Alberta is uniquely positioned above deep formations that house both rich hydrocarbon resources and hot water. To produce geothermal energy, this hot water is pumped to surface, and the heat is extracted for power and direct use. The now cooled water is then reinjected into the subsurface to be reheated. Among other carbon reduction opportunities for Alberta, the proposed research will investigate co-injecting carbon within these conventional geothermal wells, building on the value additions of drilling for this renewable resource. With their shared subsurface utilization, the co-development of geothermal energy production and carbon sequestration is a natural fit.

“Geothermal is seen as an extremely efficient, clean, renewable resource of power generation,” says Dr. Rick Chalaturnyk, a professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “This corner of Alberta is one of the places where researchers have very little information about the carbon sequestration possibilities, and that expansion of the capacity to provide carbon sequestration to carbon-emitting industries is a critical element necessary for Alberta to achieve its carbon reduction goals.”