST

• Closed loop circulation test

• Duration: > 5 Months• GPK2:

– F2 # 12 l/s Temp. #160°C– Productivity Index # 10 l/s/MPa

• GPK4:– F4 # 3l/s Temp. #120°C– Productivity Index # 3.5 l/s/MPa

• GPK3:– F3=F2+F4 = 15 l/s – Temp. #60°C (After cooling # 6MWth)– Injectivity index # 2.5 l/s/MPa

F4 = F4 = f4+ + f3,4F3=F2 + F4

f2 f3,2f4f3,4

F2F2 = = f2 + + f3,2

∆P2 ∆P3 ∆P4

Infinite natural geothermal reservoir

GPK2 GPK4GPK3

Main results December 2005:Hydraulics

No Production pumps: Only buoyancy effect

Production Well head pressure kept between 0.5 and 1.2 MPa

165 000 m3 of brine produced from GPK2

40 000 m3 of brine produced from GPK4

0

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1000

07/07/05 27/07/05 16/08/05 05/09/05 25/09/05 15/10/05 04/11/05 24/11/05 14/12/05

Time (days)

SN

flu

ore

scein

co

ncen

trati

on

(µ

g/l

)

Fluorescein concentrations analyzed in the

fluid discharged from the well GPK-2 Main results December 2005:

Closed loop circulation test: Tracing ,Fluid chemistry,Scaling

Production GPK2: 85% BrineProduction GPK4: 78% Brine

GPK4

GPK4GPK4

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07/07/05 27/07/05 16/08/05 05/09/05 25/09/05 15/10/05 04/11/05 24/11/05 14/12/05

Time (days)

SN

flu

ore

scei

n c

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cen

trat

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(µ

g/l

)

injection of 150 kg of SN fluorescein dissolved in 950 l

of fresh water

Fluorescein concentrations analyzed in the fluid discharged from the well GPK-4

Gaz composition:CO2: 56% (GPK2) to 61% (GPK4)N2 : 35% (GPK2) to 31% (GPK4)CH4: 6,3% (GPK2) to 5,8% (GPK4)He: 2% (GPK2) to 1,7% (GPK4)H2 : 1,9% (GPK2) to 2,8% (GPK4)

Scaling composition:67% Fe3O4(Magnetite)12 % FeCO3(Siderite) 10% CaCO3 (Calcite)3.5% PbS (Galena)2% BaSO4 + SrSO42% SiO2 (Silica)1% ZnS(Sphalerite

Inflow of Inflow of geothermal brine geothermal brine

GPK3 GPK4GPK2

12

3(?) Interpreted origins of the productions

All results from B. Sanjuan et al.

Main results December 2005:Closed loop circulation test:

Microseismicity: July to November 2005

Dep

th

Dep

th

CONCLUSIONS / CHALLENGES (2006 – 2007)

• Main current challenge : to improve the productivity of GPK4 well (new stimulation) and also solve the issue of GPK3 poor injectivity

• To order and install the production pumps (ESP and LSP technologies) in GPK2 and GPK4 in a remote and very aggressive medium (depth issue, HT, corrosion)

• To consolidate the new closed loop system with the production pumps and an adapted cooling system

• To design an install in parallel a first demonstrative power unit of 1.5 MWe

MERCI / THANK YOU / DANKESCHÖN !