Geothermal energy
Geothermal systems, which rely on extracting heat from deep within the Earth, face many of the same technical challenges that oil and gas operators have tackled for decades. Geothermal development can be advanced efficiently and economically by applying proven oil and gas technologies.
The companies have announced they will work together to integrate geothermal well engineering and project delivery globally.
Closed-loop geothermal systems have entered the new-energy arena to generate electricity using the underground as a heat exchanger.
-
The drilling of wells in shale and granite shares a common need—faster drilling is required to make it work. -
Founded in 2008, GA Drilling is developing plasma-based tools to achieve drilling speeds that are about three times faster than what conventional bit technology has historically achieved.
-
Criterion Energy Partners' immediate focus is to deliver direct heat and power to industrial customers in the Texas Gulf Coast region.
-
The two companies will work to retrofit nonproducing wells for geothermal production and scale GreenFire Energy’s closed-loop advanced geothermal systems.
-
The government is offering up to $20 million to test applications that will shorten the time it takes to drill geothermal wells.
-
Grants have been offered to four separate pilot-style projects in order to test the geothermal potential of old oil and gas wells.
-
The technical section will focus on the transfer of technology and practices from the oil and gas industry to geothermal energy development and promote industry best practices.
-
Flow rate is a major challenge for geothermal. However, the techniques used in shale to prevent flow localization can be applied directly to geothermal. If we can create hundreds or thousands of flowing fracture pathways around a horizontal or deviated geothermal well, then we will have truly “changed the game.”
-
While CCS and CCUS become more ensconced in oil and gas energy-transition strategy, one major project has fallen short of targets. Infrared sensor technology could fill a crucial gap in halting methane leaks. And a geothermal startup gets a big vote of confidence from industry and celebrities.
-
Founded in 2017, Fervo Energy is aiming to leverage multistage hydraulic fracturing technology to create more-efficient geothermal wells that will power the Internet company's data infrastructure by 2022.
