Deep Geothermal Heating Potential for the Communities of the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin

We summarize the feasibility of using geothermal energy from Western Canada Sedimentary Basin (WCSB) to support communities with populations >3000 people, including those in northeastern British Columbia, southwestern part Northwest Territories (NWT), southern Saskatchewan, and southeastern Manitoba, along previously studied Alberta. The potential WCSB is largely determined by basin’s geometry; sediments start at 0 m thickness adjacent Canadian shield east thicken >6 km west, over 3 Williston sub-basin south. Direct heat use most promising western parts where sediment exceeds 2–3 km. Geothermal also dependent on local gradient. Aquifers suitable for heating systems occur western-northwestern Alberta, Saskatchewan. Electrical power production limited deepest WCSB, aquifers >120 °C fluid rates >80 kg/s (southwestern Territories, northwestern For regions thickest sediments, foreland basin Rocky Mountains, estimates indicate that up 2 MWel. (electrical), 10 times higher MWth. (thermal), are possible.