Baker Hughes is teaming up with Chesapeake Energy Corp., Continental Resources and INPEX to explore technology to transform abandoned oil and gas wells into electrical power-generating geothermal wells, the energy technology company said Dec. 8.
Called Wells2Watts, the consortium will focus on how technology can retrofit old wells—including dry, non-productive geothermal wells—to generate renewable electricity.
“This unique geothermal consortium supports Baker Hughes’ strategic commitment to position for new frontiers by innovating new opportunities for traditional oil and gas customers to generate low carbon and geothermal solutions,” Maria Claudia Borras, executive vice president of oilfield services and equipment at Baker Hughes, said in a news release. “Further, this highlights our disciplined approach to long-term, sustainable growth to bring renewable energy in the U.S. and beyond.”
Harnessing heat
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that harnesses heat from belowground using wells to drill into reservoirs.
Advanced geothermal systems generate power via closed-loop systems where a contained working fluid is circulated within the wells, which brings the heat to the surface without disrupting the reservoir. With conventional geothermal, water or steam is produced from wells and then reinjected after the heat is extracted to keep the system operating for long periods of time.
The heat extracted from geothermal wells can be used to heat homes and buildings via direct use heat or to generate electricity with higher temperature geothermal resources. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, geothermal electricity generation requires water or steam at temperatures of 300 F to 700 F.
Geothermal experts have said that high well costs and poor drilling success rates have slowed geothermal energy’s ability to scale and help lower global emissions. However, many believe knowledge transfers with the oil and gas industry could make a difference.
RELATED
Oil and Gas Experts Talk Geothermal
Baker Hughes Talks Unlocking Geothermal Energy Potential
SLB Collaborates with Oman on Geothermal Resource Development
Initial focus
The consortium’s attention will initially be centered on the use of closed-loop geothermal technology, Baker Hughes said in a news release. Its first project around a test well at Baker Hughes Energy Innovation Center in Oklahoma City will “simulate relevant subsurface environments to test the closed-loop system for many well configurations, validate engineering performance models, and offer scale for field pilot efforts,” the company said.
The initiative is being funded by the industry partners with in-kind material and labor contributions for construction, testing and piloting from other tech providers, including Vallourec, a French tube manufacturing company, and GreenFire Energy, the San Francisco-based closed-loop geothermal tech company in which Baker Hughes announced an investment earlier this year.
Continental Resources CEO Bill Berry called the consortium “a great example of the industry coming together to pursue new areas to provide the energy the world needs.”
Yoshiro Ishii, senior vice president of renewable energy and new business for INPEX, said Inpex is involved in multiple geothermal projects in Japan and Indonesia.
“We have a shared ambition to solve environmental problems through new technologies and hope to pave the way for commercial utilization of closed loop systems enabling us to supply energy with an affordable price,” Ishii said.
The consortium will also focus on projects in the Asia Pacific region, according to the news release.
Recommended Reading
Asia Spot LNG at 3-month Peak on Steady Demand, Supply Disruption
2024-04-12 - Heating demand in Europe and production disruption at the Freeport LNG terminal in the U.S. pushed up prices, said Samuel Good, head of LNG pricing at commodity pricing agency Argus.
Texas LNG Export Plant Signs Additional Offtake Deal With EQT
2024-04-23 - Glenfarne Group LLC's proposed Texas LNG export plant in Brownsville has signed an additional tolling agreement with EQT Corp. to provide natural gas liquefaction services of an additional 1.5 mtpa over 20 years.
Exclusive: Chevron Balancing Low Carbon Intensity, Global Oil, Gas Needs
2024-03-28 - Colin Parfitt, president of midstream at Chevron, discusses how the company continues to grow its traditional oil and gas business while focusing on growing its new energies production, in this Hart Energy Exclusive interview.
Midstream Builds in a Bearish Market
2024-03-11 - Midstream companies are sticking to long term plans for an expanded customer base, despite low gas prices, high storage levels and an uncertain political LNG future.
Exclusive: Renewables Won't Promise Affordable Security without NatGas
2024-03-25 - Greg Ebel, president and CEO of midstream company Enbridge, says renewables needs backing from natural gas to create a "nice foundation" for affordable and sustainable industrial growth, in this Hart Energy Exclusive interview.