Westside: Geothermal Energy Development Using Hydraulically Fractured Horizontal Wells
The use of hydraulically fractured horizontal wells has generated enormous economic, energy security, and environmental benefits for America and the world. However, until last year, this technology had not been used to produce energy from geothermal resources. This is surprising since the physical challenges associated with extracting heat from the Earth’s crust to economically generate electricity are strikingly like those associated with producing hydrocarbons from nanodarcy permeability unconventional reservoirs. The historical lack of uptake by the geothermal industry of hydraulically fractured horizontal wells is however likely to change quickly given the recent success of Fervo’s Blue Mountain geothermal demonstration project and encouraging results at the Utah FORGE test site and Fervo’s adjacent Cape Project. Importantly, these recent successes have demonstrated the exciting opportunities that exist for companies and individuals with O&G unconventional reservoir experience to participate in unlocking the economic potential of geothermal resources, which is an enormous prize – one that mankind needs to enable an efficient energy transition. This presentation will explore some of the recent developments in marrying these technologies.
Location:
Core Laboratories Inc. Auditorium
6323 Windfern Road
Houston
,
TX 77040