Geothermal Power Generation Potential in the Eastern Linqing Depression

• Published in: Acta geologica Sinica (Beijing) Vol. 95; no. 6; pp. 1870 - 1881
• Main Authors: KANG, Fengxin, ZHAO, Jichu, TAN, Zhirong, SUI, Haibo, SHI, Meng
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Richmond Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.12.2021; Shandong Provincial Research Center of Groundwater Conservation and Restoration,Jinan 250013,China%Shandong Provincial Research Center of Geothermal Resources and Reinjection,Dezhou,Shandong 253072,China; Shandong Provincial Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources (SPBGM),Jinan 250013,China; The Second Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology,SPBGM,Dezhou,Shangdong 253072,China%Shandong Provincial Research Center of Groundwater Conservation and Restoration,Jinan 250013,China; 5801 Institute of Hydrogeology and Engineering Geology,SPBGM,Jinan 250014,China; Shandong Provincial Research Center of Geothermal Resources and Reinjection,Dezhou,Shandong 253072,China
• Edition: English ed.
• Subjects: Cambrian; Capacity; Carbonates; Cenozoic; Electric power generation; Emissions; enhanced geothermal system; Enhanced geothermal systems; Enthalpy; Geothermal energy; Geothermal gradient; Geothermal power; geothermal power plant; Geothermal power plants; Geothermal resources; Hydrothermal fields; Karst; karst geothermal reservoir; Ordovician; Permeability; Power plants; recovery rate; Reinjection; Reservoirs; Temperature; Temperature distribution; China; karst geothermal reservoir; recovery rate; enhanced geothermal system; geothermal power plant
• ISSN: 1000-9515; 1755-6724
• DOI: 10.1111/1755-6724.14877

China has been the leading country worldwide in direct geothermal utilization for a rather long time, which has contributed significantly to reducing carbon emissions. But the installed capacity of geothermal power generation in China is very small, and there are only a few geothermal power plants in China, specifically in Tibet, including the well‐known Yangbajing geothermal power plant. Therefore, it is anticipated that more high‐temperature geothermal resources will be discovered in order to promote China's power generation. There is potential for high‐enthalpy geothermal in the Eastern Linqing Depression in Shandong Province, where geothermal energy is stored in Ordovician and Cambrian carbonate strata. Based on the geothermal gradient in Cenozoic strata and the depth of the target geothermal reservoir, the temperature distribution pattern of the reservoir was analyzed, and two “sweet points” were identified in the Yucheng geothermal field and the Guanxian geothermal field, where the reservoir temperature is predicted to be higher than 200°C at a depth of less than 8000 m. Due to the low karst fissure ratio and the insufficient geothermal fluid in the geothermal reservoir, it is recommended that an enhanced geothermal system be set up, to increase the permeability of the natural fracture system in the carbonate formations and provide sufficient fluid for power generation through reinjection of used geothermal fluid. The power generation capacity of the two geothermal fields was estimated using a volumetric method, revealing a power generation capacity of 1621.02 MWe for the Yucheng geothermal field, and 1287.19 MWe for the Guanxian geothermal field.