Successful datathon connects geothermal, oil and gas
2021 Geothermal Experience Datathon - website screenshot
Alexander Richter
24 Aug 2021
The SPE chapters of Calgary and Gulf Coast held a successful Geothermal Experience Datathon, with the challenge of managing data to explore the repurposing oil wells for geothermal utilisation.
Earlier this year, the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Calgary Section teamed up with their friends at the SPE Gulf Coast Section, along with ‘Untapped Energy’, to organize a data event. Driven by the desire to use real data to solve a real problem, to elevate data literacy and to make new professional connections, all while having fun!
The challenge/ problem statement was set on “Repurposing oil and gas wells for geothermal energy production represents an enticing opportunity to generate value from existing infrastructure while reducing the costs of exploration and development. Assessing the potential for geothermal conversion requires the estimation of bottomhole temperatures in prospective basins. One approach is to utilize the abundance of information available from drilling, completions, and production.
Participants were to develop a methodology and work flow for creating machine-learning models to predict the formation temperature based on well-log information to generate insights and identify prospective sites for two North American basins, the Duvernay and the Eaglebine.”
The event, held virtually, consisted of the two components learning and the actual competition. The component on learning focused on digital and soft-skill development, including an introduction to geothermal energy.
The competition itself was set up with teams working on the problem statement using proprietary data set provided by the data sponsor. Among the 13 total number of sponsors and partners supporting the event, was Canadian Eavor Technologies, as well as major oil and gas operators, service companies, data-solutions providers, educational-platform proiders, geothermal technology companies, and data-science-platform providers.
Clearly working in an environment like this, the virtual nature, often proprietary nature of data etc made this a challenge, which though was solved.
The key takeaway is that there is a “huge potential of collaboration to solve practical geothermal and data-science problems”.
