Low temperature geothermal resources in the Canadian Shield: The feasibility of using water from flooded mines as an energy source in Northern Quebec

Andrea Morgan, Félix-Antoine Comeau, Jasmin Raymond

In the proceedings of: GeoSt. John's 2019: 72nd Canadian Geotechnical Conference

Session: Mining

ABSTRACT: With an average geothermal gradient of 10 °C km-1, the Canadian Shield does not host conventionally attractive geothermal resources. Due to the abundance of abandoned mines that have been flooded by geothermally heated groundwater, however, significant amounts of energy can be extracted at high flow rates. When coupled with heat pump systems, it can be used as an environmentally friendly heating source for nearby infrastructure. The Copper Rand mine, studied for that purpose, is situated near the town of Chibougamau, at the gateway to Northern Quebec. A numerical model was developed to simulate the extraction of water and heat from its underground workings, with reinjection occurring in another mine 2.5 km away. Preliminary results suggest that such a system could offer thermal energy on the order of 108 MJ a-1 for a production period of 25 years, with a thermal power output exceeding 4 MW.

RÉSUMÉ: 10 °C km-1, le Bouclier canadien ne contient pas de ressources géothermiques conventionnelles. Cependant, plusieurs mines abandonnées ont été inondées par de lréchauffée par la chaleur de la Lorsque couplée avec des systèmes de pompes à chaleur, cette eau peut être utilisée et pompée à débits élevés dans le but de chauffer des infrastructures à proximité. La mine Copper Rand, étudiée dans cette optique, est située près de Chibougamau, à la porte du nord du Québec. Un modèle numérique et de chaleur des galeries, avec réinjection dans une autre mine abandonnée située à 2,5 km de distance. t être extraite de la mine est de de 108 MJ a-1 pour une période de 25 ans, avec une puissance thermique supérieur à 4 MW. NOMENCLATURE compressibility (Pa) m mass (kg) thermal conductivity P power (MW) (W m-2 K-1) p pressure (Pa) dynamic viscosity Q volumetric heat flux (Pa s) (W m-3) density (kg m) q heat flux (W m-2) porosity (%) Ss specific storage C heat capacity (m1) (J kg-1 K-1) T temperature (K; °C) E energy (MJ) t time (s) h hydraulic head (m) u mean fluid velocity K hydraulic (m s) conductivity (m s1) v volume (m3) k fracture permeability w fracture width (m) (m2)

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