Utilization Of Geothermal Energy Research Articles

Design and performance optimization of a novel CAES system integrated with coaxial casing geothermal utilization

At present, the heat storage sub-system in the adiabatic compressed air energy storage system generally has low heat storage density and limited heat storage temperature, resulting in mediocre power generation efficiency of the system. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel approach for coupling the energy storage system with geothermal energy utilization. This study innovatively uses coaxial casing wells to extract geothermal energy and to preheat compressed air in front of the expander. Detailed numerical investigations and dynamic thermodynamic analysis are carried out to evaluate system performance. Sensitivity and optimization are analyzed to identify the operational and design parameters of the proposed system. In addition, an economic analysis is conducted to estimate the investment and payback of the energy storage system. The results show that geothermal energy utilization can directly and significantly enhance the electric, heating and cooling energy output of compressed air energy storage system. During one 24-hours operation cycle, the electricity output is 104.45GJ, the heating supply output is 81.59 GJ, and the cooling supply output is 16.69 GJ. The RTE and energy efficiency are 64.26 % and 122.68 %, respectively. Economic analysis shows that the static payback period is 12.17 years, and the net present value can reach 3.46 million USD. It can be concluded that geothermal energy plays a greater role in energy storage systems than geothermal power production alone. The compressed air energy storage system combined with geothermal energy addresses current issues and leads to improved system performance.

Improving the thermal performance of vertical ground heat exchanger by modifying spiral tube geometry: A numerical study

Ground heat exchanger (GHE) is the most crucial element of a ground source heat pump (GSHP) system for building cooling and heating by the utilization of geothermal energy. Therefore, intending to enhance the performance of GHE, the present study conducts a computational investigation of the thermal performance of modified spiral tube vertical GHEs. Several modifications of uniform-pitched spiral GHE are made to increase its thermal performance. Some modifications are introduced as variable-pitched spiral tube GHE where spiral inlet pipes are densified in the lower part of GHEs by reducing pitch distance. Conversely, in some modifications, the position of the outlet straight pipe is changed. Water is considered as the working fluid and the inlet temperature of the water is maintained fixed at 300.15 K. After extensive analysis, it is evident that, when the outlet pipe is placed outside of the spiral coil, there is a 7.67 % enhancement in the thermal performance than a traditional uniform-pitched spiral tube GHE. However, modifications like variable-pitched spiral tube GHEs are not significant to improve the thermal performance due to the quick saturation of the ground soil temperature around the GHE pipes. To have a balance between heat transfer rate and pressure drop, thermal performance capability (TPC) and coefficient of performance improvement (COPimprvt) criterion were evaluated and it is found that the uniform-pitched spiral tube GHE along with the outlet pipe at the outside of the spiral provides maximum thermal performance with a maximum TPC value of 1.062 and provides the positive value of COPimprvt criterion. The positive values of COPimprvt indicate that the spiral tube GHEs are energy efficient based on heat transfer and pressure drop. Moreover, spiral GHE with high-density polyethylene (HDPE), concrete pile, and sandy clay outperform the other materials for pipe, backfill, and soil, respectively. Specifically, HDPE pipe, concrete backfill, and sandy clay as soil offer around 7 %, 5 %, and 7.8 % higher thermal performance compared to polyethylene, sand silica, and clay, respectively.

Strategy of geothermal energy development as a renewable energy source in West Java Indonesia

Background: Indonesia has vast renewable energy potential, including biofuels, biomass, and bioenergy from tropical biodiversity spread across the country. Hydropower and geothermal energy are the only forms of renewable energy used to generate electricity and are connected to the grid. Geothermal energy may be incorporated into the grid to create hybrid energy systems that will help to reduce the high energy demand while maintaining low energy costs and net present costs. There are now 14 biosphere reserves in Indonesia, divided into 24 units of core zones, six units of buffer zones, and 13 units of transition zones. The West Java Province has a geothermal potential of 6,101 MWe or 21% of Indonesia's total geothermal resources. Currently, the installed capacity of electricity from geothermal energy in West Java is 1075 MWe or 89% of the total national installed capacity of 1196 MWe. Method: This paper reviews West Java Province data collection from official government bureaus, state-owned businesses, and non-governmental organizations (NGO) reports on geothermal energy capacity, electricity installation, and used area of ​​geothermal power plant and will be limited to the years 2010 through 2020. The collected data will then be refined, extrapolated, and analyzed by the connected trend to aid in studying West Java geothermal growth and use SWOT method analysis. Finding: The result of this research is a strategy for optimizing the development of geothermal energy utilization. The strategies that can be developed are infrastructure improvement as an investment facilitation strategy, a strategy to leverage a costly investment and capital investment, underground mining in conservation forest areas to avoid degradation improvement and supervision of related institutions and stakeholders, implementation of environmentally sustainable development, and socializing programs and providing job opportunities for the local community. Conclusion: Indonesia has an enormous potential for renewable energy, especially geothermal, with West Java Province having the largest installed capacity. This study suggests strategies to optimize geothermal energy development, including improving infrastructure, investment facilities, underground mining, improving supervision, and sustainable development. Novelty/Originality of this study: Research on geothermal energy in West Java provides a comprehensive analysis and specific strategies to optimize the development of this energy in the area, including innovative underground mining approaches.

