Results for “Geothermal Systems” — Page 26

DOE OSTI2019

An Overview of the U.S. Department of Energy's GeoVision Report: Preprint

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) engaged in a multiyear research collaboration among national laboratories, industry experts, and academia to identify a vision for growth of the domestic geothermal industry across a range of geothermal energy types. The effort, called the GeoVision analysis, assessed opportunities to expand geothermal energy deployment by improving technologies, reducing costs, and mitigating barriers. The analysis also evaluated the economic and environmental impacts of such deployment - including industry growth, consumer energy prices, water use, and air emissions - and investigated opportunities for desalination, mineral recovery, and hybridization with other energy technologies for greater efficiencies and lower costs. The GeoVision analysis used a suite of modeling tools and scenarios to evaluate the performance of geothermal technologies relative to other energy technologies. The assessment included evaluating the potential role of existing and future geothermal deployment in both the electric sector and the heating and cooling sector. In the electric sector, the GeoVision analysis considered electricity generation from existing conventional (hydrothermal) geothermal resources as well as unconventional geothermal resources, such as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). In the heating and cooling sector, the analysis modeled geothermal heat pumps (GHPs, also called ground source heat pumps) and district-heating systems using both conventional and EGS resources. The analysis culminated in a summary report, GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet (DOE 2019), as well as eight supporting task force reports (Lowry et al. 2017, Doughty et al. 2018, Wendt et al. 2018, Augustine et al. 2019, Liu et al. 2019, McCabe et al. 2019, Millstein et al. 2019, Young et al. 2019). Among other results, key findings of the analysis indicate that optimized permitting could potentially double geothermal capacity by 2050; technology improvements could increase geothermal power generation nearly 26-fold from today; and increased geothermal deployment can provide economic and environmental benefits to the United States. The analysis also concludes that GHPs can provide heating and cooling solutions to the equivalent of 28 million households and geothermal district-heating systems could experience exponential growth - from 21 installations today to 17,500 nationwide. In addition to summarizing analytical results about geothermal energy opportunities, the report includes a Roadmap of actionable items on which the stakeholder community can engage to achieve the outcomes of the analysis. The GeoVision Roadmap is a comprehensive call to action to encourage and guide stakeholders toward the shared goal of realizing the deployment levels and resulting benefits identified in the GeoVision analysis.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2019

An Overview of the U.S. Department of Energy’s GeoVision Report

The U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE's) Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) engaged in a multiyear research collaboration among national laboratories, industry experts, and academia to identify a vision for growth of the domestic geothermal industry across a range of geothermal energy types. The effort, called the GeoVision analysis, assessed opportunities to expand geothermal energy deployment by improving technologies, reducing costs, and mitigating barriers. The analysis also evaluated the economic and environmental impacts of such deployment - including industry growth, consumer energy prices, water use, and air emissions - and investigated opportunities for desalination, mineral recovery, and hybridization with other energy technologies for greater efficiencies and lower costs. The GeoVision analysis used a suite of modeling tools and scenarios to evaluate the performance of geothermal technologies relative to other energy technologies. The assessment included evaluating the potential role of existing and future geothermal deployment in both the electric sector and the heating and cooling sector. In the electric sector, the GeoVision analysis considered electricity generation from existing conventional (hydrothermal) geothermal resources as well as unconventional geothermal resources, such as enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). In the heating and cooling sector, the analysis modeled geothermal heat pumps (GHPs, also called ground source heat pumps) and district-heating systems using both conventional and EGS resources. The analysis culminated in a summary report, GeoVision: Harnessing the Heat Beneath Our Feet (DOE 2019), as well as eight supporting task force reports (Lowry et al. 2017, Doughty et al. 2018, Wendt et al. 2018, Augustine et al. 2019, Liu et al. 2019, McCabe et al. 2019, Millstein et al. 2019, Young et al. 2019). Among other results, key findings of the analysis indicate that optimized permitting could potentially double geothermal capacity by 2050; technology improvements could increase geothermal power generation nearly 26-fold from today; and increased geothermal deployment can provide economic and environmental benefits to the United States. The analysis also concludes that GHPs can provide heating and cooling solutions to the equivalent of 28 million households and geothermal district-heating systems could experience exponential growth - from 21 installations today to 17,500 nationwide. In addition to summarizing analytical results about geothermal energy opportunities, the report includes a Roadmap of actionable items on which the stakeholder community can engage to achieve the outcomes of the analysis. The GeoVision Roadmap is a comprehensive call to action to encourage and guide stakeholders toward the shared goal of realizing the deployment levels and resulting benefits identified in the GeoVision analysis.

