Session 7. Oral Presentation for: Required steps to develop an enhanced geothermal system – an Australian Basin example
Raymond JohnsonA
B
Prof Raymond Johnson Jr is currently General Manager of Technical Services at Novus Fuels and Professor of Well Engineering and Production Technology in the University of Queensland, Centre for Gas and Energy Transformation. He has 43 years of experience, a PhD in Mining Engineering, an MSc in Petroleum Engineering, a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology, and a BA in Chemistry. Prof Johnson is a Life Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), past Queensland SPE Section Chair, twice Co-Chair of the SPE Unconventional Reservoir Conference Asia Pacific, 2019 Co-Chair and 2021 Advisor of the URTeC Asia Pacific Conference, three-time SPE Regional Technical Award Recipient (Production Operations, Management and Information and Completion Optimisation) and 2023 SPE Regional Service Award Recipient. Ray has served in several Technical and Management positions in service, operating and consulting companies in the United States and Australia. |
Abstract
Presented on 27 May 2025: Session 7
Enhanced geothermal system (EGS) research focusses on reservoirs not generally considered for geothermal systems, and a key site for their advancement is the US Department of Energy (DOE) Utah Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE) site at Milford, Utah. The project’s roadmap is focussed on a 5-year timeline of technology applications appropriate for the geology of the FORGE test site and to develop the knowledge and understanding of how to build future large-scale, economically sustainable EGS systems (i.e. horizontal wells, hydraulic fracturing, etc.). EGS opportunities exist in several Australian Basins, and this paper will explore one potential application to illustrate how the technologies can be applied in an Australian setting. For example, we have identified a potential EGS play in the carbonates of the Middle Cambrian, Lower Kalladeina Formation of the Warburton Basin around the Gidgealpa-Merrimelia-Innamincka Ridge. Karstified dolomites with vuggy fracture porosity have been drilled in the 2500–3000 m depth range and were drill stem tested (DST) in the 1990s. Gidgealpa 5 produced 5200 barrels of water/day on DST testing. The bottom hole temperature (BHT) is estimated to range between 120 and 170°C at the depth intervals. Fracture orientations are published for these strata in multiple wells, and stress conditions are estimated from historical data. They can be used to plan the optimal orientation of horizontal well paths to connect as many of these conductive structures as possible and, like FORGE, create ESG pathways using multi-stage hydraulic fracturing between injector and producing wells.
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Keywords: Cooper Basin, EGS, enhanced geothermal system, geothermal, horizontal well, hydraulic fracturing, Kalladeina Formation, Warburton Basin.
Prof Raymond Johnson Jr is currently General Manager of Technical Services at Novus Fuels and Professor of Well Engineering and Production Technology in the University of Queensland, Centre for Gas and Energy Transformation. He has 43 years of experience, a PhD in Mining Engineering, an MSc in Petroleum Engineering, a Graduate Diploma in Information Technology, and a BA in Chemistry. Prof Johnson is a Life Member of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE), past Queensland SPE Section Chair, twice Co-Chair of the SPE Unconventional Reservoir Conference Asia Pacific, 2019 Co-Chair and 2021 Advisor of the URTeC Asia Pacific Conference, three-time SPE Regional Technical Award Recipient (Production Operations, Management and Information and Completion Optimisation) and 2023 SPE Regional Service Award Recipient. Ray has served in several Technical and Management positions in service, operating and consulting companies in the United States and Australia. |
