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AltaRock Energy releases educational overview video on EGS

AltaRock Energy releases educational overview video on EGS AltaRock Energy website snapshot
Alexander Richter 21 Oct 2011

AltaRock Energy releases a wonderful little video with an overview on geothermal energy, and the application of EGS.

Released today, geothermal technology and development company AltaRock Energy released a video that provides an educational overview on Enhanced Geothermal Systems. A very nice piece of work and definitely worth a look.

“What if we could create ideal geothermal conditions almost anywhere? That’s exactly what Enhanced Geothermal Systems, or EGS, proposes to do.“
In the video, narrator and Emmy-award nominated actor Ed Begley, Jr. explains the process and advantages of Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS), a technology poised to create a new energy economy in the United States.

The video can be viewed at http://www.AltaRockEnergy.com.

The eight-minute video explains how geothermal energy is utilized and outlines the particular advantages of EGS. Using the Earth’s heat to generate electricity or heat homes, geothermal energy is a reliable and renewable source of power. However, traditional geothermal power is limited to locations where hydrothermal reservoirs naturally occur. But EGS has the potential to create geothermal reservoirs almost anywhere.

As illustration of EGS in practice, the video focuses on the Newberry EGS Demonstration underway in the Deschutes National Forest in central Oregon.

Newberry EGS Demonstration Process

As Ed Begley Jr. explains in the video, the Newberry EGS Demonstration is being conducted in three phases. In Phase I, scientists and engineers reviewed data about the demonstration site, conducted baseline measurements, developed plans for the demonstration, and are securing all necessary permits.

In Phase II, an EGS reservoir will be created around an existing well using a process called “hydroshearing.” Hydroshearing involves injecting water at high pressure into the earth, to open and stimulate existing natural fractures in the rock. Using real-time microseismic monitoring, the project’s engineers will determine the size, location, and orientation of the fractures that make up the new reservoir. Once the reservoir is complete, the water it contains will heat up and flow through wells to the surface. Careful measurement of temperature, pressure and flow from the wells will be used to assess reservoir performance.

In Phase III, AltaRock will summarize the information collected throughout the demonstration. This data will be used to develop a conceptual model of a commercial-scale EGS system.

About The Video

The new EGS video was created by AltaRock Energy. Narrator Ed Begley, Jr. is a 6-time Emmy award-nominated actor and prominent environmentalist. Begley was an early advocate for environmentally- and socially-responsible choices and policy; he continues to work to promote awareness of ecological issues.

Source: AltaRock Energy