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Permalink Reply by Marc Stepman on July 15, 2010 at 2:37

I believe one the big timber companies has a posted information about this. I think it was International Paper or Weyerhauser. They had a map of East TX, North LA, and Southern Ark. showing the prospects for development according to temperatures encountered when drilling. I will see if they still have it on the web page. Just found it. It was International Paper and here is the linkhttp://www.internationalpaper.com/US/EN/Company/MineralResources/Geothermal.html

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Permalink Reply by sesport on July 15, 2010 at 4:47

Thanks, Marc. I'm encouraged that it looks like money is ear-marked to work on a way to be more energy efficient and perhaps save costs. I've said it before, sometimes the money directed at drilling comes through indirect means, and it's an indication that government IS supporting E&P.

80)

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Permalink Reply by sesport on July 15, 2010 at 6:05

Marc - If you don't mind, here's a better way to link that.

http://internationalpaper.com/US/EN/Company/MineralResources/Geothe...

Looks interesting, I like the maps of the prospective acreage.

Louisiana Geothermal Prospects

Prospect
Est. Acreage

Sabine ± 75,000

South Sabine ± 18,000

Vernon ± 8,600


thanks again 80)

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Permalink Reply by JHH on July 15, 2010 at 6:49

are the hi-lited areas property that IP is directly associated with or are they the full extent of the geothermal sites. Was interested in Panola and Harrison counties in East Texas. Thanks, jhh

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Permalink Reply by sesport on July 15, 2010 at 8:20

JHH - I'm not going to speculate about that. There's no legend, and I can find no other info on that site, that explains the difference between the red & blue highlights. Hopefully someone "in the know" will take a look at this for us and let us know.

thanks for the thought - 80)

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Permalink Reply by P.G. on July 15, 2010 at 5:33

I wonder if they could use that ultra high pressure that comes out of those gas wells to produce electricity? Maybe run it through a turbine at the well head before the gas is sold off...

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Permalink Reply by sesport on July 15, 2010 at 6:04

PG - I think some industrial sites that have ng wells on their property & mineral rights may already be doing something similar by implementing co-generative power.

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Permalink Reply by sesport on July 15, 2010 at 6:37

hmmmm, Another opportunity with economic impact??? I suppose as long as they have lifeguards to watch for "sharks." lol

80)

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Permalink Reply by Marc Stepman on July 15, 2010 at 11:13

Thanks for the new link. About 5 years ago one of the oil companies we leased to was looking at doing this. They had been contacted by International Paper and our property was in the interest area. Had some meetings with IP and the oil company and nothing really happened. That was in the pre haynesville shale days. Then the shale happened. It is an interesting energy concept. Not without risk though. I think it would also be way we could use old non producing wells as well that are out there collect dust per say. There are some interesting studies on this subject in East Texas and I beet they are still out on the web. By the way Co-Generative Power is expensive. Just another way to use what we have here.

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Permalink Reply by sesport on July 15, 2010 at 12:13

Thanks again, Marc. I got that idea, too, about utilizing old wells but I'm not really sure how. Any idea about what the highlighted areas mean as JHH asked, or do you know someone to ask or somewhere to look?

How so is co-gen expensive, in the building, in the fuel source? I'm aware of 2 industrial uses here in LA, one smaller project on trial here at Barksdale in a dormitory, and I've seen new information indicating it could go residential. The ng is used to fuel heat & AC, and the waste energy from that is used to generate electricity.

80)

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Permalink Reply by Marc Stepman on July 15, 2010 at 12:35

Lets take the highlighted areas first. IP owns a great deal of land in those areas. Well into the thousands of acres per in each block. Are they the only owner? No they are not. All of the highlighted areas contain bottom hole temps high enough to make this possible. It is all about getting stuff really hot and making steam to power things. The other thing you need to remember about IP is at that time they were offering to manage your Geothermal for you like they do with Timber contracts. Basically sign a contract for geothermal with them and they would develop it along with the property they had in that area. You would get paid in some from of Payment or something like that. It has been along time since then. I am not big about anyone managing my stuff but me. IP was at that time talking with the very same companies involved with the shale to do the development. The only person I could think of to call would be IP itself. At the time they were talking with me the office was in Houston and I see from the link it still is.
Co-Generative Power
Power generation is expensive by any undertaking. Not that many industries use it in the state. Sometimes this type of power generation is not as efficient as others is one issue along with the extra set up cost involved. But in union Parish small shallow gas wells have been used to power houses for years. They work really well. Can save you a bunch when working properly. I think some land fills are also using this stuff as well.

The bottom line is we need to expand our electric transmission and generation system to keep stuff moving. Anything that will help I am all for!! I hope this helps.

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