40 EE - Geothermal Technologies Office (EE-4G)↗

DOE OSTI2014

District Energy Corporation SW 40th Street Thermal Energy Plant

The overall deliverable from the project is the design, construction and commissioning of a detention facility heating and cooling system that minimizes ownership costs and maximizes efficiency (and therefore minimizes environmental impact). The primary deliverables were the proof of concept for the application of geothermal systems for an institutional facility and the ongoing, quarterly system operating data downloads to the Department of Energy . The primary advantage of geothermal based heat pump systems is the higher efficiency of the system compared to a conventional chiller, boiler, cooling tower based system. The higher efficiency results in a smaller environmental foot print and lower energy costs for the detention facility owner, Lancaster County. The higher efficiency for building cooling is primarily due to a more constant compressor condensing temperature with the geothermal well field acting as a thermal “sink” (in place of the conventional system’s cooling tower). In the heating mode, Ground Couple Heat Pump (GCHP) systems benefits from the advantage of a heat pump Coefficient of Performance (COP) of approximately 3.6, significantly better than a conventional gas boiler. The geothermal well field acting as a thermal “source” allows the heat pumps to operate efficiently in the heating mode regardless of ambient temperatures. The well field is partially located in a wetland with a high water table so, over time, the project will be able to identify the thermal loading characteristics of a well field located in a high water table location. The project demonstrated how a large geothermal well field can be installed in a wetland area in an economical and environmentally sound manner. Finally, the SW 40th Street Thermal Energy Plant project demonstrates the benefits of providing domestic hot water energy, as well as space heating, to help balance well filed thermal loading in a cooling dominated application. During the period of August 2012 thru March 2014, with the detention facility occupied for the final seven months, the well field supply water temperatures to the heat pumps dropped to a minimum of 39°F and reached a maximum temperature of 68 °F while providing 15,819 MMBtu of cooling energy and 27,467 MMBtu of heating energy. During this period the peak recorded system cooling load was 610 tons and the peak heating load was 8.4 MMBtu. The DEC is currently evaluating the most beneficial electric rate for plant operations. Total project cost of $16.9 million was approximately $3.2 million less than the estimate provided in the grant application. The reduction in project costs were primarily due to favorable construction material prices as well as strong competition in the local construction contractor market. The DEC plant reached the substantial completion milestone in December 2011 and began providing thermal service to the detention facility in January 2012 when the building’s HVAC system was ready to accept heating service. The plant reached commercial operating status on August 1, 2012. However, due to construction delays, the detention facility was not occupied until September of 2013. The detention facility construction delays also impacted the installation and commissioning of the project’s dedicated domestic hot water heat pump. Final coordination with the detention facility’s building management system vendor to establish network links for the exchange of date is currently being completed. This will allow the development of control sequences for the optimal operation of the domestic hot water system.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2014

2013 Market Trends Report: Geothermal Technologies Office

The potential geothermal energy resource base of the United States is a major natural asset, on the order of more than 100 gigawatts (GW) of clean renewable energy. Conventional hydrothermal technologies could be utilized for 6 GW of additional potential beyond what has already been developed. There are an estimated 30 GW of additional conventional resources yet to be discovered in the western United States. The next generation of geothermal technologies, enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), is positioned to access additional geothermal resources by adding either permeability or a heat exchange fluid to a geological formation with sufficient heat. A breakthrough in EGS could expand the U.S. geothermal resource base dramatically.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2015

