Geothermal resources of British Columbia

Fairbank, B P; Faulkner, R.L.; Hickson, C J; Roots, C F; Souther, J G; Woodsworth, G J; Jessop, A M; Bentkowski, W H; Lewis, Terence; Macrae, J M; Rowling, J; Church, BN; Finvers, M

doi:10.4095/133397

Cited by 5 publications

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“…However, if this discharge were focused at intervals of several km along a fault, springs with discharge rates similar to those found in western Canada (Fairbank & Faulkner 1992) are possible. For instance, a series of 11 faults occur along approximately 150 km of the Columbia River Fault in British Columbia with discharge rates ranging from 1 to 7 l sec −1 (Fairbank & Faulkner 1992; Grasby & Hutcheon 2001). This implies a discharge rate of approximately 10 −10 –10 −9 m sec −1 per unit length of the fault, assuming a fault thickness of a few hundred metres.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What do aqueous geothermometers really tell us?

Ferguson¹,

Grasby²,

Hindle³

2009

Geofluids

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The application of chemical geothermometry to shallow groundwaters or spring discharge assumes that there is minimal mixing or re-equilibration of water as it travels from depth to the surface. In this study, we examine the potential for mixing and re-equilibration by examining heat and fluid flow along crustal-scale faults in tectonic geothermal systems. Numerical modeling results indicate that maximum in situ temperatures could be underpredicted by up to 30% due to mixing of fluids that enter the fault at different depths. This, coupled with the depression of isotherms by downward groundwater flow in the hanging wall, could cause underestimates of maximum circulation depth of greater than 80% in extreme cases. Kinetics does not favor re-equilibration in the shallower portions of faults due to low temperatures and higher fluid velocities. However, in areas of deeper circulation or higher heat flow such reactions are possible.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

What do aqueous geothermometers really tell us?

Ferguson¹,

Grasby²,

Hindle³

2009

Geofluids

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“…The case study of the British Columbian portion of the WCSB improves upon previous geothermal favourability maps and power generation estimates. Previous geospatial studies did not estimate power generation potential (Fairbank et al 1992;Kimball 2010), or were not selected using a comprehensive favourability mapping approach (Walsh 2013;Geoscience BC 2015). The higher resolution analysis of geological and economic criteria identifies Clarke Lake, Jedney, Horn River and Prophet River as favourable areas for geothermal development, of which the latter two are new discoveries.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The higher resolution analysis of geological and economic criteria identifies Clarke Lake, Jedney, Horn River and Prophet River as favourable areas for geothermal development, of which the latter two are new discoveries. Fairbank et al (1992) identified Clarke Lake by deducing high geothermal potential from thermal gradients greater 45 °C/km, but did not consider economic criteria. This study shows that geothermal gradient alone is neither an indicator of high favourability nor increased power production potential.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Localized research in the WCSB has included qualitative evaluations of specific Cambrian and Devonian formations (e.g.Weides, Moeck, Majorowicz, et al 2013; Weides, Moeck, Majorowicz, et al 2014; Weides, Moeck, Schmitt, et al 2014) and power potential assessments in the Alberta foothills(Banks and Harris, unpublished results). The British Columbian portion of the WCSB has received less attention, but several areas of high geothermal potential were identified here byFairbank et al (1992) andKimball (2010) Fairbank et al (1992). applied a geothermal gradient > 45 °C to identify areas of high potential, while Kimball applied several geological and economic factors to map geothermal favourability.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Sedimentary basin geothermal favourability mapping and power generation assessments

