Characterizing controls of geothermal systems through integrated geologic and geophysical studies: Developing recipes for successful exploration of conventional and unconventional geothermal systems

Although conventional geothermal systems have been successfully exploited for electrical production and district heating in many parts of the world, exploration and development of new systems is commonly stymied by the risk of unsuccessful drilling. Problems include drilling of hot, relatively dry wells with low flow rates, decreasing temperatures with depth as wells penetrate relatively thin and shallow geothermal aquifers (overturn), and wells with reasonable flow rates but relatively low temperatures. Due to the high cost of drilling, such problems can effectively preclude geothermal exploration. Proposals to generate enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) by artificially stimulating hot dry wells, commonly through mechanical hydro-fracturing of rocks, have therefore gained in popularity.