SLB announced this week that it is working with Oman’s Ministry of Energy and Minerals to help develop the Middle Eastern nation’s geothermal potential.
The collaboration has so far focused on the evaluation of data from over 7,000 oil, gas, and water wells in Oman to map sweet spots for possible geothermal projects.
This initial phase involved a 3-month review of surface, subsurface, and well data from Oman’s national data repository. SLB said it used a proprietary artificial intelligence program to facilitate the sorting and analysis of the large database.
“Using digital technology solutions to assess geothermal resource potential can accelerate prospectivity analysis and, ultimately, the delivery and performance of geothermal installations,” Gavin Rennick, president of SLB’s New Energy unit, said in a statement on Wednesday.
Next steps for SLB and the Omani government include completing an economic feasibility study of the geothermal prospects already identified.
Salim Al Aufi, the Omani Minister of Energy and Minerals, said the collaboration with SLB “is in line with Oman’s efforts to decarbonize the energy sector, achieve its net-zero goal, and implement Oman Vision 2040” which outlines the nation’s economic and social plans over the next 2 decades.
While geothermal energy development is nascent in Oman, the country is home to almost two dozen hot water springs which are an indicator of high underground fluid temperatures. Previous reviews of oil and gas well data have revealed that boreholes with the highest fluid temperatures, in excess of 200°F, are found in the western region of Oman along the border of Saudi Arabia.
