Moving beyond Gas: Can Bangladesh Leapfrog and Make the Energy Transition Just by Exploring the Role of Geothermal Energy and Gas Infrastructure?

Joyashree Roy, Hasan Mahmud, Mohsen Assadi, Niyaz Iman, Homam Nikpey

Abstract


How a natural gas rich developing economy like Bangladesh growing at ~7% annually in the pre-pandemic period can envision a roadmap for Sustainable and Just energy transition using the investments in gas infrastructure is discussed in the article. Bangladesh is caught up in a complex combination of likely risks of rising stranded assets, redundancy of jobs in the fossil fuel sector, need for cleaner available innovation and technology through global partnership to meet the inevitable increase in energy service demand. We make a case for the new use option of Bangladesh drilling wells and the infrastructure dedicated so far to extract and use domestic natural gas reserves. Utilization of gas exploration wells and depleted wells for the generation of geothermal heat and power can help in leapfrog with a drastic reduction in the cost of installation of geothermal plants and without job loss. This article provides learnings based on other country experiences related to the use of depleted wells for geothermal production. Available data from one of the gas reservoirs for three wells in Kailashtila gas field has been used to assess the potential. The simulation result shows that using existing wells as a geothermal heat source with heat pumps is not the best option for cooling only applications. Absorption chiller would be a better choice for heat-based cooling. However, a combination of seasonal cooling and heating with heat storage in geothermal wells during hot periods and heat utilization for space heating during cold periods presents a very attractive energy solution option. But more detailed systematic studies including detailed calculation of geothermal energy generation potential for Bangladesh with feasibility assessment can be conclusively done with site specific data access and are necessary to fully explore the technical and economic potential.

Keywords


Bangladesh; geothermal energy; just energy transition; leapfrog; natural gas

Full Text:

PDF

References


IPCC, 2018. Summary for Policymakers in Global Warming of 1.5°C., Masson-Delmotte V., Zhai P., Portner H.-O., Roberts D., Skea J., Shukla P. R., Pirani A., Moufouma-Okia W., Péan C., Pidcock R., Connors S., Matthews J.B.R., Matthews Y., Zhou X., Gomis M.I., Lonnoy E., Maycock T., Tignor M., and Waterfield T., Eds. Geneva, Switzerland: World Meteorological Organization.

ILO, 2020. Just Transition: ILO report calls for urgent action to reach climate goals. Retrieved August 04, 2020 from World Wide Web: https://www.ilo.org/actrav/mediacenter/pr/WCMS_647647/lang--en/index.htm.

Rissman J., Bataille C., Masanet E., Aden, N., Morrow III W. R., Zhou N., Elliott N., Dell R., Heeren N., Huckestein B., Cresko J., Miller S. A., Roy J., Fennell P., Cremmins B., Blank T. K., Hone D., Williams E. D., Can S. R., Sisson B., Williams M., Katzenberger J., Burtraw D., Sethi G., Ping H., Danielson D., Lu H., Lorber T., Dinkel J., and Helseth J., 2020. Technologies and policies to decarbonize global industry: Review and assessment of mitigation drivers through 2070. Applied Energy 266. doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.114848.

GEA, 2012. Global Energy Assessment – Toward a Sustainable Future. Retrieved from World Wide Web: https://iiasa.ac.at/web/home/research/Flagship-Projects/Global-Energy-Assessment/Global_Energy_Assessment_FullReport.pdf.

ADB, 2016. Natural Gas Infrastructure and Efficiency Improvement Project (RRP BAN 45203): Sector Assessment (Summary): Natural Gas. Retrieved August 05, 2020 from World Wide Web: https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/linked-documents/45203-006-ssa.pdf.

Roy J., P. Tschakert, H. Waisman, S. Abdul Halim, P. Antwi-Agyei, P. Dasgupta, B. Hayward, M. Kanninen, D. Liverman, C. Okereke, P.F. Pinho, K. Riahi, and A.G. Suarez Rodriguez, 2018. Sustainable Development, Poverty Eradication and Reducing Inequalities. In Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, H.-O. Pörtner, D. Roberts, J. Skea, P.R. Shukla, A. Pirani, W. Moufouma-Okia, C. Péan, R. Pidcock, S. Connors, J.B.R. Matthews, Y. Chen, X. Zhou, M.I. Gomis, E. Lonnoy, T. Maycock, M. Tignor, and T. Waterfield ed. Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty, 445-538.

