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Vulcan Energie Ressourcen GmbH (Vulcan Energy) has recently made two announcements on their geothermal lithium operations in Germany – the first extraction of lithium chloride from the company’s Landau facility, and the topping-out ceremony of their facility in Frankfurt-Höchst. The Lithium Extraction Optimization Plant (LEOP) in Landau has officially entered the production phase, having produce Lithium Chloride (LiCl) for the first time. Early results using the Adsorption-type Direct Lithium Extraction (A-DLE) unit indicates lithium extraction efficiency that is consistently over 90%, in line with commercial plant expectations and Vulcan’s financing model. The LEOP was officially opened in 2023, and was recognized recently by the European Geothermal Energy Council (EGEC) as the recipient of the 2024 Ruggero Bertani European Geothermal Innovation Award.

Ralf Oppermann of Optimal Resource Solutions presented this discussion on fault extraction from seismic data on 18 April as a part of the AGA webinar series. Members can access a copy of the presentation via the link below. Geothermal energy has the potential to play a very important role in the sustainable global energy mix. There are, however, several technical and economic challenges that need to be overcome to de-risk geothermal development and production and to help accelerate commercial uptake (Drumm et al. 2021). Two of the key technical challenges for most types of deeper geothermal development are ensuring that sufficient and continuous flow of fluid is encountered (flow assurance) and that geothermal operations don’t trigger earthquakes (induced seismicity risk mitigation). Both of these key challenges can actually be addressed with the latest game-changing advancements in the reliable recognition of smaller-scale fault networks in seismic data, which will be presented in this talk. Hi-Res Automated Fault Extraction (HR-AFE) allows to very reliably visualize fault networks in 2D or 3D seismic data and directly relate these to drilling and production issues, allowing to create opportunities to significantly reduce drilling and stimulation/fracking costs and also increase production from subsurface assets (oil & gas, minerals, water, heat; Oppermann 2012a+b). Fluid flow rates and reservoir temperatures determine the power output of a geothermal resource. Understanding the matrix and/or fracture permeability is key to modelling the reservoir response and production sustainability (Drumm et al. 2021). In both Hot Dry Rock (HDR) and Engineered Geothermal Systems (EGS), where fluids are circulated through a stimulated fracture system, knowledge about pre-existing fault and fracture networks is key for the full understanding and meaningful modelling of flow and it is also key for project planning and placement/targeting of injector and producer wells. High-res Fault Extraction should be the standard addition to HDR and EGS workflows as it very reliably delineates interconnected fault networks in the subsurface and allows to target these for flow assurance (injector-producer pathways). It also allows to avoid faults if they could cause drilling problems or earthquakes (induced seismicity risk mitigation). Induced seismicity has been a key risk that has been established following earthquake links to previous geothermal developments. A magnitude 3.4 earthquake in Switzerland in 2006 damaged buildings and led to the geothermal plant’s closure, and a magnitude 5.5 earthquake in South Korea in 2017 injured 90 people and caused $52 million in damages. The Talk will show examples of the successful application of HR-AFE to Oil & Gas, Mining and Geothermal assets around the globe. Case Studies will include conventional & unconventional Oil & Gas reservoirs, a Geothermal project in Western Australia (Ballesteros et al. 2012), and Basement/hard rock studies where faults were delineated at high resolution in e.g. Granites (Yemen) and magmatic and metamorphic rocks (Vietnam, Finland). High-resolution fault visualization and evaluation can reduce the uncertainty in the success of Geothermal projects as it is instrumental in addressing the typical challenges for deep geothermal developments. It is proposed as a best-practise technique for Geothermal Companies to implement as it delivers -        reduced drilling & stimulation/fracking risks and costs -        increased reservoir performance/flow -        reduced induced seismicity risks References Ballesteros, M., Oppermann, R., Meyer, G., McDairimid, J. & Larking, A., 2012.  Targeting fracture permeability for geothermal developments in the North Perth Basin. Proceedings of the 2012 Australian Geothermal Energy Conference, 14-16 November 2012, Sydney/Australia. Drumm, E., Bolton, R., Hardman, J. & MacInnes, E., 2021. Technical challenges in geothermal development and production. 2nd Geoscience and Engineering in Energy Transition Conference, GET 2021. EAGE. Oppermann, R., 2012a. Finding sweet spots through Seismic Fracture Extraction – Unconventional Case Studies from around the world. Asia Pacific Oil & Gas Conference & Exhibition (APOGCE), 22-24 October 2012, SPE 158786. Oppermann, R., 2012b.  New method for seismic identification of fluid conduits or barriers challenges several industry paradigms.  AAPG/SPE/SEG Hedberg Research Conference, Fundamental Controls on Flow in Carbonates, 8-13 July 2012, France. Biography Ralf Oppermann is a Geoscientist and Technical Advisor with 34 years of experience, obtained working for Shell and Chevron and multiple other Oil & Gas, Mining and Geothermal companies. In 2008, Ralf founded OPPtimal Resource Solutions (‘OPPtimal’) as a technology service company, to provide new and leading-edge resource characterization solutions to companies active in Oil & Gas, Shale Gas, Coal Seam Gas, Mining, Geothermal, Groundwater, CO2 Sequestration and Underground Storage. OPPtimal has developed a Game-Changing and AAPG-awarded technology method to very reliably identify smaller-scale faults from 2D or 3D seismic data and directly relate these to drilling and production issues. The method not only allows to identify and address drilling and flow issues in existing wells but also allows to plan future wells to directly target (or avoid) flow-enhancing fault zones/sweet spots and realise significant drilling and completion/fracking cost reductions and increased production from subsurface assets (oil & gas, minerals, water, heat).  For this work, Ralf received the "Innovator in Geosciences Technology" Award from the Innovation and Emerging Science/Technology Group of AAPG. In 2015, Ralf co-founded the Resource Technology Network (RTN), a unique, independent and global Consulting Network providing technical, commercial and strategic Advice, performing Projects and delivering Training and innovative Technology Services as well as Manpower Services to Upstream and Midstream Clients worldwide. RTN’s currently over 275 highly-skilled and highly-experienced Specialists and Subject Matter Experts possess a diverse cumulative experience of over 7,750 years, having worked on over 5,000 projects worldwide. Ralf holds an MSc in Geology/Palaeontology and BSc in Business & Economics from the University of Göttingen in Germany. He has authored several papers and has given numerous presentations at various conferences. Ralf is a member of several professional associations, including AAPG, AGA, EAGE, FESAus, PESA and SPE.

