Geothermal energy has immense potential as a green, sustainable, and weather-independent source of power, offering a pathway to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate climate change. While the geothermal resource is abundant in its potential, its successful extraction comes with substantial challenges, with drilling operations, specifically, emerging as a critical bottleneck. This paper delves into the promising synergy between the oil and gas drilling industry and geothermal drilling, aiming to enhance the efficiency and viability of geothermal energy extraction. The paper begins by elaborating on the fundamental differences between oil and gas drilling and geothermal drilling processes, highlighting the unique challenges geothermal well construction faces, and summarizing existing knowledge gaps. It then reviews recent advancements in drilling technologies within the oil and gas sector, emphasizing innovations such as advanced modeling, digital twins, and AI/ML applications, which have the potential to be adapted for geothermal applications. The solutions are illustrated for various phases of drilling, from planning, real-time execution, replay, and training. Furthermore, two case studies related to geothermal drilling challenges are presented, i.e., identification and prevention of loss circulation and improvement of drilling efficiency within safeguards. In summary, this paper explores the emerging collaborative initiatives and partnerships to facilitate knowledge transfer and promote cross-industry innovation between geothermal and oil and gas industries. It underscores the immense potential of leveraging oil and gas drilling solutions to enhance geothermal drilling performance and reduce costs, ultimately fostering the growth of geothermal energy as a reliable and sustainable power source. By embracing this synergy, we can pave the way for accelerated geothermal energy development, contributing significantly to the global transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy systems.

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