Exploring New Energy Frontiers with Petroleum Geoscience Talent and Technology

Abstract

The energy landscape is evolving from petroleum dominance to a widening array of renewable, low carbon components. Along with wind, hydro, and geothermal, solar has reached an economic threshold that fosters market growth. Storage requirements for electric vehicles and renewable baseload are spurring increased demand for lithium, graphite, cobalt, vanadium and nickel. Geologists who explore for and extract these metals will use skills honed in the oil and gas industry as well as familiar datasets, such as borehole records, surface geologic maps, rock mineralogy, and size statistics. Predictive models of ore accumulation rely on mass transport calculations at assumed heat, pressure, brine composition and mineral equilibria, and are comparable those used to understand oil generation, migration and trapping. Three dimensional geologic models to explore for and assess reserves of metals will benefit from enhanced geophysical techniques, including 3D seismic, as well as the application of play fairway analysis to better predict exploration corridors. Defining the heat resource, drilling, fracking, and circulating brines are also key components to the successful exploitation of geothermal energy. Structural geology and sedimentology studies remain crucial to proper siting, monitoring, and remediation of hydro-electric projects. Geoscientists can also maximize energy efficiency for development of renewable components via the use of low carbon energy resources, and we can apply our environmental experience to minimize the footprint of mines and manufacturing sites. Solar and wind design and construction are fertile ground for the application of geography and GIS skills. In parallel to development of new forms of renewable energy, a shift from heavy to light hydrocarbons for transportation and electricity generation requires traditional petroleum technology to define and extract stranded global gas resources. And, of course, we can always work to green the oilfield by introducing solar pumps and vapor recovery units. As geoscientists and engineers, we have opportunities to transfer our expertise in exploration, development, extraction and remediation to processes associated with cleaner energy production. We can utilize our strengths in creativity, risk assessment, and environmental stewardship to become leaders in sustainable energy development.

AAPG Datapages/Search and Discovery Article #90339 ©2019 AAPG Pacific Section Convention 2019, Long Beach, California, April 1-3, 2019