Time: 11:30 am Buffet, Noon Speaker Presentation

RSVP online by Thursday, September 3rd at Midnight

Cost: 

In-Person: $30 with RSVP, $35 with no RSVP, student members eat free with RSVP (Student Members please directly email the FWGS Secretary to RSVP).

Virtual: FREE for Paid members and Students, $5 for Non-Members

Speaker: Dr. John Holbrook

Title: Geothermal Energy Now: Opportunities in grid power, direct heat, and energy storage

Abstract:

Geothermal energy from sedimentary basins has emerging possibilities that speak to both a new future for sedimentary sciences and a new and important role for sediments in the emerging market for renewable energy.  These opportunities however are not necessarily linked or limited to conventional views of geothermal energy extraction.  This is the primary finding of the SedHeat initiative.  The SedHeat initiative is a Research Coordination Network funded by the National Science Foundation to explore the potential for sustainable geothermal energy from sedimentary basins.  The network includes over 300 members from academia and industry dedicated to identifying and overcoming the challenges for economic extraction of geothermal energy from sedimentary basins.  The group spans the fields of geology, engineering, economics, social sciences, and education.  The group has come to some conclusions over the span of its current six years.  First, conventional geothermal power extraction is now possible from sedimentary basins because of new technologies in heat-to-electric conversion. Second, much of the domestic and commercial energy consumed is used to heat spaces and fluids.  Upscaling of direct heating systems to manage large infrastructure from large-flow and deep-basin wells is already initiating and has promise for future expansion.  Third, the Earth is a good battery. Coupling of geothermal and solar systems is an encouraging solution.  Solar energy is stored in deep sedimentary basins through injection of water superheated by thermal solar systems.  The heat is later retrieved as stored base-load geothermal energy. Each of these options can be applied by expanding existing technologies.  Each addresses the push for carbon-neutral energy and gives sedimentary science a large space to occupy in the emerging global renewables market.  These speaks to a deep relevance of sedimentary basins and sedimentary science in a currently emerging future.

Bio: 

John Holbrook is a Professor in the Department of Geological Sciences and Energy Institute at Texas Christian University.  He previously served as a Professor at University of Texas at Arlington and Southeast Missouri State University, and has held adjunct/guest professor positions at Enugu State University, Nigeria; St Petersburg State University, Russia; University of Texas at Dallas; and Hebrew University, Jerusalem.  His research interests are field oriented, focusing mostly on both modern and ancient fluvial systems and physical stratigraphy.  He applies his research widely across petroleum, geothermal, and environmental issues.  He served on GSA and SEPM councils and was an AAPG Distinguished Lecturer.