Using Geothermal Play Types as an Analogue for Estimating Potential Resource Size

Blind geothermal systems are becoming increasingly common as more geothermal fields are developed. Geothermal development is known to have high risk in the early stages of a project development because reservoir characteristics are relatively unknown until wells are drilled. Play types (or occurrence models) categorize potential geothermal fields into groups based on geologic characteristics. To aid in lowering exploration risk, these groups' reservoir characteristics can be used as analogues in new site exploration. The play type schemes used in this paper were Moeck and Beardsmore play types (Moeck et al. 2014) and Brophy occurrence models (Brophy et al. 2011). Operating geothermal fields throughout the world were classified based on their associated play type, and then reservoir characteristics data were catalogued. The distributions of these characteristics were plotted in histograms to develop probability density functions for each individual characteristic. The probability density functions can be used as input analogues in Monte Carlo estimations of resource potential for similar play types in early exploration phases. A spreadsheet model was created to estimate resource potential in undeveloped fields. The user can choose to input their own values for each reservoir characteristic or choose to use the probability distribution functions provided from the selected play type. This paper also addresses the United States Geological Survey's 1978 and 2008 assessment of geothermal resources by comparing their estimated values to reported values from post-site development. Information from the collected data was used in the comparison for thirty developed sites in the United States. No significant trends or suggestions for methodologies could be made by the comparison.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

National Modeling of Geothermal District Energy Systems with Ambient-Temperature Loops Using dGeo: Preprint

Geothermal district energy systems (DES) with ambient-temperature loops, also known as thermal energy networks, are one option for decarbonizing space heating and cooling loads. Geothermal fifth-generation DES include an "ambient" temperature thermal loop that connects heat pumps at each building with thermal balancing sources such as geothermal borehole fields. Heating and cooling are provided via a water-source heat pump at each end-user. This project seeks to analyze the nationwide potential for ambient-temperature loop districts by creating a new module within the Distributed Geothermal Market Demand Model (dGeo). dGeo is an agent-based modeling tool for distributed geothermal resources; it can investigate potential on a nationwide or statewide scale using geospatial data for all 50 states and thermal demands for existing buildings. This process allows for high-level estimates of technical and economic potential for ambient-temperature loop districts across the United States. Using GHEDesigner, a lookup table was created to size borehole fields for different thermal loads and ground conditions experienced across the country. A cost and financing structure, along with incentives, were applied. Cost estimates include costs for the distribution network, borehole field installation and operation, and circulation pump operation, while savings are calculated based on agent energy bills. This newly developed module can be used for assessing which areas of the country have the highest potential for agent benefits from ambient-temperature loop installation and assess the impact of different costing and pricing future scenarios. While the code is still under development and nationwide simulations are ongoing, initial results for two states are provided. Future work includes expanding the module to consider mixed residential and commercial districts and considering multiple costing scenarios.

