The Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy: A Field Laboratory for Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) Development
Description:
In 2014, the US DOE authorized funding for a field-scale laboratory dedicated to testing tools and technologies for Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) development. The ultimate goal of the project is to create a roadmap for commercialization of EGS. The Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), operated by the University of Utah, was constructed in southwestern Utah. Since 2016, eight wells have been drilled at the site. The wells range in vertical depth from 304 - 2896 m. Hot, low permeability granitic and metamorphic basement rocks that will form the reservoir were found at depths ranging from 716 - 968 m. Laboratory measurements on core and the results of injection tests yielded permeabilities of 20-80 microDarcies. Six of the wells are vertical and are used for tool testing, seismic monitoring and water production. The deepest well reached an estimated temperature of 241oC. Two deviated wells were drilled for the injection-production pair that will be used to circulate fluids. The injection well was deviated 65° from vertical and drilled to a measured depth (MD) of 3349 m The production well was drilled parallel and approximately 100 m above the injection well to a MD of 3337 m. Both wells were cased throughout most of their length. Circulation tests and pressure monitoring demonstrate the two wells are connected.
A permanent monitoring system has been established. It includes fiber optic cables cemented in the annulus of production casing strings, surface accelerometers, and concentric rings of near-surface borehole seismometers. The fiber optic cables allow monitoring of temperature, strain and seismicity. During stimulations, the permanent monitoring network is augmented with geophone strings in the vertical wells and with surface nodal arrays. Stimulation of the injection well in 2022 yielded more than 50,000 seismic events with moment magnitudes (Mw) ranging from -2.3 to +0.5 Mw. These events occurred as much as 150 m from the injection well. The next stimulation is planned for early 2024.
Session: Seismic Monitoring, Modelling and Management Needed for Geothermal Energy and Geologic Carbon Storage [Poster Session]
Type: Poster
Date: 5/2/2024
Presentation Time: 08:00 AM (local time)
Presenting Author: Joseph
Student Presenter: No
Invited Presentation:
Authors
Joseph Moore Presenting Author Corresponding Author jmoore@egi.utah.edu University of Utah |
John McLennan jmclennan@egi.utah.edu University of Utah |
Kristine Pankow pankowseis2@gmail.com University of Utah |
Robert Podgorney robert.podgorney@inl.gov Idaho National Laboratory |
James Rutledge rutledge@swcp.com Santa Fe Seismic LLC |
Peter Meier p.meier@geo-energie.ch GeoEnergie Suisse |
Ben Dyer b.dyer@geo-energie.ch GeoEnergie Suisse |
Dimitrios Karvounis d.karvounis@geo-energie.ch GeoEnergie Suisse |
Falko Bethmann f.bethmann@geo-energie.ch GeoEnergie Suisse |
Pengju Xing pxing@egi.utah.edu University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
Benjamin Barker bbarker@egi.utah.edu University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
Clay Jones cjones@egi.utah.edu University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
Stuart Simmons ssimmons@egi.utah.edu University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, United States |
Branko Damjanac branko@itascacg.com Itasca Consulting Group, Inc, Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States |
Aleta Finnila aleta.finnila@wsp.com WSP Global, montreal, Quebec, Canada |
The Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy: A Field Laboratory for Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) Development
Session
Seismic Monitoring, Modelling and Management Needed for Geothermal Energy and Geologic Carbon Storage