Geothermal wells are a type of energy source commonly referred to as a “green energy” source. Geothermal energy is derived from the natural thermal energy created in the Earth, which is contained both on the surface and deep within the planet. The potential of this power source has been recognized since the early 20th century and its usage is steadily increasing the present day.
Geothermal wells are essentially deep holes drilled into the Earth in order to access the underlying natural heat and pressure contained within the planet. This energy is contained in underground reservoirs of hot water, steam, and hot rocks. To access to this energy, geothermal wells are drilled over three to five kilometers in both vertical and horizontal directions. These wells draw water from the subsurface with high-energy production rates and low environmental impacts.
The most common type of geothermal wells are referred to as Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) wells, which use advanced technology to create new energy resources by utilizing existing geothermal resources. This type of technology injects water and steam at high pressure into pre-existing wells to increase the flow of heat and pressure, which can then be harnessed for energy purposes. EGS technology has been success in creating new energy resources in several countries, including the United States, where it is estimated that EGS has the potential to add up to one thousand megawatts of energy.
Geothermal wells offer several advantages over other energy sources. They are renewable, meaning that they are easily replenished and never run out entirely. They also have relatively low-level emissions compared with other sources, such as fossil fuels. Furthermore, since the temperatures of the hot water within the wells is generally higher than the surface temperature, it produces less noise pollution than other sources. Finally, geothermal wells can be used for heating, cooling and electricity generation.
Geothermal wells also have some drawbacks. They require significant capital investment in order to establish, and are not as efficient as some other energy sources. Furthermore, there are limited locations which possess sufficient geothermal energy resources in order to create energy production. Finally, the risk of seismic activity increasing due to drilling is a concern which has yet to fully be addressed.
Despite these drawbacks, geothermal wells remain an intriguing source of energy and are steadily gaining traction in various countries. It is predicted that in the near future, geothermal wells will play an increasingly important role in the meeting of global energy needs.
