A new report, published under the Geo4all program, highlights the opportunities and technical challenges for low-temperature geothermal energy (LTG) in the Netherlands.
The full report (in English), “Unlocking low temperature geothermal reservoirs: Key insights for geothermal energy from medium depths (500 – 1500 meters)” can be accessed via this link.
The research shows that LTG is technically feasible in the Netherlands, but that knowledge gaps remain. To unlock the potential of the medium-depth domain, some challenges need to be solved to reduce operational risks and improve the business case. The main technical challenges identified by the report are as follows:
- Achieving sufficient underground clearance between the wells, and
- Ensuring sufficient water extraction without sand and fines production problems.
The report presents information on well drilling, completions, and operations in the relevant depth domain, in particular from the Zevenbergen LTG doublet, the Schoonebeek heavy oilf field, the De Wijk gas fields, and the shallow gas fields in the A B-block offshore. The results show that drilling deviated and horizontal wells in this depth domain is quite mature in the Netherlands. Critical success factors are related more to organizational factors than technological developments.
Based on experiences in the LTG field, the main conclusion is that most of the outstanding knowledge questions relate to the second challenge: how to produce sufficient water without producing too many particles. Due to the relatively high degree of uncertainty surrounding the composition and properties of the subsurface, characterization is crucial to answer these knowledge questions and reduce development risks. Subsurface data is essential for optimizing well design and completion. The necessary experience with drilling techniques is already available in the Netherlands, but research specifically into cost reduction for LTG is strongly recommended.
Launched in 2024, the Geo4all program provides a platform to consolidate geothermal research efforts in the Netherlands. The program is led by Geothermie Nederland, EBN, and TNO with 23 parties in the geothermal sector. Research on shallow geothermal energy systems corresponds to Work Package 1 of the program, with the other work packages seeking to address other geothermal challenges such as closed-loop systems, induced seismicity, and suboptimal reservoirs.
Source: Geo4All
