SPE Live Podcast: Geothermal Meets Fracturing: Convergence of Hydraulic Fracturing, Subsurface Engineering, and Geothermal Energy

Hydraulic fracturing revolutionized unconventional oil and gas — and the same stimulation science is now being adapted to unlock next-generation geothermal energy. Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) and Superhot Rock (SHR) concepts borrow heavily from decades of shale completions know-how, but operating at temperatures exceeding 300°C, in crystalline basement rock, introduces entirely new engineering challenges: engineering a reservoir volume, proppant and fluid stability, wellbore integrity, reservoir management under extreme thermal and mechanical stress and more that we will find out through time. In this SPE Live, we will dive into the synergistic approach of subsurface engineering and hydraulic fracturing from the oil and gas world into the geothermal realm. The conversation will explore where oilfield technology has direct transfer capabilities, where it must be reinvented, and what this convergence really means for the future of dispatchable geothermal power. Moderated by: Steve Schubarth, Chair SPE’s Hydraulic Fracturing Technical Section Speaker: Gabrijel Grubac, Principal Completions Engineer at Mazama Energy