Stanford Geothermal WorkshopFebruary 12-14, 2024

Update on Fervo Energy’s EGS Development Projects in Nevada and Utah Jack NORBECK, Timothy LATIMER, Christian GRADL [Stanford University, USA]

We will provide updates on Fervo’s progress across two active EGS development projects. Project Red is a nearfield EGS project located adjacent to the Blue Mountain geothermal field in north-central Nevada. The goal of the pilot project was to drill and complete a horizontal EGS well pair and integrate the system with the existing power facility to send commercial quantities of power to the grid. Drilling, stimulation, and well testing activities occurred in 2022 and 2023. A 37-day well test performed in April-May 2023 confirmed the technical viability of Fervo’s EGS design and provided key reservoir performance data. The Project Red EGS system was connected to the existing power plant and began producing electricity in October 2023, and the system has been in continuous operation since that time. Project Cape is a greenfield EGS project located near Milford, Utah. Fervo began early stage development activities at Cape in early 2022. A preliminary geologic conceptual model was developed using existing geologic data and offset well data from the Utah FORGE project and Roosevelt Hot Springs. Basin-scale gravity and magnetotelluric surveys were conducted in 2022, which improved the geologic conceptual model in the project area. Appraisal drilling began in June 2023. Since the drilling program began, one deep vertical well and six horizontal wells have been drilled. We will present data on drilling performance improvements and drilling cost reductions that have so far been realized as well as their implications for future cost targets for EGS technology.

Topic: Introduction