WorldWide Drilling Resource

45 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2014 The Ups and Downs of Geothermal Engineering Adapted from Information Provided by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers Geothermal engineering has had its ups and downs, but has never had a true breakthrough moment. Is that moment coming? Petroleum engineer Louis Capuano, Jr. provides some insight. “You see a lot of potential opportu- nities, but we don’t invest in renewable like we should,” says Capuano, presi- dent of Capuano Engineering Company, Santa Rosa, California. “Geothermal usually benefits from oil and gas re- search, but we haven’t seen that lately. I do have one interested drilling engi- neer who is only six or seven years out of school, but he’s my son. We need to get young engineers involved.” But how to do it? “With challenges,” he said. “We need to establish enhanced geothermal systems. It’s a very slow [process] and it’s about being ready to take a chance and commit to the field. If we drill wells and can’t find the best production, then can we still salvage something? We may be able to fracture in the right direction.” At present, the U.S. has an installed geothermal capacity of 3386 megawatts and total planned capacity of 2511-2606 additional megawatts. In Europe, it’s a better story and one Capuano says we need to learn from. “You’re looking at low temperatures and deep wells, trying to extract heat from the ground for commercial pur- poses,” he said. “In Europe, they have high electricity rates and are using the resource for this need.” Another major roadblock is a lack of patience. “Modeling of geothermal is more difficult than oil and gas. Looking for liquid inside fractures is hit and miss. There are a lot of benefits, but maybe only one out of four wells will be suc- cessful.” This lack of instant gratifica- Photo courtesy of motherwell.net.au tion particularly hurts the industry during bad financial times. “Private insurance doesn’t take as much risk in oil. The credit crunch came a few years ago and that cut everyone back. Unlike oil and gas, which can be sold in the same year [of drilling], geothermal takes time. You need a well, resources, environ- mental documentation, and you put it in operation. The return could take five to ten years. Investors don’t like to wait.” Still, Capuano remains hopeful. “The government can play its role in geother- mal permits if it wants to. The Department of Interior has had a hard time, along with the Department of Energy, the budg- ets are so small. Still, look at California with 20% renewables on everything, while I see geothermal producing 60% of the renewable energy. Solar doesn’t work if the sun doesn’t shine, whi le geothermal is available 24-7 and does- n’t require a backup.” As Capuano watches what was once an exciting potential energy option stay very much in a holding pattern, he hopes his pleas won’t fall on deaf ears. “We don’t want preferential treatment in funding, just fair treatment by looking at the opportunity.” 326()6 2,341(6/32 +43: 33*532 .32+ (9 " # ! $ " % 1(/0 33*532 68)( 34- 888 6-8( 34- % " ! ! "4(*+ !.38 " + 3 *7)(6/32 *7) 2 /2 380/2- 2 380/2- 7)6/32 34+ 7) /32 " $ " " " " & ! # % " " % " % #!" '