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.
Highlights
Unlike other renewable energies, such as solar and wind, geothermal resources provide base-load power that can be generated continuously to meet the minimum level of power demand, independent of climate conditions
The common element of these projects is that they target unconventional geothermal resources: the Campi Flegrei Deep Drilling Project (CFDDP) in the volcanic caldera located Southern Italy west to Naples metropolitan area, the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power (UDDGP) project in hot granite rocks located in the Cornwall county in South West England, and the DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. project in Canada, targeting Hot Sedimentary Aquifers (HSAs) in the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin
The Porthtowan Fault (PTF) zone targeted at UDDGP is a NNW–SSE striking complex strikeslip fault zone belonging to this family of sub parallel fault structures in SW England
Summary
Unlike other renewable energies, such as solar and wind, geothermal resources provide base-load power that can be generated continuously to meet the minimum level of power demand, independent of climate conditions. The common element of these projects is that they target unconventional geothermal resources: the Campi Flegrei Deep Drilling Project (CFDDP) in the volcanic caldera located Southern Italy west to Naples metropolitan area, the United Downs Deep Geothermal Power (UDDGP) project in hot granite rocks located in the Cornwall county in South West England, and the DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. One of the Energies 2021, 14, 3306 targets of the CFDDP were supercritical fluids, while the shallow pilot hole drilled so far has not reached those fluids This area shows very high geothermal gradients at shallow depths, allowing unusually shallow, cheap, and powerful geothermal exploitation. The objective of this paper is to review the recent geothermal exploration work at those three key projects and synthetize new knowledge gained that can be used in other countries looking to expand geothermal energy production
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