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Collaborative, Interactive and Relevant Training for the Energy Industry
 
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COURSE INFORMATION
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Geothermal Essentials
Type:
Training Course

Length:
3 Days
CEU:
2.4
PDH:
24

Fee:
$2295 CAD

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Upcoming Sessions
There is currently no upcoming sessions available for this course. Please check back later!
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Course Description
This 3-day course will deliver a comprehensive look at geothermal energy, covering basic technical concepts through to commercial and financial considerations. Geothermal energy is defined as “earth heat” and offers a continuous, always on, source of heat and power that is renewable and potentially carbon negative. With current advances in technology, Canada has a vast, untapped, potential for geothermal heat and power.

This course will explore the potential geothermal energy in Canada:
  • Where does geothermal potential exist
  • How to find geothermal energy
  • How to extract geothermal energy
  • What it can geothermal energy be used for
  • How to develop geothermal energy commercially
  • Risks associated with geothermal development
  • Current challenges to geothermal development in Canada

Geothermal Essentials will cover all aspects of geothermal development from greenfield exploration to plant operations and financing. The course instructors include long time geothermal specialists Dick Benoit and Catherine Hickson as well as oil & gas trained Emily Smejkal who is making the transition from oil and gas to geothermal. It is planned to be an introduction to the fundamentals of geothermal energy extraction with special emphasis on sedimentary basins. The wealth of experience of Benoit and Hickson will facilitate a fast and in-depth review over the course of the workshop with enough latitude to delve more deeply into various aspects depending on the interests of the attendees. Significant back up material will be provided for those who wish to dig deeper into specific aspects of geothermal development.
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Who Should Attend
This course is intended for professionals and students who wish to learn more about geothermal energy in all its various aspects. The course will be taught at an introductory level, suitable for professionals in other disciplines who may wish to expand their basic understanding of the various aspects of geothermal energy. Significant back up material will be provided for those who wish to dig deeper into specific aspects of geothermal development.
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Course Outline arrow
1. Introduction to Geothermal
    • Geothermal Fundamentals – what are the various types of geothermal development and when are they used
    • Key Points on Why Geothermal – GHG and ESG credits and other “green” advantages
    • Geothermal Potential in Canada

    2. EGS and Closed Loop Technologies
    • Introduction to engineered/enhanced Geothermal systems
    • Closed loop geothermal

    3. Environmental and Societal Impacts of Geothermal Systems
    • Overview of environmental impacts of geothermal development 
    • Challenges and motivation of community geoexchange projects

    4. Exploration for Geothermal in a Sedimentary Basin
    • Temperature gradients
    • Rock/reservoir type
    • Interactive analytics for exploration

    5. Synergies with Existing Oil and Gas Infrastructure
    • Repurposing oil and gas wells
      • Reuse of surface facilities and infrastructure
      • Challenges and limitations
      • Liabilities
      • Environmental Concerns
    • Analytical process for evaluation and prioritizing
    • Potential

    6. Exploration for Geothermal in Other Geological Settings
    • Geophysics in exploration
      • MT
      • Gravity
      • Seismic
      • Remote Sensing
    • Volcanic systems – Mariposa, Maule Region, Chile
    • Fault hosted system – Dixie Valley, Nevada

    7. Rock Mechanics
    • Well bore management/stability
    • Drilling fluids
    • Injection perspectives
    • Pressure management
    • Characterization of the reservoir
    • Implications for reservoir sustainability

    8. Fluid Chemistry and Electrical Submersible Pumps (ESP) considerations
    • Scaling and brine resource interactions – subsurface reservoir
    • Pumping (line shaft and ESP) considerations

    9. Wells and Power plants
    • Well design; rig sizing; well heads (Compared to oil and gas)
    • Power plant design and considerations

    10. Reservoir Properties and Sustainability
    • Testing of the resource
    • Reservoir properties
    • Sustainability (recharge and injection)

    11. Well Targeting and Stimulation
    • Targeting injection
    • Stimulation of under-performing well bores – a practical approach

    12. Induced Seismicity
    • Induced seismicity
    • Injection monitoring and induced seismicity

    13. Scaling and Corrosion
    • Scaling and corrosion (surface facilities)

    14. Commercial Considerations
    • Regulations
    • Power sales
    • Thermal (direct use sales)
    • Holistic and integrated developments (Rare elements, CCUS, carbon credits ect.)
    • Carbon credits and politics

    15. UN Framework for Resource Evaluation
    • History of resource calculations
    • Geothermal resource calculations
    • Case study review - Dutch Rotliegend Play Area

    16. Hurdles and Challenges to Develop an Industry in Canada
    • What is needed for widespread adoption?
    • Storage and hybrid systems
    • Why aren’t the big players playing?
    • COP26 targets
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Instructor arrow
Dr. Catherine Hickson, P.Geo.
Dr. Catherine Hickson, P.Geo is a geologist and senior executive who has been involved in the geothermal industry for more than 40 years.  Starting as a student running temperature logs in gradient wells, she then went on to finish her PhD at UBC investigating the Wells Gray Clearwater volcanic field and its potential for geothermal energy. She then became a research scientist with the Geological Survey of Canada (GSC) and was head of its Cordilleran Office in Vancouver for seven years. While at the GSC she continued working on projects that tied together geothermal energy and volcanology.
 
In 2008 she left the GSC to join a pure play geothermal company as VP Exploration.  Since then, she has been working globally on projects in over 14 countries overseeing all facets of the industry - from green field exploration projects to reservoir modelling and injection strategies, to raising funds for development companies.

She joined Geothermal Canada (then the Canadian Geothermal Association) in 1981 and has continued to participate in the association for the past 40 years, serving several stints on the board of directors. She currently serves as its President. 

Catherine is CEO of Alberta No. 1 and Chief Geoscientist for Terrapin Geothermics, she is also President of Tuya Terra Geo Corp maintaining a global geothermal practice.
Read More about Dr. Catherine Hickson, P.Geo.