Utah FORGE Concludes Successful Extended Circulation Test

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.