Concept for production of chemicals and power using geothermal energy

This paper presents a concept for conducting commercial chemical reactions and production of power using geothermal heat. The high pressures (Ps) and temperatures (Ts) that fluids attain in deep reservoirs can be used to manufacture chemicals or decontaminate wastes. High P reactions which can be expensive and/or unsafe to conduct above ground can be conducted in geothermal reservoirs using closed designs. We present examples of reactions that could benefit from Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) including production of ammonia (NH3), supercritical oxidation of wastewater contaminants, production of hydrogen (H2) by steam reforming of methanol (CH3OH) and partial oxidation of methane (CH4) to produce CH3OH.