Techno-Economic Investigation of Geothermal Development in Sedimentary Basins

Abstract

Models of the enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) in super-hot igneous rocks have demonstrated significantly higher heat transfer rates and power production compared to conventional geothermal systems. On the other hand, along with the high upfront costs, the major geological and technical challenges associated with drilling super-hot EGS wells in igneous rocks constrain the development of geothermal systems and prevent their worldwide application. Meanwhile, geothermal energy development in sedimentary basins could provide clean energy production with relatively lower investment costs compared to super-hot EGS development in igneous rocks. A significant amount of data, knowledge, and expertise has been gathered through decades of drilling and development of oil and gas wells in sedimentary basins. Application of this experience and data for geothermal drilling can eliminate and reduce costs of subsurface data gathering, well drilling, and completion. This paper investigates the economic viability of geothermal energy production systems in sedimentary basins. The study provides initial time-to-hit temperature (THT) and cost-to-hit temperature (CHT) maps across the US based on the well depth, total drilling and completion time, and total well cost data. Combined with sedimentary basin maps and underground temperature maps, THT and CHT maps could be utilized to place EGS wells and other geothermal systems applications at the most favorable locations in the US.