A new inhibitor of quaternary copolymer against calcium carbonate scaling in high-temperature geothermal fluids

An effective quaternary copolymer inhibitor against calcium carbonate scaling in 120 °C geothermal fluids, with an inhibition ratio of over 95 %, was synthesized through aqueous free radical polymerization of itaconic acid (IA), acrylic acid (AA), hydroxy ethyl methacrylate (HEMA), and sodium allylsulfonate (SAS). The synthesis process involved using ammonium persulfate as an initiator and tert-butanol as the molecular weight regulator. A four-factor, three-level orthogonal experiment was conducted to optimize the synthesis process, resulting in a monomer ratio of m(IA):m(AA) = 1:7, 15 % initiator concentration, a reaction temperature of 90 °C, and a reaction time of 2.5 h. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed the presence of carboxyl, sulfonic acid, hydroxyl, and ester groups in the copolymer, while thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) confirmed its thermal stability. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) examinations of calcium carbonate crystals indicated that the copolymer scale inhibitor caused significant damage to the surface morphology and crystal structure. This scaling inhibitor is useful for efficient geothermal energy utilization.

Strengthening the energy efficiency ratio of warm deep gas-assisted hydrate production through optimizing water circulation

Utilizing the geothermal energy from the deep gas layer to enhance the hydrate decomposition is a potential clean production approach, avoiding the vast costs and severe pollution in the traditional heat injection scheme. In this work, a novel method was proposed to promote hydrate decomposition by employing circulating water to transport heat from the deep gas layer. Results showed that increasing the water flow rate from 9.82 mL/min to 39.28 mL/min could significantly improve the production efficiency by 27.27 %. Yet, the energy efficiency ratio (EER) slightly decreased by 3.31 % due to the increased power consumption of the water pump. A hybrid water flow rate was thus used with a lower rate in the later production stage when the heat absorption of hydrate decomposition was declining accordingly. This was found to successively improve the EER by 2.68 % while maintaining comparable production efficiency; a further cycling regulation (intermittent circulating) of the hybrid water flow rate could significantly enhance the EER by 16.23 %. The results could guide the efficient utilization of natural geothermal energy to facilitate the large-scale gas production from the natural gas hydrates when heat supply from the surrounding sediments was limited.

Influence of eccentricity on the thermal performance of pipe-in-pipe heat exchanger utilized for geothermal heating, an experimental study

In the past few decades, pipe-in-pipe coaxial borehole heat exchangers (BHEs) have become increasingly widespread for building heating through the usage of medium-deep geothermal energy. Enhancing the heat transfer efficiency of BHEs is crucial in order to achieve higher efficiency in utilizing geothermal energy. This study introduced a novel consideration regarding the eccentric inner pipe as a technique to enhance the thermal performance of the pipe-in-pipe BHE. The impact of eccentricity varying from 0 to 0.9 on the BHE performance was experimentally explored to establish the correlation for Nusselt number. The convective heat transfer coefficients were obtained based on 480 sets of test results conducted under varied heating powers (200 – 4500 W/m2) and flow rates (0.16 – 1.00 m3/h). The results demonstrated that in comparison to the coaxial BHE, the eccentricity leads to a considerable enhancement in the heat transfer coefficient, ranging from 20 % to 35 %. The thermal performance is higher when the eccentricity is between 0.4 and 0.6, while the pressure loss can be decreased by 33 % − 54 %. The research results are expected to provide a theoretical basis to improve the geothermal energy utilization efficiency without improving the cost of BHE systems.