et al. 2018

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Mitigating climate change requires elimination of fossil fuel related greenhouse gas emissions. Transitioning electricity generation to low-carbon sources and substituting fossil fuels with electricity in non-electric sectors is considered to be a key strategy. This dissertation investigates resource options to and land area impacts of decarbonizing electricity generation and electrifying adjacent sectors. Three studies analyze transition options in the western Canadian provinces of Alberta and British Columbia. The first study investigates technology transition pathways and land area impacts of reducing electricity generation related carbon emissions in fossil fuel-dominated Alberta. A final 70% share of wind, solar, and hydro power reduces emissions by 90% between 2015 and 2060. This scenario requires designating 5% additional land area to electricity generation annually. Land is largely designated to the required space between wind turbines, with smaller areas attributed to ground-mounted solar and hydro power. System planners can reduce the land area impacts by deploying more compact geothermal, rooftop solar and natural gas with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies. These technology compositions can hold land area impacts constant in time if depleted natural gas and CCS infrastructure is expediently reclaimed, but total net present system costs increase by 11% over the 45-year period. Without reclamation, fuel extraction and carbon sequestration increase land area impacts at least fourfold within this time period. The second study investigates sedimentary basin geothermal resources in northeastern British Columbia. Geothermal energy is a potentially low-cost, low-carbon, dispatchable resource for electricity generation with a relatively small land area impact. A two-step method first geospatially overlays economic and geological criteria to highlight areas favourable to geothermal development. Next, the Volume Method applies petroleum exploration and production data in Monte Carlo probability simulations to estimate electricity generation potential at the four areas with highest favourability (Clarke Lake, Jedney, Horn River, and Prophet River). The total power generation potential of all four areas is determined to be 107 MW. Volume normalized reservoir potentials range from 1.8 xvi Dedication I dedicate this dissertation to my parents, Richard and Dagmar Palmer-Wilson, and to my grandparents, Gerhard and Ilka Radke. The weight of this work calmly rests on their unending love, support, patience and wisdom. "Wenn die Kinder jung sind, gib ihnen tiefe Wurzeln. Danach gib ihnen Flügel." Table 1-1 Attribution of contributions to chapters 3 to 5 Contributor Contributions Ch.

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“…Indigenous communities and private developers are taking an active leadership role in advancing the exploration of geothermal resources in both volcanic settings and the development of sedimentary-hosted geothermal resources. In Canada, British Columbia has been leading the nation in terms of advancing geothermal investigations, building on the early research by Fairbank and Faulkner [8] in 1992, later detailed technical and economic work conducted by Kerr Wood Leidal Associates Ltd. [9] in 2015 on power generation, and Hickson et al [10] in 2016 on direct-use applications. A summary of the progress of key projects is provided below.…”

Section: British Columbiamentioning

confidence: 99%

Canada’s Geothermal Energy Update in 2023

Huang,

Dehghani-Sanij,

Hickson

et al. 2024

Energies

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Geothermal energy exploration, development, and research have been ongoing in Canada for several decades. The country’s cold climate and the push to develop renewable energy sources have driven interest in geothermal energy. Despite this drive, regulatory complexities and competition with other relatively inexpensive energy sources with existing infrastructure have hindered development. As such, interest has grown and waned with changes in the energy economy over several decades, leaving many projects at a standstill. As of January 2023, there are currently no operational geothermal power projects in Canada. Many hot spring pool and spa complexes remain active, and Canada is a leading country in the installation of ground source heat pumps (GSHPs; also called geo-exchange systems). However, in the last decade, the interest in deep geothermal systems has renewed, with many new projects starting up across several provinces and territories. Moreover, projects that had shown limited progress for many years—such as Mount Meager in British Columbia—have begun to renew their development efforts. Research is also expanding within prominent research groups and universities. The areas of focus include both building upon previous studies (such as thermal gradients and the heat flow in sedimentary basins) and researching new methods and resources (such as GSHPs, closed-loop systems, integrated geothermal operations, and hybrid systems, including heat storage). The development is supported by federal, provincial, and territorial governments through grants and the development of regulatory frameworks. Although challenges still remain for Canada to develop its geothermal energy resources, several power, thermal, and co-production projects, ongoing research, funding, and regulatory acts are all moving forward to support geothermal development. This paper aims to study Canada’s geothermal energy update in 2023 regarding the aspects mentioned above.

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Geothermal resources of British Columbia

Cited by 5 publications

References 0 publications

What do aqueous geothermometers really tell us?

What do aqueous geothermometers really tell us?

Sedimentary basin geothermal favourability mapping and power generation assessments

Canada’s Geothermal Energy Update in 2023

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