Steam Dominated GreenLoop: Proof of Concept at The Geysers, California
This project will determine the technical feasibility and commercial viability of closed loop technology in a steam dominated geothermal reservoir.
GreenFire Energy, Inc.
Recipient
Emeryville, CA
Recipient Location
7th
Senate District
18th
Assembly District
$1,594,032
Amount Spent
Active
Project Status
Project Update
In 2023, engineering and design have been completed for subsurface equipment, including the down bore heat exchanger (DBHX). Casing, vacuum-insulated tubing, and subsurface instrumentation have been procured for the DBHX. Engineering and design have been completed for the wellhead equipment and the equipment has been procured. Plans and a written procedure for installation of the DBHX into the geothermal well have been completed. Engineering of the surface process system is underway. This process system includes equipment, such as a water circulating pump, fin-fan water cooler, expansion vessel, piping, manual and control valves, and instrumentation, which will be used during the testing of the DBHX.
For 2024, the project team applied for and were granted all the building and air permits for the temporary project. The project team validated engineering design, procured and installed the subsurface down bore heat exchanger (DBHX) and finished the workover on January 8, 2025. The surface facility design, hazard analysis and all procurement were completed in 2024. In 2025, the project team plans to start and finish construction, commission the facility, and start the 90-day testing in early March.
The Issue
The key problems limiting geothermal growth in California are the cost and risk of drilling new production wells coupled with the failure to halt the decline of existing production wells and resources. These factors must be addressed now if California is to meet its mandate for geothermal power generation.
In many steam-dominated geothermal fields, the expansion of existing wells and resources is not possible because adding new conventional wells simply further depletes the declining resource while risking production decreases for other conventional wells in the same field. Conventional well “workovers” to fix failed or declining wells are costly, slow, risky, and also deplete the resource.
Project Innovation
GreenFire Energy’s Steam and 2-Phase GreenLoop (S2PGL) system, of which Steam-dominated GreenLoop (SDGL) is included, overcomes the need for enormous amounts of water that has curtailed development of geothermal production in water-constrained California. The S2PGL system includes a down bore heat exchanger (DBHX) technology adapted for steam dominated fields. GreenFire Energy has demonstrated the fundamental aspects of S2PGL technology by successfully completing a CEC-funded demonstration of a closed-loop geothermal energy system in an inactive well at the Coso geothermal field in Southern California. That project proved the potential for power generation via a closed loop, down bore heat exchanger and validated the thermodynamic model used to design the project.
The commercial success of closed-loop geothermal systems is essential for California to meet its stated goal of an additional 1000 MW of geothermal-based power capacity by 2025. Closed-loop systems substantially reduce the cost, risk, and time needed for new projects, and provide a quick, low-cost way to fix wells that fail initially or over time.
Project Goals
Project Benefits
This project will progress the development of a geothermal power technology that will deliver ratepayer benefits of greater electric reliability and lower costs with superior environmental attributes. The technology has the potential to make well retrofits the least expensive way to produce additional geothermal power. Low-cost geothermal power is also an environmentally attractive way to improve grid resiliency.
Consumer Appeal
The goals of this project include delivering ratepayer benefits of greater electric reliability and lower cost with superior environmental attributes. These goals appeal to consumers and California ratepayers.
Affordability
Steam and 2-Phase GreenLoop (S2PGL) technology lowers the cost and improves the Return on Investment (ROI) to produce energy, which results in lower costs to energy providers and energy consumers.
Economic Development
Geothermal power projects provide secure long-term jobs in construction, operations, maintenance, and administrative support. They also provide important economic benefits for workers, communities, and power consumers.
Environmental Sustainability
Steam and 2-Phase GreenLoop (S2PGL) technology has zero emissions, does not consume subsurface water, prevents the degradation of geothermal resources, and does not have waste streams.
Energy Security
The earth’s heat energy is always on and geothermal in general, and S2PGL in particular, has a very high capacity factor of over 90% in contrast to wind and solar which are under 50%.
Key Project Members
Rob Klenner
Greg Szutiak
Cory Draper,
Alvaro Amaya, Ph.D.
Harish Chandrasekar
