Geothermal energy is a renewable, continuous and flexible energy source for direct use as heat and/or electricity supply. Resources of geothermal energy can be found worldwide; however, only a fraction of its true potential has been explored due to historical barriers (both technical and non-technical) in the industry.

RPS Energy support clients to meet the challenges of developing geothermal energy and capitalise on its untapped potential.

Training course: Exploration and Development of Deep Aquifer Geothermal for Direct Heat Use

Date: 11th - 15th Sep 2023
Start Time: 14:00 BST
Location: Virtual
Instructor: Mark Ireland

Summary

Business impact: Direct use geothermal has the potential to make a significant contribution to the decarbonisation of heating and cooling. For geothermal to become a more widely used sustainable resource will require an acute awareness of the uncertainties and risks associated with the exploration and exploitation of them. Participants will gain an appreciation of the entire lifecycle of developing direct use geothermal resources.

The online self-guided learning will cover the utilisation of geothermal heat, the principles of the exploration of geothermal resources, and the fundamentals of developing this resource.

Through paired classroom exercises, participants will deepen their appreciation of the impact of reservoir heterogeneity and complexity on development scenarios, the development options, decisions for direct use heat resources, and evaluate the key project risks and uncertainties.

Course Content

Self-paced e-learning topics

Decarbonising Heat

• Need to decarbonise heating
• Utilisation of low enthalpy resources
• Heat Network Basics

Exploration and Resource Principles

• Geothermal plays
• Aquifer controls
• Reservoir characterisation

Subsurface and Development Uncertainties

• Well/Flow Rate Basics
• Fluid Characterisation and Scaling

Drilling Fundamentals

• Well design
• Completions

Seminar and workshop topics

Reservoir Quality

• Fracture vs matrix flow
• Impact of hydrological regime
• Aquifer boundaries

Well Rates and Testing

• Well spacing
• Impact of reservoir heterogeneity pn flow
• Types of well test
• Basic well test analysis

Geothermal Development Options

• Evaluate Case studies
• Comparison of different development options

Demand-Led Exploration Exercise

• Integrated Exploration Exercise
• Project Risks

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