How Geophysical Data Supports Modeling in Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS)

What is it about?

This article explains how scientists use geophysical measurements—like seismic signals, temperature readings, and electromagnetic data—to better understand and model Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). These systems aim to create geothermal energy in places without natural hot water. By using a combination of computer models and real-world data, researchers can track how heat, water, and pressure move underground. The article walks through the main components of these models and shows how each one depends on different kinds of geophysical data. Using the Utah FORGE site as a real-world example, it emphasizes how important it is to keep collecting and updating this data so that geothermal energy can be produced safely, efficiently, and on a large scale.

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Why is it important?

This work comes at a critical time when reliable and scalable renewable energy sources are needed to address global energy transition goals. Unlike previous geothermal developments, EGS aims to unlock energy from deeper and hotter rock formations by creating artificial reservoirs. However, this approach introduces major uncertainties about how the subsurface will behave. What makes this article unique is its structured view of how different types of geophysical data—many already familiar to oil, gas, or seismic researchers—can directly support the design, calibration, and validation of EGS models. It goes beyond exploration to outline a full-lifecycle, feedback-driven strategy grounded in real-time data gathering and coupled modeling. This perspective provides a bridge between academic geophysics and applied geothermal engineering.

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