Several oilfields in the USA produce large volumes of hot water/brine with the oil. At many production facilities the waste stream is below 220F, considered low temperature for geothermal power production. However, these low temperature waste streams have been projected to be capable of generating up to 5,000 MW of power for facility consumption.
To evaluate power generating capability of this low temperature oil field waste stream, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) entered into a Cooperative Research and Development Agreement (CRADA) with Ormat Nevada, Inc. to demonstrate an air cooled, skid mounted standard design organic Rankine cycle (ORC) power plant. Ormat ORC power plants have been used for over 25 years for on-site power generation from conventional geothermal resources. The power system being tested has an air-cooled condenser for the working fluid because this field like most oil fields does not have a sufficient source of cooling water.
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