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Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy
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Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "H: Geo-Energy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 June 2025 | Viewed by 9152

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Marija Macenić

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: geothermal energy; ground source heat pumps; thermodynamics; energy and oil & gas; reservoir engineering
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Tomislav Kurevija

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Mining, Geology and Petroleum Engineering, University of Zagreb, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia
Interests: geothermal energy; ground source heat pumps; thermodynamics; energy and oil & gas; reservoir engineering

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

With the rise of the low-carbon energy demand geothermal energy exploitation is gaining more visibility as a sustainable, renewable and clean energy resource. Along with project development from classic hydrothermal systems, increased interest is seen in developing projects which use existing oil & gas well assets as well as the development of enhanced geothermal systems. Deep geothermal energy resources provide power as well as direct thermal applications. Likewise, increase of ground and groundwater source heat pumps is seen when it comes to exploiting shallow geothermal resources, adding to the increase of the share in the thermal applications, especially in domestic heating and cooling. Both deep and shallow geothermal systems can provide safe, reliable and constant energy product. However, the share of this resource is increasing rather slowly in the energy mix. Therefore, it is beneficial to highlight current research in the field of technology development , geothermal exploitation as well as utilization of both deep and shallow geothermal resources, which this Special Issue aims to publish.

Dr. Marija Macenić
Prof. Dr. Tomislav Kurevija
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • geothermal energy
  • heat transfer
  • reservoir engineering
  • geothermal power generation
  • geothermal direct heat application
  • cogeneration
  • oil & gas fields revitalization
  • enhanced geothermal systems
  • borehole heat exchangers
  • heat pumps.

