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.

Recent geothermal tests in Utah show major advancements in flow rates and efficiency, bringing enhanced geothermal systems closer to commercial viability.

Years in the making, the program sponsored by the US Department of Energy is celebrating its latest geothermal energy breakthrough in southwestern Utah.

Fervo Energy’s bet that fracturing methods can be used for geothermal power is looking like a winner.

Two US test sites have fractured hot, dry rock with plans to create a network of fractures for water heating. They will soon find out if the fractures worked as expected.

Fracturing hot rock to create a geological water-heating system is like fracturing an oil well, but for a different purpose, so is proppant really necessary?

When confronted by extremely hot wells drilled into hard rock, engineers start looking for new tools and then ask, is there a cheaper option?

The drilling of wells in shale and granite shares a common need—faster drilling is required to make it work.

Utah FORGE has completed the first highly deviated, deep geothermal well to target depth and at planned trajectory, 60 days ahead of schedule.