#864:Dr Jonathan Banks: Geothermal Mapping in Alberta

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Geothermal production has typically been located in areas subject to volcanoes and earthquakes.

But new technology like that being developed in Alberta will remove those limitations.

Dr Jonathan Banks researches geothermal energy at the University of Alberta.  

With funding from Alberta Innovates, his group has recently mapped potential spots for geothermal power production along the foothills.  

DR JONATHAN BANKS:    There was a study published in 2014 that took the temperature data and overlaid assumed reservoirs in the subsurface.  We overlaid those reservoir maps onto the temperature maps and we were able to identify where potential reservoirs, high temperatures, and towns intersected.  Then we went into those areas and we quantified the amount of power that may be able to be produced from the thermal resources.   We did that by using oil and gas well data that have porosity and bottom hole temperatures and pressures.  And then we did what is called a volumetric assessment. 

Dr Jonathan Banks says the mapping study shows great potential for Hinton, Grande Prairie and the region near Caroline and Rocky Mountain House.
 
Thanks today to ALBERTA INNOVATES

Learn more at INNOVATION ANTHOLOGY.COM

I’M CHERYL CROUCHER

Sponsor

Alberta Innovates

Alberta Innovates is a provincially funded Corporation with a mandate to deliver 21st century solutions for the most compelling challenges facing Albertans. We do this by building on our province’s research and technology development strengths in the core sectors of health, environment, energy, food and fibre and platforms such as artificial intelligence, nanotechnology, and omics. We are working with our partners to diversify Alberta’s economy, improve our environmental performance and enhance our well-being through research and innovation. 

The Alberta Innovates system has roots stretching back almost 90 years

In March, 2016 the consolidation of Alberta Innovates was announced and on November 1, a single, integrated innovation powerhouse, Alberta Innovates, was formed. Two applied research subsidiaries – Innotech Alberta and C-Fer Technologies –  serve public and private sector interests.

The Alberta Innovates system was first created in January 2010, as part of an overall innovation framework developed within the Alberta Research and Innovation Act. At that time, four corporations were established:

  • Bio Solutions
  • Energy and Environment Solutions
  • Health Solutions
  • Technology Futures.

The Alberta Innovates system has a 90-year legacy. Our expertise is built on the successes of:

  • Alberta Institute for Agriculture
  • Forestry and the Environment
  • Alberta Agricultural Research Institute
  • Alberta Forestry Research Institute
  • Alberta Life Sciences Institute
  • Alberta Ingenuity
  • Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research
  • Alberta Research Council
  • iCORE
  • nanoAlberta
  • Alberta Water Research Institute (AWRI)
  • Alberta Energy Research Institute (AERI)
  • Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority (AOSTRA).

 

Program Date: 2017-05-02