Oil Wells into Geothermal Generators

There are many abandoned oil wells and oil wells nearing their end of useful life. These abandoned oil wells can become environmental hazards, particularly if they are not properly sealed off. Many of the deepest oil wells could be converted into geothermal energy generators (temperature differences on the high end are 300-degrees or more).

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• oil
• wells
• geothermal
• energy
• generator
• generators
• google
• 10
• to
• 100
• 10^100
• competition
• conversion
• green
• clean
• lyndie
• chiou

[agarguest]

This is a great idea, it would probably work if water is in the well the average US oil well is about 5,000 ft deep. is anyone looking seriously into this?

[lyndiechiou]

@agarguest -- I haven't heard of anyone doing this -- but Google is investing in an offshore wind turbine farm and a "super highway" for the clean energy it generates. It strikes me that this would also provide infrastructure for the many abandoned oil wells out in the ocean (which are the deepest oil wells on Earth). I'll bet Google sells access to its highways to the oil companies that own them!

[paultaylor47]

It is being done and explored to the potentials of the resource in many parts of the world. People Typically think of America and Texas as being villans to Global warming but America is actually way out in front of this idea. The amounts of power are relatively small from what I see but the costs compared to other renewables would not require subsidies like feed in tariffs . 3 cents per kilowatt hour is typical . Nice short video Lyndie

[MrPhotodoc]

very hot!...eh that geothermal that is.