CeraPhiWell™ – Turning oil and gas liabilities into geothermal assets

Industry context

A significant portion, approximately 40%, of the UK’s energy consumption is attributed to heating and hot water, contributing to nearly a third of the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions. ​

Deep geothermal energy in the UK faces substantial geological, investment and technical challenges, some of which are less well-known or understood compared to other renewable energy sources like wind and solar. Research suggests that deep geothermal could provide 91 million gigawatt hours of heat and 2,280 megawatts of electrical capacity to the UK. If fully realised this could sustain and the UK’s heat demand for around 100 years and fulfil 9% of England’s electricity demand.

Project overview

A heat transfer fluid, often a mixture of water and antifreeze, is circulated through the loops of a heat exchanger. As the fluid flows through the loops, it absorbs heat from the surrounding rock or soil. ​
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The heated fluid is then pumped to the surface where it can be used as a direct heat source or utilised to generate power for residential and commercial applications.

This 9-month project in partnership with Third Energy demonstrated CeraPhi Energy’s patented closed-loop downhole heat exchanger system in a non-producing onshore hydrocarbon well in the UK.

The patented technological solution uses traditional oil and gas well construction techniques and enables the recovery of commercially usable heat energy. This then transitions the depleted oil and gas assets to a true, zero-carbon baseload energy source. Further extending their economic viability and demonstrating geothermal’s place within the renewable energy mix.

The trial successfully validated the feasibility of repurposing hydrocarbon wells for geothermal applications, thereby deferring decommissioning. ​

Outcome

Estimated that 25% of existing UK hydrocarbon wells could be repurposed for geothermal power generation.​

Potential to provide 400 megawatts of renewable heat capacity from existing oil and gas wells if widely deployed. ​

Estimated that 25% of existing UK hydrocarbon wells could be repurposed for geothermal power generation.​

Potential to provide 400 megawatts of renewable heat capacity from existing oil and gas wells if widely deployed. ​