HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has secured a $14 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Geothermal to explore the thermal resources in the state’s Utica shale formation.
The project includes converting a horizontal gas well positioned in the Utica shale to geothermal. The effort consists of assessing optimal well orientations and placements, as well as testing various techniques to create fractures necessary for the creation of an enhanced geothermal system, or EGS.
If successful, the project could serve as a model for other locations nationwide.
A precise location for the test was not identified in the announcement. The Utica shale is most prominent in eastern Ohio and bleeds across the state border into western Pennsylvania.
The project is funded through the Office of Geothermal’s ESG Pilot Demonstrations. The Pennsylvania program is one of four selected and is the sole program funded in the east.
In February, the DOE announced a $171.5 million funding opportunity that includes $100 million to support next-generation field tests. The funding was made available through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act signed by President Joe Biden in November 2021.
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