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Published Papers (8 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 5404 KiB  
Article
Mud Loss Analysis Through Predictive Modeling of Pore Pressure and Fracture Gradients in Tin Fouye Tabankort Field, Western Illizi Basin, Algeria
by Reda Laouini, Messaoud Hacini, Hocine Merabti, Fethi Medjani and Omar Mahmoud
Energies 2025, 18(7), 1836; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071836 - 5 Apr 2025
Viewed by 590
Abstract
This study examines the distribution of pore pressure (PP) and fracture gradient (FG) within intervals of lost circulation encountered during drilling operations in the Ordovician reservoir (IV-3 unit) of the Tin Fouye Tabankort (TFT) field, located in the Illizi Basin, Algeria. The research [...] Read more.
This study examines the distribution of pore pressure (PP) and fracture gradient (FG) within intervals of lost circulation encountered during drilling operations in the Ordovician reservoir (IV-3 unit) of the Tin Fouye Tabankort (TFT) field, located in the Illizi Basin, Algeria. The research further aims to determine an optimized drilling mud weight to mitigate mud losses and enhance overall operational efficiency. PP and FG models for the Ordovician reservoir were developed based on data collected from five vertical development wells. The analysis incorporated multiple datasets, including well logs, mud logging reports, downhole measurements, and Leak-Off Tests (LOTs). The findings revealed an average overburden gradient of 1.03 psi/ft for the TFT field. The generated pore pressure and fracture gradient (PPFG) models indicated a sub-normal pressure regime in the Ordovician sandstone IV-3 reservoir, with PP values ranging from 5.61 to 6.24 ppg and FG values between 7.40 and 9.14 ppg. The analysis identified reservoir depletion due to prolonged hydrocarbon production as the primary factor contributing to the reduction in fracture gradient, which significantly narrowed the mud weight window and increased the likelihood of lost circulation. Further examination of pump on/off cycles over time, coupled with shallow and deep resistivity variations with depth, confirmed that the observed mud losses were predominantly associated with induced fractures resulting from the application of excessive mud weight during drilling operations. Based on the established PP and FG profiles, a narrow mud weight window of 6.24–7.40 ppg was recommended to ensure the safe and efficient drilling of future wells in the TFT field and support the sustainability of drilling operations in the context of a depleted reservoir. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy)
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22 pages, 6214 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of CO2 Injection and Extraction Heat Transfer in Complex Fracture Networks
by Yuguo Liu, Xiaolong Zhao, Yizhong Zhao, Peng Zhao, Yinghui Zhu, Yi Wu and Xinru He
Energies 2025, 18(7), 1606; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18071606 - 24 Mar 2025
Viewed by 285
Abstract
In order to reveal the heat transfer mechanism of CO2 injection and extraction in the fracture network of geothermal reservoir rock, based on the assumption of a dual-media model and considering the characteristics of the rock matrix and the fracture network, the [...] Read more.
In order to reveal the heat transfer mechanism of CO2 injection and extraction in the fracture network of geothermal reservoir rock, based on the assumption of a dual-media model and considering the characteristics of the rock matrix and the fracture network, the changes in the physical properties of the heat transfer fluid, and the effects of multi-field coupling, a coupled thermo–hydro–mechanical (THM) model of CO2 injection and extraction heat transfer was established. A numerical simulation study was carried out to investigate the evolution of injection and extraction temperature and heat extraction performance under the influence of different factors in the randomly distributed fracture network of the reservoir rock, which has a horizontal slit and a high-angle slit, with CO2 as the heat transfer fluid. The results show that the heat exchange efficiency of reservoir fracture is higher than that of rock matrix; compared with water, the CO2 heat extraction rate is low, and the temperature drop in production wells is small, which is favorable to the long-term exploitation of geothermal reservoirs. if the horizontal distance between the production wells and the injection wells is far and the fracture connectivity is good, the heat exchange is strong and the heat extraction rate is higher; increasing the CO2 injection rate will increase the range of the low-temperature area, reduce the temperature of the production wells, and increase the heat extraction rate in a short period of time; and the heat extraction rate will increase in the later stages. The increase in CO2 injection rate will rapidly increase the range of the low-temperature area in a short time, decrease the temperature of the production well and increase the heat extraction rate, and then the growth of the heat extraction rate tends to stabilize in the later stages; the width ratio of horizontal fracture and high-angle fracture affects the direction of heat exchange, the temperature of production well and the heat extraction rate, and the influence is more significant when the width ratio is greater than 1; the temperature of the production well decreases fastest, the increase in the heat extraction rate is largest, and the effects on the temperature of the production well and the heat extraction rate are insignificant when it is close to the production well. The increase in the heat extraction rate is slower when close to the injection well. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy)
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14 pages, 3103 KiB  
Article
Air-Lifting Reverse-Circulation Drilling in Deep Geothermal Wells and the Effect of Dual-Wall Drill Pipe Depth Down the Hole
by Hongyu Ye, Ziwei Lai, Longjun Tian, Renjie Zhang, Bin Liu and Xiuhua Zheng
Energies 2025, 18(5), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18051224 - 2 Mar 2025
Viewed by 784
Abstract
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that is rich in reserves, widely distributed, stable and reliable. The development of geothermal energy needs to be carried out by drilling wells to exploit the underground thermal fluid, and air-lift reverse circulation drilling technology has [...] Read more.
Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that is rich in reserves, widely distributed, stable and reliable. The development of geothermal energy needs to be carried out by drilling wells to exploit the underground thermal fluid, and air-lift reverse circulation drilling technology has the advantages of protecting the thermal reserves and reducing costs in the development of geothermal energy. In this paper, based on the working principle of air-lift reverse circulation drilling, combined with the single-phase liquid, liquid–solid, gas–liquid–solid three-phase fluid mechanics theory, the pressure model of air-lift reverse circulation in geothermal deep wells is established. The influence of the depth of dual-wall drilling rods on the lifting force and total friction loss pressure of air-lifting reverse circulation is analyzed, and it is proved that there is an optimal value of the depth of dual-wall drilling rods, which provides a theoretical basis for selecting a suitable depth of dual-wall drilling rods in the construction of air-lifting reverse circulation in geothermal deep wells. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy)
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19 pages, 10845 KiB  
Article
Numerical Simulation of the Transport and Sealing Law of Temporary Plugging Particles in Complex Fractures of Carbonate-Type Thermal Storage
by Anle Tian, Guoqiang Fu, Jinyu Tang and Dezhao Wang
Energies 2024, 17(13), 3283; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17133283 - 4 Jul 2024
Viewed by 1017
Abstract
