January 15, 2025
While enjoying the first days of 2025, we’ve taken a moment to reflect on everything that Utah FORGE accomplished during the past year. There’s a lot to be proud of!
First and foremost, on October 1st, an agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy went into effect to continue the project through 2028, with an additional $80 million in funding over the next four years. The extension will allow Utah FORGE to build on the significant breakthroughs that have been realized since the program started.
In August we “fine-tuned” the injection and productions wells with subsequent stimulations, and conducted a very successful extended circulation test as commercial-scale levels.
Among the most important breakthroughs of 2024 were stimulations and two circulation tests. Our initial stimulation and circulation tests in April proved that a reservoir can be created through hydraulic fracturing. In August we “fine-tuned” the injection and productions wells with subsequent stimulations, and conducted a very successful extended circulation test at commercial-scale levels. In fact, approximately 90% of the produced fluid was recovered at consistent temperatures favorable for electricity generation. You can read more about the April tests or the August experiments on our website.
Of course, none of this would be possible without the state-of-the-art seismic monitoring system. Utah FORGE continues to innovate new methodologies and strategies for enhanced monitoring of induced seismicity. The project uses fiber optic cables to track the fractures in the rock, (pressure, microseismicity, and temperature), and geophones to detect seismicity. During last year’s tests, we collaborated with Geo-Energie Suisse to combine data from fiber optic cables and seismic instruments located in deep boreholes. Additionally, data from our local network (monitored by the University of Utah Seismograph Stations) was integrated with sophisticated data processing algorithms, including machine learning models, to enhance monitoring within the geothermal reservoir. Finally, using a temporary array of geophones combined with the local network, we are able to describe the physics of the induced events.
Utah FORGE has always been incredibly fortunate to benefit from the local community’s deep support.
Utah FORGE has always been incredibly fortunate to benefit from the local community’s deep support as can be seen in this video. In October, the team held a Town Hall in Milford, UT, during which Dr. Joseph Moore provided an overview of the project through Phase 3, outlined some of the planned activities for Phase 4, and answered questions from community members. You find the team’s presentation here.
We were honored to have had some very distinguished visitors from the Department of Energy at the site. During the spring stimulation, Undersecretary David Turk, joined by several representatives from the oil and gas industry, had an opportunity to tour the site. Later in the year, Undersecretary David Crane, Deputy Undersecretary Leslie Biddle, and Deputy Assistant Secretary Jeff Marootian also visited. Additionally, we welcomed representatives of the Bureau of Indian Affairs and members of the Kanosh Band of the Paiute Nation.
For those unable to visit the site, or wanting to see more, we released the highly anticipated Virtual Visitor Center, which allows users to explore the site and the surrounding area. Virtual visitors can take an aerial flyover or a 360-degree ground tour and even “walk” on a rig! Experience the virtual tour here. The tour is also available in VR on iOS and Android.
In addition to the Virtual Visitor Center, we have published a variety of videos on our YouTube channel. Our latest educational webinars focused on hot springs (advanced) and surface features (K-12). To see more of our published content, a categorized list can be found in our “Playlists” tab. Look for new content in 2025: more webinars, overviews, and short videos. And follow us on social media including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, and our newest platforms: Threads and BlueSky.
We are looking forward to 2025 and excited about all the plans we are currently working on and how they will continue to advance geothermal energy. To stay up-to-date on Utah FORGE’s activities, please visit our website at https://utahforge.com
