Possibilities for the industrial use of cooled geothermal brines by borehole salt mines in the Polish Lowlands

Abstract

The paper presents the concept of thedisposal of cooled geothermal brines by re-use in borehole salt mines where they are further saturated with sodium chloride. The target recipients of the brines – saturated to reach industrial brine requirements – would be chemical plants. at present mines produce industrial-quality brine with surface water. Using the model options of cooperation of geothermal plants (a hypothetical plant in Mogilno and one under construction in Toruń) with salt mines (Przyjma and Góra), it follows shown that the payback period for major capital expenditures (drilling, pipeline) 10–15 years. The would provide tangible benefits for geothermal plants (elimination re-injection Mogilno plants parallel several and, they brine mines’ total geothermal 80–100 when