Multi-objective integrated optimization of geothermal heating system with energy storage using digital twin technology

Heat energy storage technology plays a significant role in energy systems, and the various technological solutions brought about by digitalization are especially valuable in the field of energy storage. This article proposes an innovative model based on digital twin technology to solve the supply–demand mismatch problem in geothermal heating systems. This model achieves multi-objective optimization of comprehensive cost, geothermal energy utilization rate, and carbon emission by constructing a heat storage geothermal heating system. Digital twin technology integrates data and information models of public buildings and facilitates their sharing and transmission throughout the entire lifecycle of the geothermal heating system. Initially, the proposed method employs a machine learning-based approach to accurately predict heating demand. Subsequently, the operation of the heat storage water tank and heat pump units is optimized to resolve difficulties in matching energy supply and demand. Finally, the method takes full advantage of time-of-use electricity pricing policies to reduce costs. The data utilized were collected from an office building in China over a period of six months. Experimental results demonstrate that: (1) In terms of predicting heating demand, the improved neural network proposed in this study achieved a prediction accuracy of 98%, which is a 10% improvement over comparative algorithms. Additionally, the experimental comparison of four types of errors showed that the machine learning method proposed had smaller errors across the board. (2) The method realized collaborative multi-objective optimization, and in five scenarios, the comprehensive performance index increased by up to 38.03% compared to the benchmark system. This indicates that intelligent technology is an effective means of enhancing the energy sustainability of geothermal heating systems, and the use of geothermal energy as a clean energy source effectively addresses issues related to the storage, utilization, management, and energy conservation of buildings.

Groundwater Potential for the Utilisation of Shallow Geothermal Energy from a Closed Coal Mine

Groundwater Potential for the Utilisation of Shallow Geothermal Energy from a Closed Coal Mine

Comprehensive analysis and optimization for a novel combined heating and power system based on self-condensing transcritical CO2 Rankine cycle driven by geothermal energy from thermodynamic, exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental aspects

In this paper, a novel combined heating and power (CHP) system is proposed to realize full-scale utilization of geothermal energy and efficient multi-generation, which not only performs preferable overall performance than previous homogeneous system, but also offers an effective energy cascade utilization approach for self-condensing transcritical CO2 (TCO2) Rankine cycle. Based on the established mathematical models, the performance comparison is conducted for proving the superiority of the novel CHP system. Then, an overall performance analysis is implemented to reveal the combined effects for six key parameters on system thermodynamic, exergoeconomic and exergoenvironmental performances. Furthermore, multi-objective optimization considering system overall performance is conducted. The results show that for the novel CHP system, the largest relative improvement rate of system exergy efficiency (ηexg) and declining rate of total unit product exergy cost (cP,total) versus the previous CHP system are 15.03 % and 18.89 %, respectively. The final optimization results of ηexg, cP,total and total unit product exergy environmental impact (bP,total) are determined as 51.10 %, 14.12 $/GJ and 9.00 mPts/GJ, respectively. This paper fulfills an elaborate performance analysis and optimization for the novel CHP system, which fills the research gap of efficient and promising CHP system based on self-condensing TCO2 Rankine cycle.

Effects of saturated fluids on petrophysical properties of hot dry rock at high temperatures: An experimental study

