I’ve always wondered to what extent the horizontal drilling revolution could help with geothermal? It certainly did wonders for fossil fuel extraction, but perhaps this is the silver lining?
Yeah, it might enable geothermal-anywhere. Cost drops sharply each time people try it, as we start a learning-by-doing cycle.
Does that have the same issues with micro quakes that fracking has or is that from the high pressure injections and not the drilling itself?
Yes, I believe horizontal drilling has been explored for geothermal and is very beneficial.
I heard that due to that and some other breakthroughs recently, areas that were once thought to be unviable for geothermal like most of the East Coast actually have a lot of potential.
I don’t have sources handy, but my friend stays on top of all of this stuff, so I could have him dig up the relevant papers if necessary.
The problem with geothermal right now is long delays from NEPA reviews. I’m not trying to bash all of NEPA, but oil and gas has a categorical exclusion, while geothermal has to endure a long review process (we have heard up to 7 years from a local geothermal startup) just for drilling the exact same hole in the ground.
It’s been a big reason that Citizens’ Climate Lobby has been focusing on permitting reform. We’re at the point where if all permitting laws were removed, emissions would go down. Now that probably wouldn’t be the best idea in practice, but we’re in an era where we need to build build build clean energy.