The reuse of abandoned wells to boost geothermal energy production

23.02.2024

Geothermal energy is a form of renewable energy that uses the heat from the underground.

In general, the drilling part of a geothermal project is one of the most expensive. In Italy there are more than 5000 wells that are now abandoned or mineral closed and the data collected during the exploration campaign can offer a big source of information, reducing the mining risk.

Considering the reuse of ex O&G wells could thus be an opportunity to increase the sustainability of renewable energy production. Here we find out more with Marina Facci, a Ph.D. student of the Department of Geosciences of the University of Padua who works on the evaluation of the potential of ex O&G wells employing numerical modelling.