CASE STUDIES
ECONOMIC & TECHNICAL FEASIBILITY OF A GEOTHERMAL-BASED DISTRICT HEATING USING NON-PRODUCING GAS WELLS IN REGION
HINTON, ALBERTA
LOCATION
BACKGROUND &
TIMELINES
Hinton is located in west-central Alberta at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. The town is located in an area with abundant natural resources, including oil and gas activity.
In 2011 the Town of Hinton released an initial draft of a Community Sustainability Plan which outlined the ideal vision the Town wanted to see by 2040.
One result from this sustainability plan was to investigate the feasibility of a geothermal-heated District Energy System. Research from the University of Alberta indicated this region may hold one of the best geothermal resources in Alberta.
In 2016 Epoch was hired to complete the pre-FEED (Front End Engineering and Design) study for Hinton. With community approval, the full FEED study was initiated and completed in 2018.
Funding for this project included both the federal and provincial governments, as well as the Town of Hinton.
OUTCOMES
Hinton has a tremendous subsurface heat and geothermal resource potential, however there is a higher degree of technical complexity for development than other regions in Alberta. A District Energy System design for this project was completed based on the determined scope of the study.
LINKS
The
FEED Study
JWN Energy Article
CBC
Article
STRATEGIC PARTNER WITH DEEP CORP ON A 5 MW GEOTHERMAL POWER PLANT
ESTEVAN, SASKATCHEWAN
LOCATION
BACKGROUND &
TIMELINES
Deep Earth Energy Production (DEEP) Corporation completed a prefeasibility study in 2014 to assess the viability of a possible geothermal reservoir in southeastern Saskatchewan.
SaskPower, the provincial electrical utility, has been an early supporter of the project due to their goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 2005 levels by 40% by 2030.
In December 2018 the first well was drilled to a depth of 3530 m.
In January 2019 the federal government announced $25.6 million through Natural Resources Canada to provide ~50% of the funding for the first 5 MW facility.
In the summer of 2019 flow testing provided a flow estimate and allowed for water chemistry sampling.
Second well was drilled in December 2019.
OUTCOMES
This project is ongoing and the most up-to-date news is available on the DEEP Corp. website.
NEXT STEPS
Early 2022 target for geothermal power plant completion.
CBC Article
(2019)
CBC Article
(2017)
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