WorldWide Drilling Resource

41 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® DECEMBER 2014 How Gas and Oil Technology is Helping the Geothermal Industry Compiled by Amy White, Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Horizontal drilling has continued to improve over the years, leading to the shale gas revolution. With unprecedent- ed technology currently available in industries and universities, the next decade could be a great showing of engineering and scientific expertise. Gas and oil drilling could play a major part in the development of geo- thermal resources. According to Maria Richards, coordinator of the geother- mal laboratory at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, oil and gas drilling has helped create much more accessible geothermal data than previ- ously existed, including details about temperatures and water availability in individual wells, along with three-dimen- sional seismic data. The United States completed the National Geothermal Data System ear- lier this year, and part of the informa- tion for this system was contributed by the oil and gas industry. This data can be used to assist locating geothermal wells, which in turn cuts down on the overall expense of geothermal projects. Researchers also hope to one day use abandoned oil and gas wells to produce small-scale geothermal power. In the Huabei Oil Field, not far from Beijing, China, a pilot project is already The National Geothermal Data System was demonstrated at the American Association of PetroleumGeologists’ annual meeting. Photo courtesy of Lee Al l ison, State Geologist of Arizona. testing the idea. About 200 geothermal projects are in various stages of production in the United States, representing nearly 8000 megawatts of capacity. The country’s current capacity is 3000 megawatts. Most likely, not every current project will be fully developed, but each one represents a country working to unlock its geothermal resources. Even if full geothermal potential is reached in the U.S., the country would still need fossil fuels to fully supply its power needs. However, geothermal energy could be a useful baseload power source. Currently, only about 3% of America’s electricity comes from geothermal re- sources. Now, due to technology being developed through oil and gas drilling, the percentage may begin to change. +1*0 '* 0 0#/ .+1*" 0#. 4,+ # .1 .5 0 0&# -1 .'1/ /'*+ #/+.0 1%&('* +. )+.# '*$+.) 0'+* 2'/'0 1/ +*('*# )+1*0 '*/0 0#/%.+1*"3 0#. !+) ) '( '*$+ )+1*0 '*/0 0#/%.+1*"3 0#. !+) &# +1*0 '* 0 0#/ .+1*" 0#. 4,+ '/ &+/0#" 5 0&# 0#. #(( *" .+1*" 0#. //+!' 0'+*/ +$ .'6+* +(+. "+ #2 " #3 #4'!+ *" 0 & We appreciate our valued subscribers, advertisers, and associations and look forward to serving you in 2015. From the WWDR Team...