Earths Energy and Baker Hughes have entered a strategic partnership to evaluate the deployment of closed-loop geothermal technologies in Australia.

Dr, John Bishop presented an update on the Lemont GeoLithium project - a dual-stream opportunity in Tasmania, working to develop a geothermal power plant with extraction of lithium (and potentially other metals) from the brine prior to its reinjection.

Martin Pujol of JRG Energy and colleagues presented case studies examining geothermal exploration methods and well testing procedures from various JRG projects around the world. The presentation will highlight exploration methods for blind and low temperature geothermal systems that are relevant to the Australian market.

Dr. Trey Meckel presented this webinar that was sponsored jointly by the AGA and PESA. Trey discussed the fast-changing world, resources and the energy transition with a focus on how skills developed in the petroleum industry can be applied to geothermal exploration and other decarbonisation pursuits.

Earths Energy has completed a $6mm capital raise to support geothermal in Australia and is now trading on the ASX as EE1.

Hunter Valley Geothermal Energy is a wholly owned subsidiary of Spa*ark Energy Pty Ltd, a private Australian company incorporated to explore for, and develop, geothermal resources. The company was recently awarded EL9591 in New South Wales. Dr John Bishop, the Executive Chairman, is a geophysicist with over 40 years of experience including nearly two decades in geothermal energy. John has founded or co-founded several resource and energy companies including EQ Resources (ASX: EQR) and geothermal explorer KUTh Energy (ASX: KEN) in 2007.

Hunter Valley Geothermal Energy’s (HVGE) recently granted geothermal exploration licence EL9591, covers the Hunter Geothermal Anomaly (HGA), which HVGE Executive Chair John Bishop describes as “possibly the best site in Australia for a geothermal power plant, with some of Australia’s highest temperature gradients, up to 70degC/km (more than twice global average); yet it remains largely unexplored.” Importantly, the licence area also includes the Bayswater and (decommissioned) Liddell coal-fired power plants with their associated network of high voltage lines providing easy access to the grid with minimal additional construction required. In addition, the licence is situated within the Hunter-Central Coast Renewable Energy Zone, which means the project will be given priority for rapid completion. For more information, click on the link below. !

Steam Resources MD Josh Puckridge spoke to the Australian Business Review about the potential of geothermal energy to contribute to the energy transition and how Steam Resources plans to be a part of it.

ThinkGeoEnergy reports that global geothermal power generation capacity stood at 16,355 MW at the year-end 2023. Growth is picking up with further growth expected for 2024. This represents an increase of 208 MW from 2022. For our latest numbers, we though updated and corrected our reported numbers for Japan and Italy. Without those corrections the increase would be 281 MW and with that very close to the increase of last year. Here are the Top 10 geothermal countries as of year-end 2023: United States* – 3,900 MW (updated our numbers as per the notes below) Indonesia – 2,418 MW – with a last minute addition for 2023 at Sorik Marapi Philippines – 1,952 MW – updated numbers by DOE Turkiye – 1,691 MW – corrected numbers based on official license numbers by the Turkish authorities New Zealand – 1,042 MW – based on official numbers by the national regulator Kenya – 985 MW – addition of the first 35 MW of three plants at Menegai coming online in 2023 and some updates by numbers reported by KenGen (the country is inching closer to joining the Geothermal GW Country Club) Mexico – 976 MW – no change, yet updated numbers from the Ministry of Energy Italy – 916 MW – correction of our reporting of early 2023. Iceland – 754 MW Japan – 576 MW – corrections of plants and number based on official government numbers.

Direct Lithium Pty Ltd is developing a power plus Direct Lithium Extraction (DLE) project from geothermal brine within permeable fractures in lithium-bearing, heat-producing granites in eastern Tasmania. The Lemont GeoLithium Project will be powered by its own geothermal electricity with excess power sold to the National Electricity Market. The granted geothermal energy plus metals licence includes the large Lemont inferred geothermal resource, and the project is expected to meet the three requirements for a successful geothermal DLE operation, namely: 1) high temperatures, 2) high lithium content, and 3) high flow rates. The project is at an early stage, with the next step a deep (~3km) drillhole to confirm the concept and provide parameters for a feasibility study, with the potential for a Tier-1 lithium resource.