September 9, 2024
In April 2024, the production and injection wells were successfully stimulated by perforating the steel casing in the wells and pumping water into them under pressure. This process created the fracture network that forms the reservoir. The stimulation was followed in August 2024 by a successful commercial scale circulation test. During the nearly month-long test, a consistent rate of 420 gallons of water per minute was injected. More than 90% of the produced fluid was recovered and the temperature remained at approximately 370°F.
The results provide positive indications of the long-term behavior of the reservoir and the amount of heat that can be extracted.
Several methods were implemented to delineate reservoir performance in addition to monitoring flow rates and temperatures. Tracers were injected to track fluid flow, geophones located in other wells were continuously monitored for microseismicity related to fracture formation, and fiber optic cables were monitored for microseismicity, temperature, strain, and pressure. Downhole surveys were also conducted in the wells to determine their condition.
Analysis of the data collected during the circulation test is currently underway. The results will be made available on the Geothermal Data Repository, that may also be found on the Data Dashboard. Longer-term tests planned for the next phase of the project will allow for further evaluation of the reservoir’s performance and sustainability.
The heat beneath our feet flows through the earth in a complex pattern. Utah FORGE is situated in a heat reservoir that has been studied since the 1970s. In this webinar, Dr. Stuart Simmons delves into the unique geologic and geothermal resources found at Utah FORGE and the surrounding area.
What exactly are the rock types that make up the underground laboratory of Utah FORGE? In this webinar, Dr. Clay Jones describes the geology of the site and surrounding area and the findings from core and cutting analyses of deep wells!
Dr. Kristine Pankow of the University of Utah has been named the Geological Society of America’s 2025–2026 Distinguished Lecturer. Her lecture, “Utah FORGE: A Field-Scale Geothermal Laboratory,” will spotlight groundbreaking research at the world’s only dedicated site for advancing Enhanced Geothermal Systems.