Hydraulic fracturing is a crucial technology for efficient heat extraction from hot dry rock (HDR). The fracturing process involves the injection of large volumes of cold fluids, which can significantly affect the petrophysical properties of the rock, particularly when temperature differences and fluid-rock interactions are taken into account. However, there is a lack of research on the evolution of HDR petrophysical properties under the influence of different fluids at high temperatures. In this paper, we utilized a high-temperature high-pressure tri-axial loading system, rock spontaneous imbibition instrument, porosity-permeability tester, and thermal conductivity meter, along with comprehensive analysis techniques such as ultrasonic wave velocity monitoring, CT scanning, and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), to systematically investigate the effects of distilled water and nano emulsion on the physical and mechanical properties of the HDR at high temperatures. Through comparison with the experimental results of dry samples, comprehensive characteristics of physical parameters for the HDR under the influence of distilled water and nano emulsion are obtained, such as spontaneous imbibition mass and permeability, thermal physical properties, and rock mechanical parameters. The experimental results show that temperature increase promotes the formation of massive thermal damage fractures in the HDR samples, and the fluid weakens the mechanical strength of the HDR. When the effects of temperature and saturated fluids are combined, the hydraulic fracture network in the HDR samples exhibits increased complexity, contrasting with the fracture patterns observed in the heat-treated dry samples. The distilled water has a more pronounced effect on weakening the mechanical strength of the samples than the nano emulsion. Moreover, the analyses of permeability, thermal conductivity, ultrasonic wave velocity, and NMR results are consistent with the results of mechanical experiments. As the temperature rises, the wave velocity of saturated distilled water samples exceeds that of both saturated nano emulsion samples and dry samples, the velocity of the saturated fluid front in the samples increases, and the range of the fluid in the pores expands. Overall, these findings provide valuable experimental evidence and theoretical guidance for better understanding the hydro-thermal-mechanical behaviors of the HDR, which are crucial for the efficient development and utilization of geothermal energy.

Comparative analysis of machine learning techniques for predicting drilling rate of penetration (ROP) in geothermal wells: A case study of FORGE site

Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) present a compelling means to unlock the considerable yet largely untapped thermal energy within the earth's crust globally. The EGS drilling cost constitutes a substantial portion, up to 60 %, of the overall expenses. Consequently, streamlining and optimizing the drilling processes for these systems hold immense economic significance, with the potential to substantially lower costs, advance the utilization of geothermal energy, and contribute significantly to the reduction of carbon emissions. This research aims to enhance EGS drilling operations by seeking ways of reducing drilling cost.In this research, we harnessed the predictive power of 10 state-of-the-art machine learning (ML) algorithms to anticipate a crucial drilling parameter: ROP. Using the FORGE dataset, we developed a code tailored for the intensive preprocessing of drilling data. This code offers many options, including various noise-removing techniques and scaling approaches. However, the primary focus of our work extends to quantifying uncertainties intrinsic to the predictions of the 10 algorithms employed. To achieve this, a comprehensive approach involved subjecting each algorithm to 40 runs, utilizing the best model from the tuning process.The results show that unaddressed uncertainties may lead to unstable model behavior, where small changes in the input data or random initialization result in significant prediction variations. Thus, models that do not account for uncertainty may be overfit to the noise in the training data, leading to poor generalization to new, unseen data. Remarkably, the results highlight the superiority of the Extreme Tree, Light Gradient Boost, Random Forest, and Gradient Boosting algorithms, showcasing mean absolute error (MAE) and R2 values within the ranges of 3.5–4.5 and 0.9–0.95, respectively. Conversely, artificial neural networks and support vector machine algorithms demonstrate comparatively lower performance, with MAE ranging from 4.7 to 6.3 and R2 from 0.85 to 0.91.Although the results presented in this work are only based on the drilling parameters from one well of the FORGE site and do not include rock properties or geological parameters, however, the proposed nuanced understanding of algorithmic performance is valuable for refining predictive models in geothermal drilling applications, ensuring robustness and reliability in the face of diverse operational scenarios. Navigating a successful workflow, adeptly processing data, and meticulously quantifying uncertainties linked to each predictive algorithm emerge as formidable yet indispensable tasks. Our research not only sheds light on these complexities but also paves the way for a strategic optimization approach based on data-driven ROP models. Therefore, the potential for substantial savings in real-time drilling operations becomes apparent, unlocking a new realm of possibilities for the geothermal energy sector.

Geothermal Energy Potential Assessment and Utilization in the Absheron Oil and Gas Region

Geothermal Energy Potential Assessment and Utilization in the Absheron Oil and Gas Region

Experimental Investigation of the Effect of Fault Reactivation Induced by Water Injection

An understanding of fault reactivation induced by water injection is of great significance for geothermal energy development and utilization. We conducted a series of water injection shear tests on low-permeability granite samples that each contained a single saw-cut fault under locally undrained conditions. Slip characteristics were analyzed by varying the fluid pressurization rate, confining pressure, and stress state of the fault to understand fault reactivation. The experimental results demonstrated that at a high pressurization rate, a higher local fluid pressure was needed to reactivate the fault than had been estimated theoretically, and the required fluid pressure increased with an increase in pressurization rate. The fluid pressurization rate and confining pressure both controlled the slip mode of the fault. The slip mode changed from dynamic slip to quasi-static slip at a high pressurization rate, and the peak slip rate of dynamic slip increased with an increasing pressurization rate. The fault showed significant stick-slip characteristics under a high confining pressure, as fault locking and reactivation phenomena occurred repeatedly. Faults with different initial stress states had little influence on the slip mode after the onset of slip.

