Review of Recent Drilling Projects in Unconventional Geothermal Resources at Campi Flegrei Caldera, Cornubian Batholith, and Williston Sedimentary Basin

Renato Somma, Daniela Blessent, Jasmin Raymond, Madeline Constance, Lucy Cotton, Giuseppe De Natale, Alessandro Fedele, Maria Jose Jurado, Kirsten Marcia, Mafalda Miranda, Claudia Troise and Thomas Wiersberg
Additional contact information
Renato Somma: Osservatorio Vesuviano, INGV, 80124 Naples, Italy
Daniela Blessent: Programa Ingeniería Ambiental, Universidad de Medellin, 050026 Medellin, Antioquia, Colombia
Jasmin Raymond: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, 490 Couronne St., Quebec City, QC G1K 9A9, Canada
Madeline Constance: GeoScience Limited Unit 1Falmouth Business Park, Bickland Water Road, Falmouth TR11 4SZ, UK
Lucy Cotton: GeoScience Limited Unit 1Falmouth Business Park, Bickland Water Road, Falmouth TR11 4SZ, UK
Giuseppe De Natale: Osservatorio Vesuviano, INGV, 80124 Naples, Italy
Alessandro Fedele: Osservatorio Vesuviano, INGV, 80124 Naples, Italy
Maria Jose Jurado: Geosciences Barcelona CSIC, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
Kirsten Marcia: DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. Box 6 Site 515 RR5, Saskatoon, SK S7K 3J8, Canada
Mafalda Miranda: Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique, 490 Couronne St., Quebec City, QC G1K 9A9, Canada
Claudia Troise: Osservatorio Vesuviano, INGV, 80124 Naples, Italy
Thomas Wiersberg: Helmholtz-Zentrum Potsdam—Deutsches GeoForschungsZentrum GFZ, 14473 Potsdam, Germany

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 11, 1-23

Abstract: Unconventional geothermal resource development can contribute to increase power generation from renewable energy sources in countries without conventional hydrothermal reservoirs, which are usually associated with magmatic activity and extensional faulting, as well as to expand the generation in those regions where conventional resources are already used. Three recent drilling experiences focused on the characterization of unconventional resources are described and compared: the Campi Flegrei Deep Drilling Project (CFDDP) in Italy, the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power (UDDGP) project in the United Kingdom, and the DEEP Earth Energy Production in Canada. The main aspects of each project are described (geology, drilling, data collection, communication strategies) and compared to discuss challenges encountered at the tree sites considered, including a scientific drilling project (CFDDP) and two industrial ones (UDDGP and DEEP). The first project, at the first stage of pilot hole, although not reaching deep supercritical targets, showed extremely high, very rare thermal gradients even at shallow depths. Although each project has its own history, as well as social and economic context, the lessons learned at each drilling site can be used to further facilitate geothermal energy development.

Keywords: unconventional geothermal resources; geothermal drilling; communities; caldera; Enhanced Geothermal Systems (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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