Hernandez D., Boden K., Paul P., Bandaru S.R.S., Mypati S., Roy A., Amrose S.E., Roy J. and Gadgil A.J., 2019. Strategies for successful field deployment in a resource-poor region: Arsenic remediation technology for drinking water. Development Engineering 4. doi: 10.1016/j.deveng.2019.100045.

BSS, 2019. Statistical Year Book Bangladesh 2018. Dhaka.

Basu K., 2018. Why is Bangladesh’s economy booming?. Livemint. Retrieved February 26, 2020 from World Wide Web: https://www.livemint.com/Opinion/6avW0qZka0ZT1cVaT0UEPK/Why-is-Bangladeshs-economy-booming.html.

Mahmud W., Asadullah N., and Savoia A., 2013. Bangladesh’s achievements in social development indicators: Explaining the puzzle. Economic and Political Weekly 48: 26–28.

BPDB, 2019. Annual Report 2018-19. Dhaka. Retrieved from World Wide Web: https://www.bpdb.gov.bd/bpdb_new/index.php/site/new_annual_reports.

Hamid N., 2016. The energy roadmap to help achieve vision 2041. Energy & Power. Retrieved August 26, 2020 from World Wide Web: https://ep-bd.com/view/page/anniversary.html.

Bangladesh Power Devision, 2016. Power System Master Plan 2016.

Roy J., 2019. The future of Bangladesh’s power sector - Energy for growth. Energy for Growth Hub. Retrieved February 26, 2020 from World Wide Web: https://www.energyforgrowth.org/memo/the-future-of-bangladeshs-power-sector/.

Davis A.P. and E.E. Michaelides, 2009. Geothermal power production from abandoned oil wells. Energy 34(7): 866–872. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2009.03.017.

Cheng W.L., Li T.T., Nian Y.L., and Wang C.L., 2013. Studies on geothermal power generation using abandoned oil wells. Energy 59: 248–254. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2013.07.008.

Noorollahi Y., Taghipoor S., and Sajadi B., 2017. Geothermal sea water desalination system (GSWDS) using abandoned oil/gas wells. Geothermics 67: 66–75. doi: 10.1016/j.geothermics.2017.01.008.

Kiaghadi A., Sobel R.S., and Rifai H.S., 2017. Modeling geothermal energy efficiency from abandoned oil and gas wells to desalinate produced water. Desalination 414: 51–62. doi: 10.1016/j.desal.2017.03.024.

Cheng W.L., Li T.T., Nian Y.L., and Xie K., 2014. An analysis of insulation of abandoned oil wells reused for geothermal power generation. Energy Procedia 61: 607–610. doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2014.11.1181.

Røksland M., Basmoen T.A., and Sui D., 2017. Geothermal energy extraction from abandoned wells. Energy Procedia 105: 244–249. doi: 10.1016/j.egypro.2017.03.309.

Caulk R.A. and I. Tomac, 2017. Reuse of abandoned oil and gas wells for geothermal energy production. Renewable Energy 112: 388–397. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2017.05.042.

Wang K., Yuan B., Ji G., and Wu X., 2018. A comprehensive review of geothermal energy extraction and utilization in oilfields. Journal of Petroleum Science and Engineering 168: 465–477. doi: 10.1016/j.petrol.2018.05.012.

Westphal D. and R. Weijermars, 2018. Economic appraisal and scoping of geothermal energy extraction projects using depleted hydrocarbon wells. Energy Strategy Reviews 22: 348–364. 10.1016/j.esr.2018.10.008.

Nian Y.L. and W.L. Cheng, 2018. Insights into geothermal utilization of abandoned oil and gas wells. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 87: 44–60. doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2018.02.004.

Liu J., Cheng W.L., and Le N.Y., 2018. The stratigraphic and operating parameters influence on economic analysis for enhanced geothermal double wells utilization system. Energy 159: 264–276. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2018.06.150.

Alimonti C., Soldo E., Bocchetti D., and Berardi D., 2018. The wellbore heat exchangers: A technical review. Renewable Energy 123: 353–381. doi: 10.1016/j.renene.2018.02.055.

Das V., 2017. A study on the prospect of geothermal energy in Bangladesh. Global Journal of Research in Engineering XVII: 33–37.

Guha D., 1978. Techtonic framework and oil & gas prospects in Bangladesh. In Proceedings of 4th Anual Conference, 65–75.

Hossain M., 2009. Overpressure in the Eastern Bengal Basin, Bangladesh, and its Relation to Compressional Tectonics. Auburn University.

Guha D.K., Henkel H., and Imam B., 2010. Geothermal potential in Bangladesh - Results from investigations of abandoned deep wells. In Proceedings World Geothermal Congress 2010, 1–8.