Optimization Simulation of Different Injection and Production Parameters of Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS), as a key technology for the extraction and utilization of geothermal energy in deep strata and high temperature rock mass, has a broad application prospect in the field of energy. In order to understand the sustainable utilization capacity of the enhanced geothermal system, explore the influence law of different factors on the heat production capacity of geothermal Wells, and design a reasonable geothermal energy development and utilization program. The influence of different injection and production parameters on thermal recovery performance was studied by numerical simulation, and the main influencing factors were analyzed by orthogonal experiment. The results show that water injection rate has the greatest effect on the injection-production parameters, followed by well spacing and water injection temperature, and fracture opening and fracture number have the least effect. The optimal parameter combination is water injection rate of 10kg/s, well spacing 500m, water injection temperature 40℃, crack opening 0.09mm and crack number 60.

"3E" Analysis and Working Fluid Selection for a Cogeneration System for Geothermal Large Temperature Difference Utilization.

Widespread utilization of geothermal energy as a clean energy source can reduce the use of fossil fuels and thereby protect the environment. Previous combined heat and power (CHP) systems using low-temperature geothermal heat as a heat source have limited utilization of geothermal heat. In this study, a cogeneration system based on organic Rankine cycle (ORC) and absorption heat exchanger (AHE) is designed. We analyzed the thermal efficiency, exergy efficiency, and economics of the proposed system utilizing 85 °C low-temperature geothermal heat, and the optimal operating fluid for this system is discussed. The results show that the optimal working fluid for the proposed system is R245fa. Using R245fa as the working fluid, the proposed system can achieve an exergy efficiency of 61.39%, when the heat source outlet temperature can be as low as 23 °C, while the proposed system can achieve the lowest LCOE of 0.082 ($/kW ·h) when using R22 as the working fluid.

An integrated system combining MDBHE (multi-casing DBHE) and heat pump achieves heating and cooling for medium-deep geothermal energy utilization

Due to its convenient application in utilizing the medium-deep geothermal energy, the deep borehole heat exchanger has received extensive attention. Here we initiated an integrated system by coupling the multi-casing deep borehole heat exchanger (MDBHE) and heat pump to realize heat extraction and heating in the whole well in winter, and heat storage and cooling in the well upper part in summer. In the MDBHE, an annular pipe was used to store heat. Through the analysis of the simulation results of the influence of several variables on the system performance, it is found that the increase of heat storage temperature, annular pipe length and formation thermal conductivity raised the heat storage rate of the system, but the geothermal gradient is opposite. Benefiting from heat storage, the heat extraction rates in winter is also improved. Meanwhile, the heat pump elevated the heating rate by 15.9% in winter, and the cooling rate of the heat pump were respectively 19.3%, 21.5% and 23.7% less than the heat storage rate of the MDBHE based on the heat storage temperature of 40, 45 and 50 °C. Therefore, the integrated system can simultaneously satisfy the requirements of summer cooling and winter heating and maintain the formation heat balance, so that the urban heat island effect is mitigated.

Thermodynamic analysis of a coupled system based on total flow cycle and partially evaporated organic Rankine cycle for hot dry rock utilization

The total flow cycle (TFC) has a great potential to improve efficiency of geothermal energy utilization. However, it can not fully utilize the heat source due to the limited expansion ratio of the two-phase expander. To solve the problem, a coupled system of TFC and partially evaporated organic Rankine cycle (TFC-PEORC) is proposed. The thermodynamic model considering the pinch point location migration is developed, and the effects of operating parameters on the temperature matching and system performance are investigated. On this basis, system optimization is carried out. At the same time, the performance of TFC-PEORC was compared with the single-stage TFC, the coupled system of TFC and organic Rankine cycle (TFC-ORC), the coupled system of trilateral cycle and organic Rankine cycle (TLC-ORC), and the coupled system of TFC and Kalina cycle (TFC-KC) under optimal operating conditions. The results show that the net output power of TFC-PEORC has a 14.26 % increase compared to TFC, and that TFC-PEORC can provide excellent the temperature matching of the high temperature (HT) stage and the low temperature (LT) stage working fluids, thus providing the maximum net output power (84.36 kW) that is up to 1.93 % higher than TFC-ORC.

