(GP/GT) for Additional Water Supply in the Lower Rio Grande

1II-32
2. Generally speaking, the same areas from (1) are also underlain by very significant
quantities of GP/GT fluids which are primarily useful as an energy source to power the
desalination systems, but could, if proven feasible, be converted to potable water via
auto-desalination, most probably utilizing the MSF process.
3. Because of the aforementioned horizontal coincidence of the two resources in most areas,
coupled with the fact that the cost of desalination practically always increases with
increasing salinity levels, in the majority of applications the shallow brackish
groundwaters aquifers should be utilized as the feed water sources, while utilizing the
GP/GT fluids to provide the necessary energy. A possible exception to this majority case
could be the above mentioned area to the north and east of McAllen, which appears to
be underlain by significant quantities of the GP/GT resource, but not significant quantities
of mildly to moderately brackish groundwater in shallow aquifers. This minority area
could prove to be a possible location for an auto-desalination application if certain
conditions of feasibility are met.
B. Availabiljtv and Characteristics of Si,"ificam Quantities of GP/GT Enera.
!!a11J! of Section I of the write up for Task 2 is entitled Simulation of GP/GT Resource Potentia!, and
it provides a substantial amount of information regarding the projected availability and characteristics of
the GP/GT energy available from the deep zones. Specifically, it presents such information for three
different sand zones, one found in the Reservoir B Area and referred to herein as the East Sand, and two
found in the Reservoir C Area, namely the Marks Sand and the Bond Sand. A summary of the pertinent
energy parameters for each sand, taken primarily from Figures 4-9 of Part B of Section I, and averaged
over a projected productive life of 15 years, is presented as follows:
East Sand Bond Sand Marks Sand
Max Min Max Min Max Min
Brine Production 25,000 25,000 24,900 23,500 14,750 14,125
(Barre1s1Day)
Gas Production 600 600 600 550 300 275
(MSCF/Day)
Wellhead Pressure 950 950 850 850 850 850
(PSIA)
Bottom Hole Temp. 264 264 296 296 279 279
("F)
Brine Salinity 15,000 9,000 50,000 40,000 50,000 40,000
(mg/l)