Texas State Profile
Background
Although Texas is well known for its vast oil and gas industry, the state is rapidly emerging as a leader in the investigation of its significant geothermal energy resources. Thousands of oil and gas wells drilled deep into the Texas landscape have enabled the comprehensive evaluation of subsurface geology and heat flow characteristics. Three general types of geothermal resources have been identified within Texas: hydrothermal systems, geopressured systems, and hot dry rock (HDR). High bottom hole temperatures (BHTs) have been found in wells within the deep sedimentary basins throughout West Texas and the Panhandle. High-temperature hydrothermal reservoirs are plentiful within the Permian Basin near Midland, and geothermal fluids with varying temperatures are present statewide. Once considered a nuisance, hot water encountered during petroleum production is attracting increasing interest due to the energy potential it offers. Geopressured resources consisting of hot fluids under high subsurface pressure are prevalent along the Gulf Coast. The eastern portion of Texas exhibits geopressured resources and areas of HDR, or high-temperature rock formations that are impermeable to subsurface fluids. The production of electrical power using geothermal energy has been demonstrated in Texas, and there is also potential for the direct use of thermal energy from geothermal fluids for applications such as space heating and aquaculture.
Source: Additional map formats available from Idaho National Laboratory. If you have difficulty accessing the content of this map, please contact the Webmaster.
Current Development
A geothermal power plant was operated from 1989 to 1990 for testing purposes in Brazoria County in the Gulf Coast region. The plant was unique in design with a hybrid-cycle, allowing for the generation of electricity from geopressured fluids, as well as entrained natural gas, with a total capacity of 980 kilowatts. The plant's output, enough to power approximately 1000 typical households, was sold was sold to a local utility during the demonstration period. Although this project was a technical success, the geothermal system was not cost-competitive in comparison with conventional petroleum-based power production at the time.
Renewed efforts to utilize the geothermal resources of Texas have come with a focus on using existing oil and gas infrastructure to generate and transmit electricity. Wells currently drilled for petroleum extraction often reach the depths necessary to access moderate to high-temperature (above 100°C) geothermal fluids. Millions of gallons of hot water produced from these wells are routinely regarded as a waste product. However, modern geothermal technologies such as modular units and binary power plants can make use of the hot water by-product to generate electricity on-location in the oil fields. Electricity produced in the field can be used to power site operations, while existing transmission infrastructure can deliver excess power back to the grid. In Texas, private companies have undertaken research projects to demonstrate the generation of electricity in oil and gas settings, and commercialization of the technology is projected to take place within the next decade.
On the consumer market, many homes and schools are using ground source heat pumps to offset their electrical needs, which is possible to do throughout Texas. Cotulla High School north of Laredo and Marlin's city hospital near Waco are two examples of public buildings that employ geothermal energy to supplement their heating systems. Other facilities—banks, churches, recreation halls, government offices, and military installation large and small—are installing and tapping into Texas' deep geoheat resources.
Proposed Development
| ||||||||||||||||||
Scientists at the Southern Methodist University Geothermal Laboratory in Dallas have projected that several thousand megawatts of electricity-enough to meet the demands of millions of households-could be generated from the current rate of hot water production from oil and gas wells throughout the United States. In addition, infrastructure within depleted oil fields that would otherwise be abandoned can be retrofitted for power production from the remaining geothermal resource. Interest in the potential for using geothermal energy in oil and gas settings has extended beyond Texas to other petroleum-producing states such as Wyoming and Louisiana. Research is also ongoing to find ways to extract energy from HDR through Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) techniques that involve strategically fracturing bedrock and introducing fluids to create hydrothermal reservoirs.
Economic Benefits
Texas consumes more energy than any other state, and renewable energy resources will become increasingly crucial to economic stability as fossil fuel reserves are depleted and prices continue to rise. Despite the state's status as a top petroleum producer, production in Texas has been in decline since the early 1970s and the state's geothermal resources remain largely untapped. Geothermal energy presents an opportunity for Texas to diversify its energy resource base and for the state's petroleum industry to apply its expertise and infrastructure to bring this renewable energy technology to market.
Technical Capabilities
The Geothermal Laboratory at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas is a regional center for geothermal research and educational outreach. Activities of the SMU Geothermal Laboratory include resource exploration and assessment, expansion and maintenance of thermal databases, mapping of geophysical data, and system modeling in support of project development. Additionally, researchers at the University of Texas Permian Basin campus are national leaders in the research and development of geothermal applications for integration with the petroleum industry.
Incentives
Currently, only about two percent of the energy used in Texas comes from renewable sources, although studies have indicated that Texas has more renewable energy potential than any other state. The Texas Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) mandates the installation of 5,000 megawatts of renewable electricity generation capacity by 2015, in addition to the existing 880-megawatt capacity in place at the time the legislation was enacted. Although wind generation currently accounts for the majority of Texas' current renewable capacity, the RPS calls for at least 500 megawatts of the target capacity to be derived from non-wind sources. Geothermal energy is a qualifying renewable resource that can help state utilities achieve the RPS target.
Furthermore, in response to community demand for clean energy, Austin Energy has set an independent goal for 20 percent of retail electricity sales to be derived from renewable energy sources by 2020.
State Working Groups
Geothermal State Working Groups are networks of individuals typically including geothermal developers, utility representatives, local officials and policymakers, and other energy stakeholders within a given state or region. These groups are sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's GeoPowering the West Initiative and often work in conjunction with the State Energy Office of the group's respective state to organize networking conferences, analyze regulatory issues, and assess the progress of local geothermal projects.
Texas has established a Geothermal State Working Group with leadership from the SMU Geothermal Laboratory. In March 2006, the group hosted a workshop to discuss geothermal potential in oil and gas settings. The workshop attracted over 100 participants from the U.S., Europe, and New Zealand, including representatives from major oil companies, the geothermal industry, national research laboratories, and various government agencies. In November 2005, the group held its first annual meeting of the state geothermal network to discuss technical, regulatory, and market issues.
State Contacts
Texas State Energy Program
Marvin Barr
State Energy Program Manager
(512) 463-1860
GeoPowering the West — Texas State Working Group
David Blackwell
Southern Methodist University
(214) 768-2745
Maria Richards
Southern Methodist University
(214) 768-1975
State Energy Conservation Office
Southern Methodist University Geothermal Laboratory
University of Texas of the Permian Basin
Geothermal Energy in Texas
Texas Public Utility Commission
Texas Renewable Energy Industries Association
National DOE Contacts
U.S. Department of Energy
Curtis Framel
Senior Energy Project Officer
Golden Field Office
Golden, Colorado
(303) 275-4872
U.S. Department of Energy
Sandy Glatt
Senior Energy Project Officer
Central Regional Office
Golden, Colorado
(303) 275-4857