Advances in Geothermal Production Engineering in Recent Decades
- Key words
- Advances in Past 20 Years; enhanced geothermal systems, vapor-dominated resources, liquid-dominated resources, engineering advances, engineering challenges
- Conference
- Geothermal Resources Council Transactions
- Year
- 2007
- Session
- HDR/EGS; Vapor dominated reservoirs; Liquid dominated reserv
- Language
- English
Abstract
Geothermal energy is abundant, but only a very small fraction can currently be converted commercially to electricity and heating value with today’s technology. Over the past two decades, the installed geothermal capacity worldwide has more than doubled. This increase in the use of geothermal energy has been a multi-disciplinary effort. Production engineering advances have played a significant part in making geothermal a competitive renewable energy resource. Some of these advances are highlighted. To unlock a significant fraction of this vast energy source additional major technological advances are needed. Considering successful past performance, production engineering will continue to play an integral part in further advancing the use of geothermal energy throughout the world.
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