Geothermal energy from abandoned oil and gas wells in Pakistan: A review

Abstract

Cleaner geothermal energy is an environment friendly and low-cost alternative of fossil fuel for space heating or electricity generation. Initially, a big drilling investment can be avoided by utilizing hundreds of available oil and gas wells in Pakistan to exploit geothermal energy. Previously acquired wells data such as: borehole temperature (BHT), lithostratigraphic logs, subsurface structure (fault/fracture), porosity, permeability and other well parameters are effectively utilized for preliminary geothermal reservoir evaluation. This review study utilized well data from sixty wells from different areas to evaluate geothermal systems in addition to thermal gradient and geothermal play type. Optimistic potential of geothermal energy from abandoned oil and gas wells (AOGWs) is present in the country with seven hottest sites in the central and lower Indus Basin. As a sustainable development goal (SDG-7), recycling AOGWs to harness geothermal energy won’t just remove prospecting risks and drilling expense, yet in addition control the pollution and mitigate climate change.