Repurposing Hydrocarbon Wells for Geothermal Use in the UK: a Preliminary Resource Assessment

One future opportunity in the UK is that of repurposing onshore hydrocarbon wells for the production of geothermal energy and storage. This paper presents an overview of an EPSRC National Centre for Energy Systems Integration (CESI) research project to investigate the most favourable candidate sites for geothermal repurposing of onshore hydrocarbon wells in the UK, taking into consideration the range of technological options available and the range of thermal energy output from a repurposed hydrocarbon well. To facilitate this study, a GIS mapping model integrating the onshore hydrocarbon well data with the UK’s potential geothermal resource and regional heat demand was generated. This model has integrated data such as: location, depth and operational status of all onshore hydrocarbon wells, measured and estimated bottom hole temperature data for hydrocarbon wells and the extent, depth and thickness of aquifers across the UK. Of the 2242 onshore hydrocarbon wells in the UK, 621 wells have the potential to be repurposed as they are categorised as completed (operational), completed (shut in), plugged, under abandonment phase one or abandonment phase two. Of these, optimal candidate wells include those in fields such as: Wytch Farm, Saltfleetby, Kirby Misperton and Welton amongst others