Engineering and economic feasibility of utilizing geothermal heat from the Heber Reservoir for industrial processing purposes at Valley Nitrogen Producers Inc. , El Centro Agricultural Chemical Plant. Second quarterly report

The initial economic evaluation is provided for the alternatives to natural gas consumption previously identified. Using estimates of well costs, well flow, well life, temperature, enthalpy, and rates of return on invested capital, the cost of brine production has been estimated in terms of a demand charge and an energy charge. Capital costs of geothermal flash steam and binary systems from 5 to 30 Gross MW capacities have been estimated utilizing a modified Battelle Pacific Northwest Laboratories GEOCOST computer program. Fossil fuel costs, geothermal brine costs, and rate of inflation have been projected through 1997. Using these data, the thermal cycle efficiencies, and the capital cost data, the projected annual cost savings and the internal rate of return, as a function of the amount of fossil fuel displaced by geothermal energy, have been calculated and preliminary conclusions have been drawn based on this overall economic evaluation. In addition to an overall economic evaluation, an individual energy utilization evaluation was undertaken. Using estimates of capital costs, energy costs, and energy conversion efficiencies, a total unit charge rate in $/Hp-hr was assigned to each existing equipment driver and each proposed energy alternative to determine the best method for substituting geothermal energy for existing fossil fuel energy in the Valley Nitrogen Producers (VNP) Plant Steam Cycle. An optimal cost-effective plan for individual energy utilization in the VNP Plant Steam Cycle was developed from this evaluation and preliminary conclusions drawn