Quaise Energy’s Post

The solution to net zero could be deep beneath our feet. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), which penetrate further underground than conventional systems, could access hot rocks to generate electricity at sites – potentially including disused fossil fuel power stations – around the world. We spoke to Dr Joseph Moore from EGS pioneers Utah FORGE about the energy source's huge potential, and how it is monitoring the risk of earthquakes from geothermal-related fracking. #energy #power #geothermal

"Geothermal energy from the superhot rock miles below our feet has the potential to become a major player in the energy transition, but first we need to develop ways to not only access those rocks, but also extract their heat. Now a computer model sheds light on the latter, describing for the first time what happens when rock at those depths and temperatures is exposed to fluids that can eventually transfer the rocks' heat to the surface. Essentially, the model shows the formation of microscopic cracks creating a dense "cloud of permeability" throughout the affected rock. This is in contrast to the much larger and fewer macroscopic fractures induced by the engineered geothermal systems (EGS) in use today, which operate closer to the surface and at much lower temperatures." #geothermalenergy

We have proof now that superhot rock is compatible with EGS systems. "The data also show that rock that fractures at superhot conditions can be ten times more permeable than rock that fractures at conditions closer to the Earth’s surface, and can also deform more readily. Those factors could make this geothermal resource “much more economic,” says Geoffrey Garrison, Vice President of Operations for Quaise Energy, one of the funders for the work. Quaise is working on a novel drilling technique for accessing superdeep, superhot rock. Until now, geologists had been divided as to whether this superdeep, superhot resource can be tapped. Rock under such high pressures and temperatures—more than 375oC, or 707 oF—is ductile, or gooey, as opposed to a smashable stone from your backyard. As a result, some have argued that fractures can’t be created. And if they can, will they stay open? The current work, led by a team at the Ecole Polytechnique Fédéral de Lausanne (EPFL), confirms that fractures can indeed form in superhot, superdeep rock located near the brittle-to-ductile transition in the crust. The latter is where hard, brittle rock begins to transition into a material that’s ductile, or more pliable. “There are also lots of other data coming out of this work that will inform our approach to tapping the resource,” Garrison says. For example, “how strong is the rock? How far do the fractures go? How many fractures can we create?” “All of this will help us derisk the drilling involved, which is very expensive. You don’t get a lot of chances. You don’t get to drill a hole then, like hanging a picture, move it over if you’ve missed the best location.”" "The consistency of superhot, superdeep rock is similar to that of Silly Putty. “If you pull it slowly, it stretches out and becomes elastic. But if you pull a chunk of Silly Putty really quickly, it snaps. And that is brittle behavior,” says Garrison. In other words, he continues, “if you stress the rock slowly enough under these extreme conditions, it may stretch and not fracture. This work shows that rock will shatter under these conditions, but it needs to be stressed quickly to do so.” The research confirms theoretical work reported earlier this year in Geothermal Energy showing that the cracks that form create a dense “cloud of permeability” throughout the affected rock. This is in contrast to the much larger and fewer macroscopic fractures induced by the engineered geothermal systems (EGS) in use today, which operate closer to the surface and at much lower temperatures. As a result, the simulations involved in the Geothermal Energy work predict that a superhot system can deliver five to ten times more power than typically produced today from EGS, and do so for up to two decades." https://lnkd.in/gsC6n8ab

Salton Sea Geothermal Field impacted by detachment faults?. My question more than me offering knowledge. The diagrammatic cross section from Hulen et al. (2002)* proposes shallow felsic intrusions for the heat source at the geothermal fields, but no discussion of the impact of the large detachment faults that reach the surface in the mountains just to the west i.e. San Jacinto, Santa Rosa, Laguna Ranges of USA and Sierra Juarez and San Pedro Martir Ranges of northern Baja Mexico. The cross section does show detachment faults at 5-6 kms. Shallower detachments should be present at the level of rhyolite plugs shown in the cross section, from my field observations and lots of hiking around just west and northwest of the Salton Sea. In the field, the top of the lower plate commonly has hydrothermal alteration superimposed on a much higher-grade metamorphic rocks. Without making this too long: does anyone know of more recent work on shallow detachment faults under the Salton Trough and their possible impact with the geothermal fields? Coyote Canyon https://lnkd.in/gRus-cN9 https://lnkd.in/gaf3AChN https://lnkd.in/gnEgARzY Villager Peak https://lnkd.in/gikpPeUe *Refined Conceptual Modeling and a New Resource Estimate For the Salton Sea Geothermal Field, Imperial Valley, California. Jeffrey Hulen, Dennis Kaspereit, Denis L. Norton, William Osborn and Fred S. Pulka, Geothermal Resources Council Transactions, Vol. 26, September 22-25, 2002.

