Drilling Automation as a Key Element in "Geothermal Everywhere"

I’m excited to announce that we recently held a collaborative workshop involving two university research consortia and industry partners, where we explored several research projects aimed at making ‘geothermal everywhere’ a reality. This ambitious goal focuses on developing technologies and methods to extract geothermal energy from a variety of geological settings, overcoming the traditional barriers to geothermal exploitation.

During the workshop, our research consortium, specializing in drilling automation, presented three key topics. First, we discussed modeling drillstring dynamics, which is essential for understanding and mitigating severe vibrations that often occur in geothermal drilling, particularly in challenging rock formations like those encountered in the Utah FORGE project. Second, we covered the use of thermally activated loss circulation materials, designed to seal fractures or vugular intervals by utilizing temperature variations between the wellbore wall and the surrounding formation. Lastly, we examined strategies for preventing stuck pipe incidents, a common and costly problem in geothermal drilling.

These topics address critical challenges in geothermal wells, such as sticking, lost circulation, and severe vibrations, which can lead to significant financial losses and hinder the development of geothermal energy projects. Our discussions aimed to tackle these issues by leveraging advanced research and industry expertise, working towards making geothermal energy a viable option in more regions worldwide. The workshop was a valuable opportunity to share knowledge, foster collaboration, and explore innovative solutions that could significantly impact the future of geothermal energy.

For more information, please visit: Texas Engineer: To the Center of the Earth