ambient temperature loop↗

DOE OSTI2025

The value of integrating a geothermal district heating system into a microgrid

As electrical grids increasingly rely on variable renewable energy, maintaining reliability and cost efficiency becomes more complex. To address these challenges, this study analyzed the integration of geothermal district heating as a grid-responsive thermal resource within a microgrid in Tuttle, Oklahoma. Building energy modeling using EnergyPlus estimated annual district heating demand at 2.9 GWh, with a peak load of 2.8 MW th . Techno-economic analyses were conducted to meet the heating demand under three geothermal scenarios, varying by production depth, flow rate, and thermal output, each supplemented by natural gas peaking boilers. In parallel, equivalent electrical load profiles were developed using typical coefficients of performance (COPs) for air-source heat pumps and electric boilers to establish an electrified baseline scenario. A complete end-use electrical load profile was also developed for the microgrid using Cambium dataset. The modeling results demonstrated reliable and economic operation of the geothermal systems over 30 years, with COPs ranging from 2.6 to 8.9 and the lowest levelized heating cost at $\$$54.6/MWh. Geothermal integration reduced electricity consumption by up to 94.7 % compared to the non-geothermal base case, yielding annual energy savings of up to $\$$803 k. Avoided grid costs ranged from $\$$65 k–$\$$147 k per year, with individual events avoiding up to $\$$4,863 per hour. Grid-responsive operation further reduced wholesale energy costs by 53–56 %. These findings demonstrate geothermal heating, traditionally treated as a non-grid-responsive thermal resource, can be reconfigured to support dynamic grid services, offering a scalable pathway to enhance reliability and reduce costs in renewable-rich microgrids and district heating networks.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2014

A New Analytic-Adaptive Model for EGS Assessment, Development and Management Support

To increase understanding of the energy extraction capacity of Enhanced Geothermal System(s) (EGS), a numerical model development and application project is completed. The general objective of the project is to develop and apply a new, data-coupled Thermal-Hydrological-Mechanical-Chemical (T-H-M-C) model in which the four internal components can be freely selected from existing simulation software without merging and cross-combining a diverse set of computational codes. Eight tasks are completed during the project period. The results are reported in five publications, an MS thesis, twelve quarterly, and two annual reports to DOE. Two US patents have also been issued during the project period, with one patent application originated prior to the start of the project. The “Multiphase Physical Transport Modeling Method and Modeling System” (U.S. Patent 8,396,693 B2, 2013), a key element in the GHE sub-model solution, is successfully used for EGS studies. The “Geothermal Energy Extraction System and Method" invention (U.S. Patent 8,430,166 B2, 2013) originates from the time of project performance, describing a new fluid flow control solution. The new, coupled T-H-M-C numerical model will help analyzing and designing new, efficient EGS systems.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2014

A New Analytic-Adaptive Model for EGS Assessment, Development and Management Support

To increase understanding of the energy extraction capacity of Enhanced Geothermal System(s) (EGS), a numerical model development and application project is completed. The general objective of the project is to develop and apply a new, data-coupled Thermal-Hydrological-Mechanical-Chemical (T-H-M-C) model in which the four internal components can be freely selected from existing simulation software without merging and cross-combining a diverse set of computational codes. Eight tasks are completed during the project period. The results are reported in five publications, an MS thesis, twelve quarterly, and two annual reports to DOE. Two US patents have also been issued during the project period, with one patent application originated prior to the start of the project. The “Multiphase Physical Transport Modeling Method and Modeling System” (U.S. Patent 8,396,693 B2, 2013), a key element in the GHE sub-model solution, is successfully used for EGS studies. The “Geothermal Energy Extraction System and Method" invention (U.S. Patent 8,430,166 B2, 2013) originates from the time of project performance, describing a new fluid flow control solution. The new, coupled T-H-M-C numerical model will help analyzing and designing new, efficient EGS systems.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Detecting fractures and monitoring hydraulic fracturing processes at the first EGS Collab testbed using borehole DAS ambient noise

Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) require cost-effective monitoring of fracture networks. We validate the capability of using borehole distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) ambient noise for fracture monitoring using core photos and core logs. The EGS Collab project has conducted 10 m scale field experiments of hydraulic fracture stimulation using 50–60 m deep experimental wells at the Sanford Underground Research Facility (SURF) in Lead, South Dakota. The first EGS Collab testbed is located at 1616.67 m (4850 ft) depth at SURF and consists of one injection well, one production well, and six monitoring wells. All wells are drilled subhorizontally from an access tunnel called a drift. The project uses a single continuous fiber-optic cable installed sequentially in the six monitoring wells to record DAS data for monitoring hydraulic fracturing during stimulation. We analyze 60 s time records of the borehole DAS ambient noise data and compute the noise root-mean-square (rms) amplitude on each channel (points along the fiber cable) to obtain DAS ambient noise rms amplitude depth profiles along the monitoring wellbore. Our noise rms amplitude profiles indicate amplitude peaks at distinct depths. We compare the DAS noise rms amplitude profiles with borehole core photos and core logs and find that the DAS noise rms amplitude peaks correspond to the locations of fractures or lithologic changes indicated in the core photos or core logs. We then compute the hourly DAS noise rms amplitude profiles in two monitoring wells during three stimulation cycles in 72 h and find that the DAS noise rms amplitude profiles vary with time, indicating the fracture opening/growth or closing during the hydraulic stimulation. Our results demonstrate that borehole DAS passive ambient noise can be used to detect fractures and monitor fracturing processes in EGS reservoirs.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2023

Utah FORGE 1-2410: Development of a Smart Completion and Stimulation Solution - Workshop Presentation

This is a presentation on the Development of a Smart Completion & Stimulation Solution project by Welltec in collaboration with the University of Oklahoma, presented by Yosafat Esquitin, a Senior Business Development Manager at Welltec. The project's objective was to develop an annular isolation system, a stimulation isolation system, and a multi-open-close flow system for geothermal environments. These systems were developed to enable effective zonal isolation and stimulation, implement downhole Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) in any location, and extend the productive life of the geothermal well. This presentation was featured in the Utah FORGE R&D Annual Workshop on September 7, 2023. The workshop provided a valuable opportunity to explore the progress made in each of the 17 Research and Development projects funded under Solicitation 2020-1 which aim to enhance our understanding of the crucial factors influencing the development EGS reservoirs and resources.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2021

Close Observation of Hydraulic Fracturing at EGS Collab Experiment 1: Fracture Trajectory, Microseismic Interpretations, and the Role of Natural Fractures

Abstract Despite the wide application of hydraulic fracturing in enhanced geothermal system (EGS) development and unconventional hydrocarbon production, our understanding of the many factors affecting the propagation of hydraulic fractures has relied on circumstantial evidence. This is partly due to the scarcity of direct observations in the subsurface. The EGS Collab project attempts to address these issues in the context of EGS research by performing intermediate‐scale (∼10 m) hydraulic stimulation experiments in a thoroughly characterized and heavily instrumented underground testbed. This paper analyzes the data collected from the first suite of hydraulic fracturing tests in this testbed, consisting of seven stimulation episodes. High‐quality microseismic data delineate five planar features very clearly. Combining fracture‐wellbore intersection observations from distributed temperature sensing (DTS) and visual observations from an open‐hole well, as well as prior in‐situ stress measurements, we conclude with high certainty that the four larger planes were hydraulic fractures. The growth of the hydraulic fractures was temporarily halted by a prominent, open natural fracture in the testbed but they eventually crossed and slightly reoriented under continued stimulation. Mineral‐filled (i.e., healed) natural fractures, though prevalent in the testbed, did not have perceivable effects on hydraulic fracture propagation. The high‐quality, mutually corroborating data sets allowed conclusions to be drawn with high confidence and attests to the advantage of intermediate‐scale experiments in subsurface research.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2022

