AltaRock Energy (ARE) products

Geothermal power is a reliable, clean source of power that provides baseload electricity 24/7 rain or shine. Geothermal power plants have the least down-time of any source of power including coal, gas, oil, hydro, solar, wind, or nuclear. Geothermal plants emit only a tiny fraction of the emissions that fossil fuel powered plants do, and there is a seemingly endless amount of heat near the Earth’s surface that remains untapped for power production.

Thermally-degradable zonal isolation materials (TZIMs) are a family of biodegradable polymers used during EGS well stimulations. After a reservoir zone has been stimulated, TZIMs are pumped downhole. These biodegradable plastics temporarily block fractures intersecting the wellbore, allowing the next zone of fractures to open. Once several fracture zones have been created within a single reservoir, stimulation stops. The cold water pumped into the well during stimulation heats up, and the TZIMs biodegrade. Fractures are unblocked in the stimulated zones, and an interconnected network of permeable fluid flow zones develops. AltaRock’s TZIM technology makes multiple-zone geothermal reservoirs a reality.

Enhanced geothermal systems use well stimulation and hydroshearing technology to improve geothermal reservoirs. The hydroshearing process creates movement and sound in the rock, resulting in microseismicity. The opening and growth of fractures during stimulation is mapped by real-time measurement of the microseismicity. Using a micro-seismic array (MSA), AltaRock’s engineers and geologists closely monitor the stimulation process. Data gathered by the MSA is used to map the fracture network and generate a microseismic event map around the well bore. Micro-seismic event maps reveal the size, location and orientation of the fracture system, and are used to track and quantify reservoir growth.

While each of the above areas represents discrete technologies around methods, equipment and processes, it is important to understand that the integration of these various technologies into systems is paramount to achieving technical and economic success. System integration is core to ARE’s past achievements and future purpose. We bring decades of knowledge and experience both developing relevant technology for engineered reservoir systems, but also achieving success by integrating the array of technologies and techniques into replicable systems. By leveraging ARE’s leadership, technology and experience in deploying advanced geothermal systems coupled with an ecosystem of some of the best technology developers as our partners, we will succeed in scaling Superhot Rock geothermal globally.