Tapping Old Oil Wells to Power the Future with Geothermal Energy

Across the United States, thousands of oil and gas wells remain idle. A US start-up, Gradient Geothermal, is giving disused wells a second life by transforming them into geothermal energy sources.

These wells, which had been abandoned for about six years due to running dry, are now being repurposed by a new geothermal company to power the nearby town of Pierce using zero-emission electricity.

Geothermal energy is a powerful, clean alternative. Geothermal power plants utilise heat extracted from deep within the Earth’s crust; however, they are expensive to construct due to the high drilling costs.

However, Colorado’s existing oil and gas wells, which are 2.7 kilometres deep, sidestep the drilling process. These closed wells were producing just 2% oil and 98% hot water. These naturally heated waters can be harnessed to make clean energy while significantly reducing infrastructure costs.

According to Gradient Geothermal, their work in Colorado, North Dakota, and beyond is demonstrating that geothermal co-production can generate new revenue streams, reduce emissions, and support local communities. If the process proves successful, many potential oil and gas wells across the US can replicate this method.

Experts estimate that the country has between 2 and 3 million disused oil wells, with over 500,000 of these suitable for producing geothermal energy. Utilising these wells can generate up to 13gw of clean energy while preventing 16.5 million tonnes of CO2 emissions. 

Utilising advanced technology and industry expertise, Gradient Geothermal enables clients to repurpose existing oil and gas wells to harness geothermal heat and generate emissions-free power, aligning with a sustainable, low-carbon future.

Listen to the interview with Johanna Ostrum, COO of Gradient Geothermal, where she explains how the company utilises heat from both new and abandoned oil and gas wells. She discusses their feasibility study in Pierce, Colorado, as well as a project in North Dakota.

Ostrum highlights the exciting potential of converting existing oil and gas wells across the United States to harness geothermal energy, providing clean power to nearby communities and contributing to the national energy grid.

Additionally, visit their Gradient Geothermal website and LinkedIn page to discover more about their innovative geothermal solutions.