A combined experimental and modelling study of granite hydrothermal alteration

Geochemical reactions can induce significant changes of rock reservoir porosity and permeability via mineral dissolution and precipitation processes, affecting the long-term fluid behaviour within various geological systems. Here, the understanding and quantification of these reactions rely on field and experimental studies and on the predictions of reactive transport models. The present study was aimed at assessing the extent to which current geochemical models integrating available mineral dissolution/precipitation rate equations can reproduce the experimental data obtained from 4 to 17-day long hydrothermal alteration experiments of a muscovite-biotite granite and, thus, help provide an accurate description of the evolution of geothermal systems within granitic reservoirs. The experiments were conducted at a constant temperature of 180 °C and over an aqueous fluid pH range of 2 to 8.5, using both mixed-flow and static batch reactors. Modelled major element (K, Al, Si, Ca, and Mg) concentrations were generally in satisfactory agreement with the corresponding measured elemental fluxes – the differences between modelled and experimental values were generally within a factor of 5 – and the predicted identity and mass of formed secondary phases were consistent with the microscopic observations of the reacted solids. However, larger differences between measured and modelled element concentrations were observed when significant amounts of secondary phases formed, notably at pH 2 to 3, and for longer-term batch experiments. Much of this concentration difference stems from the underestimation of the amounts of Al-phases formed at acid to near-neutral pH. Although an idealized rock composition was considered, the observed mismatch between model calculations and experimental data can be attributed to inadequate mineral precipitation reaction rates and a poor description of reactive surface areas in existing geochemical modelling codes. More accurate quantification of precipitation kinetics, including nucleation and growth, and improved descriptions of the temporal change of mineral surface area would enhance the predictive capabilities of reactive transport models and benefit, particularly, the efforts aimed at increasing the sustainability of EGS reservoirs.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

DOE OSTI2016

Bringing Fenton Hill into the Digital Age: Data Conversion in Support of the Geothermal Technologies Office Code Comparison Study Challenge Problems

The Geothermal Technologies Office Code Comparison Study (GTO-CCS) was established by the U.S. Department of Energy to facilitate collaboration among members of the geothermal modeling community and to evaluate and improve upon the ability of existing codes to simulate thermal, hydrological, mechanical, and chemical processes associated with complex enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). The first stage of the project, which has been completed, involved comparing simulations for seven benchmark problems that were primarily designed using well-prescribed, simplified data sets. In the second stage, the participating teams are tackling two challenge problems based on the EGS research conducted in hot dry rock (HDR) at Fenton Hill, near Los Alamos, New Mexico. The Fenton Hill project, conducted by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) from 1970 to 1995, was the world’s first HDR demonstration project. One of the criteria for selecting this experiment as the basis for the challenge problems was the amount and availability of data for generating model inputs. The Fenton Hill HDR system consisted of two reservoirs – an earlier Phase I reservoir tested from 1974 to 1981 and a deeper Phase II reservoir tested from 1980 to 1995. Detailed accounts of both phases of the HDR project have been presented in a number of books and reports, including a recently published summary of the lessons learned and a final report with a chronological description of the Fenton Hill project, prepared by LANL. Project documents and records have been archived and made public through the National Geothermal Data System (NGDS). Some of the data acquired from Phase II are available in electronic format readable on modern computers. These include the microseismic data from some of the important experiments (e.g. the massive hydraulic fracturing test conducted in 1983) and the injection/production wellhead data from the circulation tests conducted between 1992-1995. However, much of the data collected during the project, while publicly available, currently only exist in the form of tables or graphs within scanned documents. Therefore, in support of the GTO-CCS, the data needed for developing simulation inputs are being compiled and converted to platform independent, open readable formats so that all participating teams will have access to the same electronic data set. In some cases this requires conversion using optical character recognition, digitizing existing images, and generating the appropriate metadata from project documents. The GTO-Velo knowledge management framework, developed by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), was used for the benchmark problem stage of the comparison study and will also be used as the data repository for the challenge problem data sets. It is staggering and impractical to convert all published data for the Fenton Hill site, so the focus is on data that supports simulations for the three topical areas defined by the study for the challenge problems: 1) reservoir creation/stimulation, 2) reactive and passive transport, and 3) thermal recovery. Conversion of these data provide value not only to GTO-CCS participants, but also to members of the geothermal community at large who may be interested in revisiting the Fenton Hill experiment in the future.

