SPE Projects, Facilities & Construction
Volume 5,
Number 2,
June 2010,
pp. 97-103
Summary
A hybrid system of wind, solar, and diesel generators could provide an
efficient alternative for powering water-desalination projects in
remote-oilfield locations in Texas, USA. Disposal of produced water from oil
and gas wells is a costly procedure for production companies, but water to oil
production ratios exceed 10:1 (by volume) at many wellsites. Much of the
petroleum produced in the United States and elsewhere is found in arid regions
that could benefit greatly if the produced water could be purified sufficiently
for agricultural, industrial, or potable use. Our previous research identified
and validated treatment options capable of recovering a high proportion of
fresh water from oilfield brine. In this paper, we extend the earlier research
further by examining the possibility of using renewable energy to power the
units in "off-the-power-grid" situations. A macro driven spreadsheet was
created to allow for quick and easy cost comparisons of renewable energy
sources for a variety of scenarios. Using this tool, wind and solar costs were
compared for cities in regions throughout Texas. The renewable energy resource
showing the greatest potential was wind power, with the analysis showing that
in windy regions such as the Texas Panhandle, wind generated-power costs are
lower than those associated with diesel-fuel generation.
© 2010. Society of Petroleum Engineers
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History
- Original manuscript received:
2 March 2009
- Meeting paper published:
1 June 2009
- Revised manuscript received:
29 May 2009
- Manuscript approved:
11 June 2009
- Published online:
10 June 2010
- Version of record:
10 June 2010
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