Hasan A.S.M.M., 2013. Energy demand & prospect of geothermal energy as the solution of energy crisis of Bangladesh – An approach to green energy solution. International Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy 2(6): 217. doi: 10.11648/j.ijrse.20130206.15.

Khan K., Ahmed M., Parvez M.S., and Hossain M.M., 2015. Scope of geothermal potential of Bangladesh: A review. doi: 10.1109/ICGET.2015.7315087.

Masum M., 2015. Low-temperature geothermal systems in sedimentary basin and their prospect in Bangladesh. In Proceedings World Geothermal Congress, 19–25. Retrieved from the World Wide Web: https://pangea.stanford.edu/ERE/db/WGC/papers/WGC/2015/32002.pdf.

Monne M.A. and K.S. Alam, 2015. Roadmap to geothermal energy: An assessment of the geothermal potential of Bangladesh. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research 6(2): 1244–1247.

Nayan M.F., Mahmud S., Mollah M.A.S., Ahmed S., and Hasan M.M., 2014. An introduction and prospect of geothermal energy in power sector of Bangladesh. International Journal of Scientific Engineering and Research 5(1): 736-740.

Rahman M., 2016. Geothermal potential resources in Thakurgaon district, northern Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Geo., 13–30.

Akbar M.A., 2011. An assessment of the geothermal potential of Bangladesh. Orkustofnun, Iceland. Retrieved February 26, 2020 from the World Wide Web: https://orkustofnun.is/gogn/unu-gtp-report/UNU-GTP-2011-05.pdf.

Power Engineering, 2011. Anglo MGH energy plans to set up Bangladesh’s first geothermal power plant. Power Engineering. Retrieved February 26, 2020 from the World Wide Web: https://www.power-eng.com/2011/03/07/anglo-mgh-energy-plans/#gref.

SARC Energy Center, 2011. Study on Geothermal Resources of South Asia. Islamabad. Retrieved February 26, 2020 from the World Wide Web: https://www.saarcenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/12/2010-Study-on-Geothermal-Resources-of-South-Asia.pdf.

RPS Energy, 2009. Kailashtila Petroleum Engineering Report Prepared for Petrobangla. Dhaka.

Improved Petroleum Recovery Int. LTd., 1988. Well Report Kailashtila 2. Dhaka.

BAPEX, 2007. Workover Report of Kailashtila Well 3. Dhaka.

JOE, 2006. Well Completion Report Kailashtila Well no. 6 for Sylhet Gas Fields Ltd. Dhaka.

Saleh B., Koglbauer G., Wendland M., and Fischer J., 2007. Working fluids for low-temperature organic Rankine cycles. Energy 32(7): 1210–1221. doi: 10.1016/j.energy.2006.07.001.

Lee K.M., Kuo S.F., Chien M.L., and Shih Y.S., 1988. Parameters analysis on organic rankine cycle energy recovery system. Energy Conversion and Management 28(2): 129–136. doi: 10.1016/0196-8904(88)90038-6.

Masheiti S., Agnew B., and Walker S., 2011. An evaluation of R134a and R245fa as the working fluid in an organic rankine cycle energized from a low temperature geothermal energy source. Journal of Energy Power Engineering 5: 392–402.

Kvalsvik K.H., Midttomme K. and Ramstad R.K., 2019. Geothermal Energy Use, Country Update for Norway. European Geothermal Congress, 2019. Den Haag, The Netherlands, 11-24 June.

Imam B., 2018. Why is solar power development so slow in Bangladesh? The Daily Star. Dhaka, Apr. 11, 2018.

de Coninck H., A. Revi, M. Babiker, P. Bertoldi, M. Buckeridge, A. Cartwright, W. Dong, J. Ford, S. Fuss, J.-C. Hourcade, D. Ley, R. Mechler, P. Newman, A. Revokatova, S. Schultz, L. Steg, and T. Sugiyama, 2018. Strengthening and Implementing the Global Response. In Masson-Delmotte, V., P. Zhai, H.-O. Pörtner, D. Roberts, J. Skea, P.R. Shukla, A. Pirani, W. Moufouma-Okia, C. Péan, R. Pidcock, S. Connors, J.B.R. Matthews, Y. Chen, X. Zhou, M.I. Gomis, E. Lonnoy, T. Maycock, M. Tignor, and T. Waterfield ed. Global Warming of 1.5°C. An IPCC Special Report on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways, in the context of strengthening the global response to the threat of climate change, sustainable development, and efforts to eradicate poverty, 313-344.