Geothermal energy plays a crucial role in the large-scale deep decarbonisation process and the transition of energy structure in our country. Due to the complex reservoir environment of geothermal energy, characterised by low porosity and permeability, conventional fracturing methods struggle to create a [...] Read more.
Geothermal energy plays a crucial role in the large-scale deep decarbonisation process and the transition of energy structure in our country. Due to the complex reservoir environment of geothermal energy, characterised by low porosity and permeability, conventional fracturing methods struggle to create a complex network of fractures. Temporary plugging and diverting fracturing technology (TPDF) is a key technology to improve the efficiency of geothermal reservoir extraction. However, there is still a lack of knowledge about the migration and sealing law of temporary plugging agents in complex fractures. Therefore, in this study, two multiphase flow models of temporary plugging particle transport at the fracture slit and inside the complex fracture were established by using a Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)-Discrete Element Method (DEM) algorithm. The influence of fracturing fluid concentration, temperature, the concentration of temporary plugging particles, and particle size combinations on migration blocking in fractures was investigated. The simulation results indicate the following: High-viscosity fracturing fluid may cause plugging particles to adhere to each other to form clusters of plugging particles, reducing dispersion during transport and slowing down the velocity of the plugging particles. A particle concentration that is too high does not have a better temporary plugging effect. The use of different combinations of particle sizes is significantly better than using a single particle size, which is a key factor for the success of fracture plugging. The research findings are of great theoretical and practical significance for scaled-up, vibration-controlled fracturing technology in geothermal reservoirs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy)
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23 pages, 6741 KiB  
Article
Thermodynamic Analysis of an Increasing-Pressure Endothermic Power Cycle Integrated with Closed-Loop Geothermal Energy Extraction
by Hao Yu, Xinli Lu, Wei Zhang and Jiali Liu
Energies 2024, 17(7), 1756; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17071756 - 6 Apr 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1615
Abstract
The thermodynamic analysis of an increasing-pressure endothermic power cycle (IPEPC) integrated with closed-loop geothermal energy extraction (CLGEE) in a geothermal well at a depth from 2 km to 5 km has been carried out in this study. Using CLGEE can avoid some typical [...] Read more.
The thermodynamic analysis of an increasing-pressure endothermic power cycle (IPEPC) integrated with closed-loop geothermal energy extraction (CLGEE) in a geothermal well at a depth from 2 km to 5 km has been carried out in this study. Using CLGEE can avoid some typical problems associated with traditional EGS technology, such as water contamination and seismic-induced risk. Simultaneous optimization has been conducted for the structural parameters of the downhole heat exchanger (DHE), the CO2 mixture working fluid type, and the IPEPC operating parameters. The CO2-R32 mixture has been selected as the optimal working fluid for the IPEPC based on the highest net power output obtained. It has been found that, when the DHE length is 4 km, the thermosiphon effect is capable of compensating for 53.8% of the pump power consumption. As long as the DHE inlet pressure is higher than the critical pressure, a lower DHE inlet pressure results in more power production. The power generation performance of the IPEPC has been compared with that of the organic Rankine cycle (ORC), trans-critical carbon dioxide cycle (t-CO2), and single-flash (SF) systems. The comparison shows that the IPEPC has more net power output than other systems in the case that the DHE length is less than 3 km, along with a DHE outer diameter of 0.155 m. When the DHE outer diameter is increased to 0.22 m, the IPEPC has the highest net power output for the DHE length ranging from 2 km to 5 km. The application scopes obtained in this study for different power generation systems are of engineering-guiding significance for geothermal industries. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy)
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24 pages, 22163 KiB  
Article
A Theoretical Study on the Thermal Performance of an Increasing Pressure Endothermic Cycle for Geothermal Power Generation
by Hao Yu, Xinli Lu, Wei Zhang and Jiali Liu
Energies 2024, 17(5), 1031; https://doi.org/10.3390/en17051031 - 22 Feb 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1200
Abstract
In this study, a power cycle (IPEC), with an increasing pressure endothermic process in a downhole heat exchanger (DHE) and a CO2-based working fluid mixture, was developed for geothermal power generation. The increasing pressure endothermic process, which cannot be achieved in [...] Read more.
In this study, a power cycle (IPEC), with an increasing pressure endothermic process in a downhole heat exchanger (DHE) and a CO2-based working fluid mixture, was developed for geothermal power generation. The increasing pressure endothermic process, which cannot be achieved in a conventional evaporator on the ground, was realized using the gravitational potential energy in the DHE. The parameters of the power cycle and the structural size of the DHE were optimized simultaneously. Using CO2-R32 as the working fluid of the IPEC provides the highest net power output. The net power generated with the IPEC was compared with a single-flash (SF) system, a trans-critical CO2 (t-CO2) system, and an organic Rankine cycle (ORC) under the same heat source and sink conditions. Six selection maps were generated for choosing the optimum power cycle for electricity production, in which four power generation systems (ORC, t-CO2, IPEC, and SF) were included, and two DHE diameters (0.155 m and 0.22 m) were investigated. It was found that the IPEC system had more net power output than the other three systems (ORC, t-CO2, and SF) under the conditions that the geofluid’s mass flow rate was less than 10 kg/s and its temperature was lower than 180 °C. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy)
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27 pages, 7916 KiB  
Article
Revitalization Modelling of a Mature Oil Field with Bottom-Type Aquifer into Geothermal Resource—Reservoir Engineering and Techno-Economic Challenges
by Martina Tuschl and Tomislav Kurevija
Energies 2023, 16(18), 6599; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16186599 - 13 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1506
Abstract
The possibilities of using geothermal energy are slowly expanding to all areas of energy consumption, so the assessment of geothermal potential has become the backbone of energy policies in countries that have the potential. Countries and companies that have experience in the oil [...] Read more.
The possibilities of using geothermal energy are slowly expanding to all areas of energy consumption, so the assessment of geothermal potential has become the backbone of energy policies in countries that have the potential. Countries and companies that have experience in the oil and gas industry are increasingly exploring the possibilities of first using the acquired knowledge, and then using the existing oil and gas infrastructure for the use of geothermal energy. For this reason, it is necessary to analyse the possibilities of using the existing infrastructure with all its limitations to maximise the energy potential of geothermal energy. The existing oil infrastructure, especially the wells, is in many cases not suitable for the production of brine and it is necessary to analyse the maximum impact of each well for the production of geothermal energy, with particular attention to the equipment installed in the well and the thickness of the geothermal reservoir in the oil and gas fields that would be suitable for the production of brine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy)
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Review

