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

The overall conclusion of a study made by DSS Engineers, Inc., Ft.
Lauderdale, FL, (Hornburg, 1975) is that utilization of thermal energy from
geopressured fluid in pulp and paper mills and new sugar refineries is
technically sound and economically feasible, providing that the natural gas
and the pressure contained in the fluid is recovered concurrently. Studies on
specific sites and facilities are needed to refine and verify the information
developed.
Chemical Processing
An analysis made by DDS Engineers, Inc., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, (Hornburg,
1975) of the processes used in the industrial organic chemicals group showed
that acetic acid, acetic anhydride, ethyl alcohol, and isopropyl alcohol can
be produced with almost all the energy needed being supplied by geothermal
fluids. A similar analysis of the industrial inorganic chemicals group
revealed that sulfur, bromine, aluminum sulfate, and alums could be produced
with energy supplied by geothermal fluids. Additionally, it was found that
large quantities of low-level heat are used to concentrate sodium hydroxide,
which is produced concurrently with chlorine (Hornburg, 1975).
The energy contained in geopressured fluids can meet the needs of numerous
chemical processes that occur in geopressured regions. Industrial organic
chemical processing could amount to -30.5 trillion Btu for production in Texas
and Louisiana (1980 basis). For inorganics, an estimated 60 trillion Btu/y
could be utilized (Hornburg, 1975). It is recommended that this potential
area of use receive investigation.
Chemicals in Geopressured Fluids
Geopressured fluids contain varying amounts of various chemicals. Table 2
identifies the contents and their amounts found in an analysis of the Pleasant
Bayou, TX, geopressured well. Certain of these chemicals may be extracted to
add to the overall economics of a geopressured facility.
Wherever the geopressured fluid shows bromine concentrations of at least
60 to 70 ppm, a proven recovery process (Figure 8) may be utilized to release
the bromine in pure form. Bromine is a vital ingredient in photographic
31