2026 Webinar: Project Obsidian and the Path to Superhot Geothermal Power

As part of the Australian Geothermal Association's webinar series, Dr. Trenton Cladouhos from Quaise Energy discussed the work underway to access superhot geothermal in Oregon, USA - an as-yet untapped supercharged energy resource

Quaise Energy is developing Project Obsidian in Central Oregon, a superhot EGS project on the southern flank of the Newberry Volcano. To design, drill and develop a superhot EGS at the site, Quaise is drilling a deep confirmation well to determine the temperature profile at near-reservoir depth, minimum horizontal principal stress magnitude and orientation, rock type, hydrothermal alteration, deep intrusions, and presence of native permeability and geothermal fluids. Preliminary results from field exploration studies will be presented.

Presenter:

Dr. Trenton Cladouhos is the vice president of geothermal resource development of Quaise Energy. He leads the team developing and testing technologies to create the world’s first superhot rock Engineered Geothermal System ( EGS ). He also leads efforts to characterise the subsurface at sites where geothermal energy can replace fossil fuels. Trenton spent 35 years in applied geosciences, with the last 18 years in the geothermal industry. He has worked on geothermal projects worldwide, including EGS , geothermal exploration, drilling, and well field operations.

AGA Members have access to a recording of the presentation in the section below.