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25 pages, 3614 KiB  
Review
Challenges and Opportunities for Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) in EU Energy Transition Efforts—An Overview
by Katarina Marojević, Tomislav Kurevija and Marija Macenić
Energies 2025, 18(4), 1001; https://doi.org/10.3390/en18041001 - 19 Feb 2025
Viewed by 1031
Abstract
Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) systems are a promising solution for sustainable energy storage, leveraging underground aquifers to store and retrieve thermal energy for heating and cooling. As the global energy sector faces rising energy demands, climate change, and the depletion of fossil [...] Read more.
Aquifer Thermal Energy Storage (ATES) systems are a promising solution for sustainable energy storage, leveraging underground aquifers to store and retrieve thermal energy for heating and cooling. As the global energy sector faces rising energy demands, climate change, and the depletion of fossil fuels, transitioning to renewable energy sources is imperative. ATES systems contribute to these efforts by reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving energy efficiency. This review uses the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) methodology as a systematic approach to collect and analyze relevant literature. It highlights trends, gaps, and advancements in ATES systems, focusing on simulation methods, environmental impacts, and economic feasibility. Tools like MODFLOW, FEFLOW, and COMSOL Multiphysics are emphasized for optimizing design and system performance. Europe is identified as a continent with the most favorable predispositions for ATES implementation due to its diverse and abundant aquifer systems, strong policy frameworks supporting renewable energy, and advancements in subsurface energy technologies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Development and Utilization in Geothermal Energy)
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