'Fracking' Speeds Use of Geothermal
by Michael Chendorain, Senior hydrogeologist in London and a California professional civil engineer at Arup.
Why isn’t geothermal energy used more widely? Until now, technological challenges and uncertainty for investors has held back this renewable resource. However, I think this is about to change as public policy worldwide shifts towards renewable heat and as the oil and gas industry drives improvements in drilling technology.
Geothermal energy’s synergies with shale gas production could offer a way out. For a geothermal resource to be viable, you need both heat and permeable rock to pump water through. You often also need to improve the heat transfer from the ground to the power plant by using pressurized water to shear the rock – a broadly similar process to that used in the shale gas industry.
In fact, with some up-front design adaptations, shale gas wells could be converted into geothermal wells relatively simply. This would eliminate two of the major barriers to developing geothermal: the capital investment costs to drill the well and the exploration risk. Arup is working with innovative designers who are looking at ways to enhance single-well systems in this way.
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