Feasibility Investigation of Geothermal Energy Heating System in Mining Area: Application of Mine Cooling and Aquifer Thermal Energy Exploitation Technique

Mine heat hazards have resulted in large amounts of high-quality coal resources in deep that cannot be mined. The mining industry is paying more and more attention to the extraction and utilization of geothermal energy in mines, while at the same time reducing the underground temperature to realize co-extraction of coal and heat. In addition, coal mines tend to burn large amounts of coal to heat mine buildings and provide hot water for workers’ daily baths, creating operating costs and increasing greenhouse gas emissions. Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the feasibility of extracting geothermal energy to provide the daily heat load for mines. Currently, there is little research on the feasibility of geothermal energy extraction and utilization in productive mines instead of abandoned mines. In this study, according to the actual situation of Xinhu mine in eastern China, a combined geothermal water system and heat-pump heating system is proposed, aiming to effectively realize mine cooling and geothermal exploitation and utilization. The geothermal storage capacity in the area is analyzed, and an economic analysis is developed. The economic analysis indicates that the main factors affecting the feasibility of the system are the number of mine users, the distance from the geothermal production well to the mine buildings, and the coal price. The research shows that the economic efficiency of the system is better when the heating scale is larger and the distance is smaller. As coal prices rise, the combined geothermal water and heat-pump heating system will be more economical than traditional coal heating. If a mine has 2000 workers, the application of this system can prevent 334.584 t of CO2 emissions per year.

Analysis of the factors influencing heat transfer and control strategy optimization for Medium-Shallow array borehole heat exchangers

Medium-shallow array borehole heat exchangers (MSABHEs) exhibit high heat transfer capacity and low initial investments. However, limited research has been conducted on utilizing medium-shallow geothermal energy utilization for heating and cooling. In this study, a heat transfer model for MSABHEs was established. Second, the suitability of the heat transfer model was validated using experimental data. Subsequently, the model was used to analyze the impacts of the borehole spacing, terrestrial heat flow, circulating fluid flow rate, and ground depth on heat transfer in MSABHEs. Finally, an optimization strategy for the circulating fluid was proposed based on dynamic building loads, and the impacts of various circulating liquid control strategies on the heat pump performance were compared. The results indicated that the heat transfer capacity of the MSABHEs increased with increasing borehole spacing. When the spacing was greater than 8 m, thermal interference between the boreholes could be ignored. Under the condition of imbalanced cooling and heating loads, the variable flow strategy could increase the heating coefficient of performance (COP) and cooling COP of the heat pump by approximately 11.12 % and 14.28 %, respectively. Through this control method, the power consumption of the water pump could be reduced from 15840 kW to 8527 kW. These findings could provide a theoretical basis and technical guidance for MSABHE applications.

Origin of high heat flow in the back-arc basins of Sumatra: An opportunity for geothermal energy development

Volcanic arcs such as the Barisan Mountains have been identified as attractive areas for the utilization of geothermal energy, as exemplified by Ulubelu in Lampung and Sarulla in North Sumatra. However, environmental factors in the Barisan Mountains remain a primary obstacle to the exploration and exploitation of geothermal energy. The back-arc basins of Sumatra exhibit the highest heat flow worldwide; however, the heat source in this area remains a controversial issue. This study aims to investigate the origin of the high heat flow in the back-arc basins of Sumatra (North, Central, and South Sumatra basins) based on geothermal data from 384 oil wells and the current literature for geological evaluation. The findings of this study indicate that the back-arc basins of Sumatra experienced severe extensional deformation during the Tertiary Period through a large pull-apart and slab rollback mechanism. This deformation resulted in the thinning of the continental crust in this region (27–32 km) and the formation of multiple normal faults. Consequently, the presence of magma resulting from mantle upwelling implies a high heat flow in the back-arc basins of Sumatra. This condition ranks the back-arc basins of Sumatra among the highest heat flow regions of the world, with heat flows >100 mW/m2. These findings indicate that the back-arc basins of Sumatra have significant opportunities to exploit their geothermal energy potential. This study provides novel insights into the potential of geothermal energy, particularly in the back-arc basins of Sumatra.