Single Well High Output Enhance Geothermal Dgs In Depth

Single-Well, High-Output Enhanced Geothermal (“DGS”) – In Depth

What is Enhanced Geothermal?

Enhanced geothermal (“EGS”) is an advanced deep geothermal extraction system that improves the efficiency and accessibility to geothermal energy.

Unlike Enhanced Geothermal Systems, conventional geothermal power plants rely on hot and naturally occurring geothermal water reservoirs. However, with only 7% of the U.S. located over such sources, EGS offers a viable alternative by utilizing hot dry rocks within the earth’s crust.

By creating a fracture network underground, geothermal engineers use EGS technology to turn those naturally existing hot rocks into a productive, man-made geothermal reservoir.

How is EGS different from HDR?

Hot Dry Rock (HDR) and EGS are two terms frequently used interchangeably. However, they are different primarily based on the reservoir and stimulation phases.

While HDR focuses on identifying and stimulating natural fractures, EGS intentionally creates a fracture network in hot, but dry rock, which contains little to no natural fluids.

EGS involves selecting a hot rock formation and using a high-pressure water drilling system to create a deep borehole. This deep borehole, acting as the injection well, is used to inject cold water into the reservoir. The cold water fractures the hot rocks, which then allows the hot water to circulate and flow back to the surface.

How Does Enhanced Geothermal Work?

EGS technology employs a closed loop system consisting of an injection well and a production well.

Cold water is pumped down the injection well into the Enhanced Geothermal System, where it absorbs the heat from the rocks to become hot water. This heated water, now carrying the thermal energy of the host rock, rises through the fracture channel and flows into the production well.

The water containing the trapped heat is channeled to the surface through the production well. At the surface, heat exchangers transfer the thermal energy from the water to generate electricity.

Advantages of EGS:

• Enormous power potential: EGS can tap into a much larger resource base of heat stored in dry rocks, as compared to conventional geothermal systems. This expands the accessibility of geothermal energy to regions where natural geothermal reservoirs are not present.


• Reliable energy source: Geothermal energy is a consistent and reliable source of energy, as it is not dependent on weather conditions or daylight. This makes geothermal baseload power an attractive option for meeting consistent energy demands.


• Environmentally friendly: EGS has minimal environmental impact as it does not involve the combustion of fossil fuels, hence producing zero carbon emissions. This enables geothermal energy to contribute to the mitigation of climate change.


• Scalability: EGS technology is scalable as it can be applied to a range of geological conditions, allowing for wider adoption and deployment.