⚡ Geothermal Power Production Accessing the Earth’s internal heat requires a medium to carry that energy to the surface where it can be harvested and used in geothermal power plants. The most abundant and common medium used to bring geothermal heat up to the surface is groundwater or, when at a sufficiently high temperature, steam. Groundwater is very common in the geology of the Earth and it occurs almost everywhere below the surface. Geological faults and fractures occur within the structure of the Earth which create conduits for water to move within the ground. This groundwater will accumulate in reservoirs below the surface within the pore spaces between rocks. As we know, the Earth continues to get hotter with depth, and by accessing this groundwater at sufficient depths we find high temperature geothermal resources. Alternatively, areas of higher heat flow within the ground (such as in areas of tectonic or volcanic activity) allow us to access high temperature reservoirs at shallower depths. By drilling water wells into these reservoirs we can pump water to surface to be used in our geothermal power plants. Geothermal power plants are systems which harvest the earth heat within these natural geo-fluids. Once harvested, that heat energy is converted into electricity through geothermal turbine technology. https://deepcorp.ca/ #geothermalenergy #renewableenergy #cleanenergy #geothermalcanada #geothermal

The new GeoMap shows the vast potential for geothermal energy beneath the U.S. GeoMap is a collaboration that combines the subsurface expertise of scientists organized by Project InnerSpace, a nonprofit focused on building out the geothermal industry with the surface data of Google Maps. https://lnkd.in/gjTFmfNA #geothermal #geothermalenergy

Beneath the iconic streets of Paris lies a hidden gem: a vast geothermal reservoir providing low-energy heating to over 250,000 homes and even the Orly airport. Researchers from New Zealand's University of Auckland, in collaboration with the geothermal consulting company Geofluid, used advanced modeling techniques to create a detailed picture of the reservoirs to optimize this renewable energy source. The team used Seequent's Leapfrog Geothermal to build a #geological model that helps understand pressure and temperature changes within the reservoir. This visualization tool is helping ensure sustainable management of the geothermal basin, contributing to Paris's zero-carbon heating goals. #BentleySystems #engineering #subsurface #GeothermalEnergy

while in another post I was talking about an incredible reason to reject a paper that in my opinion has an incredible contribution to #geothermal development, I am happy to tell you that after 4 journal rejections (yes different journals) our latest published paper on #geothermal is outthere. OUr well integrity laboratory have created an work flow to determine the suitability of old wells for various applications such as CCUS and geothermal. This paper is about #geothermal and documents risks associated with repurposing wells. there is a link here but not sure how long will be available. https://lnkd.in/gNgUKm2k

💡 A hidden energy treasure lies beneath the ocean floor! Did you know that a largely untapped, game-changing energy source lies beneath the ocean floor? Solar and wind alone can't get us to a fully clean energy grid. But what if the answer lies beneath the ocean floor? A recent whitepaper from Paris based geoscience tech consultancy CGG reveals a game-changing potential: geothermal power from undersea rifts. 🔥 Geothermal energy is abundant. The hot rocks beneath us hold more energy than humanity could use in a million years. Yet, it accounts for less than 1% of global energy production. The challenge? Accessibility. Geothermal exploration drilling is expensive and often uncertain. Traditionally, companies focus on the "Ring of Fire" – areas with volcanic activity. But these regions are complex and varied, requiring bespoke approaches. 💡 Enter CGG's revolutionary idea: targeting seafloor spreading zones. These undersea rifts, spanning 65,000 square kilometers, offer consistent geothermal resources. Here, Earth's magma is close to the surface, ensuring higher success rates and stable temperatures. The catch? These areas are far from electrical grids. The solution? Converting geothermal power to green hydrogen, which can be shipped globally, with fresh water as a valuable by-product. CGG has patented its innovative combination of technologies, aiming to ensure rapid development of these resources. While it's too early to discuss Levelized Cost of Energy (LCoE), the potential is immense. As humanity seeks clean energy solutions, offshore geothermal could play a crucial role. 🌱 Are we ready to dive deep into this untapped energy treasure? #CleanEnergy #Geothermal #RenewableEnergy #Innovation #SustainableFuture

Supercritical Water is something that Earth does extremely well. This is also the new frontier in geothermal energy. #supercritcal #water #innovation #geothermal #iceland https://lnkd.in/e6P8STE7