Petrothermal energy and geophysics

• Published in: Moscow University geology bulletin Vol. 66; no. 3; pp. 151 - 157
• Main Authors: Gnatus’, N. A., Khutorskoy, M. D., Khmelevskoi, V. K.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Allerton Press, Inc 01.06.2011; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Crystalline rocks; Earth and Environmental Science; Earth Sciences; Geology; Geophysics; Geothermal power; Heat transfer; High temperature; Hydraulic fracturing; Land surveys; Thermal energy; deep wells; heat collectors; geophysical survey methods; petrothermal energy
• ISSN: 0145-8752; 1934-8436
• DOI: 10.3103/S0145875211030045

The geological-geophysical, methological, and economic aspects of extraction and utilization of petrothermal resources (“hot dry rock thermal”) for thermal and electric energy production were considered. Heat collectors are hydraulic fracturing zones of natural or artificially made cracks in the crystalline rocks of the basement; these rocks have higher temperature and can be a kind of “thermal cauldron.” Detection of such “collectors” can be carried out by geophysical methods. When pumped out of wells and warmed to 100–300°C, waters function as a heat transfer for thermal energy supply and electric energy generation. If the technical problem of the rapid drilling of 6–10 km wells could be solved, then petrothermal energy will become competitive with the traditional types of energy production and supply.