Print this page Enhanced Geothermal Systems
Steven G. Liescheidt, P.E., CCS, CCPR
Course Outline
This two hour online course discusses that experience from the conventional geothermal and petroleum industries provides a solid foundation from which to make technology improvements. In the long-term, significant reduction in drilling costs will be necessary to access deeper resources, and the cost of conversion of the energy into electricity must be reduced. These improvements will rapidly move Enhanced Geothermal Systems technology forward as an economically viable means of tapping the nation’s geothermal resources.
This course includes a multiple-choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding of course materials.
Learning
Objective
At the conclusion of this course, the student will:
- Geothermal Energy and Enhanced Geothermal Energy Concepts;
- Geothermal Resources;
- Recoverable Resources;
- Well Drilling;
- Reservoir Creation; and
- Reservoir Operation and Maintenance.
Intended Audience
This course is intended for mechanical and civil engineers.
Benefit for Attendee
Attendee of this course will better understand the geothermal system design consideration and the enhanced geothermal system designs and applications.
Course Introduction
The report used in this course briefly reviews the assumptions and conclusions of the MIT study. On the whole, those assumptions were reasonable and within the bounds of a balanced systems analysis. Conclusions about the amounts of investment needed to achieve competitiveness and produce 100,000 MWe were not supported. The report’s primary purpose is to evaluate relevant technology from today’s commercial geothermal industry and other related industries. Much of the information covered here was developed through workshops attended by experts from the geothermal industry and related industries.
Course Content
This course is primarily based on An Evaluation of Enhanced Geothermal Systems Technology, U.S. Department of Energy 2008:
Please click on the above underlined hypertext to view, download or print the document for your study. Because of the large file size, we recommend that you first save the file to your computer by right clicking the mouse and choosing "Save Target As ...", and then open the file in Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you still experience any difficulty in downloading or opening this file, you may need to close some applications or reboot your computer to free up some memory.
Course Summary
The MIT study used in this course was comprehensive, the assumptions and models were properly addressed and applied, and the study is suitable as a starting point for identification and prioritization of technology improvements required to commercialize Enhanced Geothermal Systems. While there are uncertainties in the analysis and gaps in knowledge, the study presents the present understanding of the Enhanced Geothermal Systems opportunity in a realistic manner. Enhanced Geothermal Systems can contribute substantially to meet future U.S. energy needs.
Related Links
For additional technical information related to this subject, please visit the following websites:
United States Green Building Council – www.usgbc.com
US Department of Energy – www.doe.gov
National Renewable Energy Laboratory – www.nrel.gov
Quiz
Once you finish studying the above course content, you need to take a quiz to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDH Center or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered architect and/or professional engineer/surveyor. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
