NWT RESEARCH DATABASE

Regions: Dehcho Region

Tags: physical sciences, geothermal engery, heating, fossil fuels

Objective(s): To reduce the consumption of petroleum products used for heating and to develop resources and advance the maturity of technologies associated with the direct use of geothermal energy in Canada.

Project Description: This licence has been issued for the scientific research application No.4958. The research proposed in this application aims to reduce the consumption of petroleum products used for heating. Indeed, the objective of the proposed project is to develop resources and advance the maturity of technologies associated with the direct use of geothermal energy in Canada. What is targeted is the direct use of deep saline aquifers with a temperature range of 30-100°C (at 1 to 3 km depth) for heating buildings, greenhouses or other processes such as material drying or agri-food processing. These are renewable resources whose continuously produced energy can directly replace fossil fuels, unlike other intermittent renewable sources such as wind and solar. In the NWT, the research team are specifically interested in quantifying the heat extraction potential of hydrothermal resources in the sedimentary basins of the Southern Makenzie Region. Information available from oil and gas wells previously drilled in the area will initially be analyzed. This scientific information found in public databases will be analyzed to determine the potential for heat production with data on subsurface geology and temperature. During a first field campaign, surface outcrops will be visited to sample the bedrock. Fist size samples will be collected with a rock hammer and brought back to Institut national de la recherche scientifique (INRS) laboratory. Hydraulic and thermal properties of rock samples will be measured in the laboratory. This information will be used to develop numerical models to estimate geothermal resources available below communities of Hay River, Enterprise and Fort Providence. These data will allow for the simulation of geothermal energy extraction through geothermal wells. The work is conducted at a pre-feasibility stage to estimate geothermal resources availability and system operability from surface geology and mathematical modeling. INRS and Epoch Energy has already contacted the Northwest Territories Geological Survey (NTGS) from the Government of NWT to inform them about the intention to conduct the research. The work plan was well received by the NTGS, and INRS, Epoch Energy and NTGS will collaborate in the achievement of common research objectives. In addition, INRS staff is interested in meeting local authorities of the three concerned communities. This can be done by phone or video conference before the field work or in person during the field work, according to recommendations given by Aurora Research Institute. This will be an opportunity to explain the work carried out to local stakeholders and inform communities on the benefits of using geothermal resources. The outcome of the research will be published in a master thesis freely available through INRS library and a scientific paper to be published in an international journal such as Geothermics. Preliminary results are expected to be presented at conferences such as the Canadian Geothermal Student Days or the annual conference of the Geological Association of Canada. A comprehensive overview of the research will also be prepared in a one-pager format. The fieldwork for this study will be conducted from July 12, 2022 to July 26, 2021