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Finding the Best Geothermal Reservoirs in Bangladesh for Commercial Development: An Analysis of Barapukuria Coal Mine Area.
1 , * 1 , 2 , 1
1  Department of Environmental Science and Management, North South University, Bangladesh.
2  Alberta Energy Regulator, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Academic Editor: Wataru Takeuchi

Abstract:

Geothermal energy uses the abundant heat of the Earth's subsurface to provide heat and electricity. In contrast to wind and solar, it can run throughout all seasons and times with close to zero emissions of greenhouse gases. Today, it contributes to ~ 13000 MW of electrical and ~70000 MW of thermal power to global grids. However, most of the current studies related to geothermal energy in Bangladesh focus on the status of the energy resource and the identification of some of the potential locations. This study plans to fill the gap with a systematic approach to calculate the total available power in the potential geothermal fields in Bangladesh. The northwest region's geological studies show that producing geothermal energy is feasible because deep wells there can achieve temperatures above 100°C at depths of two to three kilometers. Notably, the Thakurgaon area includes a thermal exploratory well, and the Barapukuria coal basin has a temperature gradient of 48.7°C/km. At 500 meters deep, a gradient of 34.2°C/km was discovered. This study focuses on the Barapukuria Coal Mine Area and aims to conduct an in-depth analysis to find the most suitable geothermal reservoir in Bangladesh while taking advantage of the available geotechnical data found for a specific area with a high geothermal gradient. Barapukuria Coal mine area provides the necessary confidence considering the fact that it has been well studied and documented previously as part of the mining projects. The study will help to assess project lifetime, gross geothermal energy, and gross power capacity. The amount of thermal energy contained in a geothermal pool is a function of reservoir and fluid properties. To estimate the percentage of the total thermal energy that can be recovered at the wellhead, a recovery factor is applied. Results from this work will allow the models of the geothermal systems in Bangladesh to be validated with empirical, data-based evidence. Despite the ongoing attempts to diversify Bangladesh's energy sources, there is no operational or planned geothermal plant in the country. The approach here is an attempt to introduce systemic and data-driven models to assess the geothermal potential of a reservoir. The initial results for the Barapukuria coal field are encouraging as it retrofits the field for a cleaner and baseload energy option.

Keywords: Renewable energy; Geothermal energy; Geothermal reservoir; Bangladesh energy sector
Comments on this paper
Jesse Pinkman
Impressive! This research sets a solid foundation for the exploration and utilization of geothermal energy resources in Bangladesh, paving the way for sustainable fnf energy development initiatives in the country.

Linksa Marioe
The groundwork for future geothermal energy resource development and exploitation is laid by this study.
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lisa bonet24
Because the earth's heated reservoirs are naturally and continuously replenished, geothermal energy is both renewable and sustainable. io games




 
 
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