Study Details 2024 Enhanced Geothermal System Hydraulic Fracturing Campaign at Utah FORGE

This paper details efforts in 2024 at the Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy field laboratory to explore the feasibility of hydraulically fracturing thermally conductive granite formations to create an enhanced geothermal system.

Production well 16B(78)-32 as drilled and completed.
Production well 16B(78)-32 as drilled and completed.
Source: SPE 223519.

The Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) is a US Department of Energy-sponsored field laboratory for demonstrating and promoting the feasibility of hydraulically fracturing thermally conductive formations to create an enhanced geothermal system (EGS). One embodiment of an EGS is to drill injection and production wells and interconnect them with hydraulic fracturing. In April 2024, eight fracturing stages were pumped in an injection well, and four fracturing stages were pumped in a vertically offset, but parallel, subhorizontal production well. This is one of the few times that wells have been intentionally interconnected successfully.

Wells Background

Since 2016, eight wells have been drilled at FORGE, the deepest reaching 9,500 ft true vertical depth (TVD) with an estimated temperature of 466°F. Six of the wells are vertical, with two of these being shallow. These wells support microseismic monitoring and tool testing.

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