With the continuous growth of global energy demand, people pay more and more attention to the research and development of new energy. Geothermal energy, as a renewable, clean and stable form of energy, has gradually become one of the hot spots of attention. Oil and gas exploration is one of the earliest forms of energy that people began to exploit and utilize,and there seems to be not much connection between the two. But in fact, there are inextricable connections between geothermal energy and oil and gas exploration.
First, let’s take a look at the similarities between geothermal energy and oil and gas exploration. They are both internal energy sources of the earth, derived from deep thermonuclear reactions. Geothermal energy refers to the energy form in which the heat stored in the earth’s crust can be used and converted into electrical energy or thermal energy. Oil and gas exploration is to obtain fossil fuels such as oil and natural gas contained in sedimentary basins through exploration and exploitation. Although the two are different in form, they come from the energy inside the earth, and both need to be effectively utilized scientifically and technologically.
Secondly, there is also mutual influence between geothermal energy and oil and gas exploration. In the process of geothermal resource development, it is often necessary to detect the specific conditions of underground geothermal reservoirs by means such as drilling. These detection methods and technologies have been continuously developed from the process of oil and gas exploration. For example, seismic exploration, electromagnetic exploration, gravity exploration and other technologies are classic methods in the field of oil and gas exploration, and now these methods are also widely used in geothermal energy exploration and development.
In addition, under some specific geological structures, geothermal energy and oil and gas resources may also exist at the same time. For example, the Harina thermal field in Utah, USA, has considerable geothermal resources and is also an important oil and gas production area. In this case, the practice and technology of geothermal energy and oil and gas exploration intersect, and can learn from each other, and consider the synergistic use and comprehensive benefits of the two in exploration and development.
However,there are also some differences and challenges between geothermal energy and oil and gas exploration.
On the one hand, the exploration and development of geothermal energy have more stringent and precise requirements on geological conditions, and it is necessary to find and determine high-temperature and high-pressure underground reservoirs within a certain range. This is different from the location and scale of reservoirs determined in oil and gas exploration.
On the other hand,the development of geothermal energy depends on geological morphology and structure, and it is difficult to popularize and develop on a large scale. Oil and gas exploration can achieve cost reduction and scale expansion through reasonable early investment and technology application.
In summary,there is a close connection and interaction between geothermal energy and oil and gas exploration. Although the two are different in form,they both originate from the thermonuclear energy inside the earth,and they will learn from and benefit from each other in the process of exploration and development. In an era when new energy forms have received widespread attention, geothermal energy and oil and gas exploration will continue to exert their huge potential and role in different fields.