Code Comparison Study↗

DOE OSTI2012

Changes in permeability caused by transient stresses: Field observations, experiments, and mechanisms

Oscillations in stress, such as those created by earthquakes, can increase permeability and fluid mobility in geologic media. In natural systems, strain amplitudes as small as 10-6 can increase discharge in streams and springs, change the water level of wells, and enhance production from petroleum reservoirs. Enhanced permeability typically recovers to pre-stimulated values over a period of months to years. Mechanisms that can change permeability at such small stresses include unblocking pores, either by breaking up permeability-limiting colloidal deposits, or by mobilizing droplets and bubbles trapped in pores by capillary forces. The recovery time over which permeability returns to the pre-stimulated value is governed by the time to re-block pores, or for geochemical processes to seal pores. Monitoring permeability in geothermal systems where there is abundant seismicity, and the response of flow to local and regional earthquakes, would help test some of the proposed mechanisms and identify controls on permeability and its evolution.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2016

OpenACC directive-based GPU acceleration of an implicit reconstructed discontinuous Galerkin method for compressible flows on 3D unstructured grids

In this study, we use a combination of modeling techniques to describe the relationship between fracture radius that might be accomplished in a hypothetical enhanced geothermal system (EGS) and drilling distance required to create and access those fractures. We use a combination of commonly applied analytical solutions for heat transport in parallel fractures and 3D finite-element method models of more realistic heat extraction geometries. For a conceptual model involving multiple parallel fractures developed perpendicular to an inclined or horizontal borehole, calculations demonstrate that EGS will likely require very large fractures, of greater than 300 m radius, to keep interfracture drilling distances to ~10 km or less. As drilling distances are generally inversely proportional to the square of fracture radius, drilling costs quickly escalate as the fracture radius decreases. It is important to know, however, whether fracture spacing will be dictated by thermal or mechanical considerations, as the relationship between drilling distance and number of fractures is quite different in each case. Information about the likelihood of hydraulically creating very large fractures comes primarily from petroleum recovery industry data describing hydraulic fractures in shale. Those data suggest that fractures with radii on the order of several hundred meters may, indeed, be possible. The results of this study demonstrate that relatively simple calculations can be used to estimate primary design constraints on a system, particularly regarding the relationship between generated fracture radius and the total length of drilling needed in the fracture creation zone. Comparison of the numerical simulations of more realistic geometries than addressed in the analytical solutions suggest that simple proportionalities can readily be derived to relate a particular flow field.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2024

Community Geothermal: Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Design Report and Drawings - Wallingford, CT

Included here are the mechanical, electrical, and plumbing design report and drawings for the proposed community geothermal system at an affordable housing complex in Wallingford, Connecticut. The report and drawings were developed by LN Consulting, in partnership with the University of Connecticut, which completed the energy modeling that formed the basis of the design work. The drawings can be used as a basis for a Request for Proposals to procure entities to complete construction-ready design documents.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗

DOE OSTI2026

Coupled Investigation of Fracture Permeability Impact on Reservoir Stress and Seismic Slip Behavior (Final Technical Report)

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) produce clean energy by circulating fluid through hot rock deep underground and bringing that heat to the surface to generate electricity. For this process to work reliably, fluids must be able to move efficiently through networks of natural or engineered fractures in the rock. Enhancing and maintaining subsurface permeability over time is essential for sustainable energy production. However, fluid injection changes the underground temperature, pressure, rock stress, and chemistry, which can alter permeability and sometimes trigger earthquakes. Predicting these interconnected processes remains a key challenge. To address this, we combined high-temperature laboratory experiments with high-fidelity simulations to better understand how fractures in geothermal reservoirs evolve over time. Our experiments measured how fractures respond to stress, slip, slip rate, and chemical reactions under geothermal conditions. These data were integrated into coupled thermal-hydrological-mechanical-chemical and earthquake (THMC+E) models tailored to the Utah FORGE site. The validated modeling framework improves predictions of reservoir performance and seismic response and helps guide operational decisions. This work reduces technical risk and strengthens the scientific foundation needed to make geothermal energy a reliable and scalable clean energy resource.

15 GEOTHERMAL ENERGY↗