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Reservoir Stimulation Optimization with Operational Monitoring for Creation of EGS

Published by Pacific Northwest National Laboratory | Department of Energy | Metadata Last Checked: January 27, 2026 | Last Modified: 2017-05-30T18:18:25Z
EGS field projects have not sustained production at rates greater than half of what is needed for economic viability. The primary limitation that makes commercial EGS infeasible is our current inability to cost-effectively create high-permeability reservoirs from impermeable, igneous rock within the 3,000-10,000 ft depth range. Our goal is to develop a novel fracturing fluid technology that maximizes reservoir permeability while reducing stimulation cost and environmental impact. Laboratory equipment development to advance laboratory characterization/monitoring is also a priority of this project to study and optimize the physicochemical properties of these fracturing fluids in a range of reservoir conditions. Barrier G is the primarily intended GTO barrier to be addressed as well as support addressing barriers D, E and I.

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