IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i18p8053-d1478425.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Optimizing Deep Geothermal Drilling for Energy Sustainability in the Appalachian Basin

Author

Listed:
  • Ebrahim Fathi

    (Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Georges Brown Liwuitekong Dongho

    (Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Babak Heidari

    (Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Timothy R. Carr

    (Department of Geology and Geography, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

  • Fatemeh Belyadi

    (Obsertelligence, LLC, Aubrey, TX 76227, USA)

  • Ilkin Bilgesu

    (Department of Petroleum and Natural Gas Engineering, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506, USA)

Abstract

This study investigates the geological and geomechanical characteristics of the MIP 1S geothermal well in the Appalachian Basin to optimize drilling and address the wellbore stability issues encountered. Data from well logs, sidewall core analysis, and injection tests were used to derive elastic and rock strength properties, as well as stress and pore pressure profiles. A robust 1D-geomechanical model was developed and validated, correlating strongly with wellbore instability observations. This revealed significant wellbore breakout, widening the diameter from 12 ¼ inches to over 16 inches. Advanced technologies like Cerebro Force™ In-Bit Sensing were used to monitor drilling performance with high accuracy. This technology tracks critical metrics such as bit acceleration, vibration in the x, y, and z directions, Gyro RPM, stick-slip indicators, and bending on the bit. Cerebro Force™ readings identified hole drag caused by poor hole conditions, including friction between the drill string and wellbore walls and the presence of cuttings or debris. This led to higher torque and weight on bit (WOB) readings at the surface compared to downhole measurements, affecting drilling efficiency and wellbore stability. Optimal drilling parameters for future deep geothermal wells were determined based on these findings.

Suggested Citation

  • Ebrahim Fathi & Georges Brown Liwuitekong Dongho & Babak Heidari & Timothy R. Carr & Fatemeh Belyadi & Ilkin Bilgesu, 2024. "Optimizing Deep Geothermal Drilling for Energy Sustainability in the Appalachian Basin," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(18), pages 1-16, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:18:p:8053-:d:1478425
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/18/8053/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/18/8053/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Tawfik Elshehabi & Mohammad Alfehaid, 2025. "Sustainable Geothermal Energy: A Review of Challenges and Opportunities in Deep Wells and Shallow Heat Pumps for Transitioning Professionals," Energies, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-29, February.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:18:p:8053-:d:1478425. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.