News Information

On October 22nd, it was learned from the press office of Sinopec that recently, the Xianyang deep Geothermal Energy power generation demonstration Project of Sinopec Xinxing Company has obtained the access permit to the Xianyang power grid and has been officially connected to the grid for power generation. This project integrates low-temperature power generation, water-soluble helium extraction and heating. It is the first geothermal power generation demonstration project of Sinopec and also the first "thermoelectric helium" integrated pilot project in China. It has positive significance for expanding the geothermal energy industry chain and optimizing the energy structure.

This project is located in Xianyang City, Shaanxi Province, which belongs to the Guanzhong area. The Guanzhong area is a large medium and low-temperature sedimentary basin-type geothermal field. Its geothermal resources are unique for their large scale, high temperature and excellent water quality. This project selected a geothermal well located in the Baoshi Jiayuan community. The well is 3,000 meters deep, and the water temperature at the wellhead is approximately 102℃. During the heating season, the geothermal water is extracted for low-load power generation, and helium gas is simultaneously extracted from the geothermal water. The geothermal water after power generation is then used for heating through heat exchange. During the non-heating season, the project generates electricity at full capacity throughout the day and simultaneously extracts helium gas. After use, the geothermal water is reinjected into the original heat storage layer through the recharge well for reheating. The heating capacity of the project reaches 170,000 square meters, and the annual power generation is approximately 700,000 kilowatt-hours.

Tackle core technologies and obtain the "golden gas" in geothermal Wells. Helium is an important strategic resource, known as the "golden gas", and is widely used in aerospace, scientific research, medical care, industry and other fields. As a major manufacturing country, China has a large demand for helium, but it has long relied heavily on imports. At present, helium extraction mainly comes from helium-containing natural gas, coalbed methane, by-products of air separation devices, etc. The Weihe Basin where this project is located is rich in water-soluble helium, free helium and associated gas resources. After analysis, the expert team found that the helium content in most geothermal Wells in this area is rarely seen at home and abroad. In recent years, Sinopec has continuously carried out experiments and key technology research on the separation and purification of water-soluble helium gas in Xianyang City, and successfully applied it to this project. Through the coupled process of membrane separation and pressure swing adsorption, helium gas with a purity of over 99% has been obtained, accumulating valuable technical experience for the further industrialization of geothermal water-soluble helium gas.

Geothermal power generation has broad prospects for development and application. Geothermal energy is a stable, reliable, green and low-carbon renewable energy source. It features large reserves, wide distribution, cleanliness and environmental friendliness, and is widely used in heating and cooling, power generation, breeding and other fields. Among them, in terms of geothermal power generation, according to the "World Geothermal Power Generation Progress" report released at the 2023 World Geothermal Congress, currently, 31 countries around the world have geothermal power plants in operation, and the total installed capacity of global geothermal power generation has grown from 2,110 megawatts in 1980 to 16,260 megawatts today.

Sinopec has been continuously delving into the geothermal field and has become the largest domestic enterprise in the development and utilization of geothermal energy. Sinopec is a leading enterprise in the development and utilization of geothermal energy in China. In terms of exploring the large-scale development of geothermal energy, it has provided geothermal heating for over one million square meters in 22 cities and built geothermal heating capacity of over 100 million square meters in 72 cities (counties and districts) across the country. Among them, the geothermal heating project it is building in Xiongan New Area has been included in the global promotion project list of the International Renewable Energy Agency. In promoting technological progress in the geothermal industry, two fundamental theories, namely the formation mechanism of geothermal systems and the heat storage and heat transfer mechanism, have been innovatively formed. A number of key core technologies, including the "heat extraction without water consumption" engineering technology, have been overcome. Moreover, the deepest geothermal exploration well in China - Fushen Thermal Well 1 - has been successfully drilled. In terms of serving the development of the national geothermal industry, it has taken the lead in formulating over 50% of industry standards and the first international geothermal association standard in the global geothermal field in China, and successfully held the 2023 World Geothermal Congress.