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CO2 foam vs. conventional Methods: Enhancing deep geothermal energy recovery in extreme conditions

Author

Listed:
  • Harshini, R.D.G.F.
  • Ranjith, P.G.
  • Kumari, W.G.P.

Abstract

Foam-based stimulation is emerging as an innovative and sustainable alternative for geothermal energy extraction, offering improved efficiency and reduced environmental impact compared to traditional water-based methods. This study introduces a novel carbon dioxide (CO2) foam stimulation technology, specifically designed to enhance geothermal energy recovery under high-pressure (20–50 MPa) and high-temperature (22–200 °C) conditions. The CO2 foam's ability to improve heat transfer, increase permeability, and significantly reduce water consumption addresses the critical limitations of conventional techniques. In this experimental investigation, CO2 foam stimulation was compared to water and supercritical CO2 (ScCO2) stimulation, with fracture behaviour visualized using CT scanning and analysed through AVIZO 2021.2. Results revealed that CO2 foam exhibits superior performance, with a 4 % higher breakdown pressure than water and 6 % higher than ScCO2, leading to the creation of more complex and effective fracture networks. Importantly, the use of CO2 foam reduced water usage by 12 %, marking a significant environmental advantage. The innovative nature of CO2 foam stimulation lies in its ability to induce complex, multi-fracture systems due to CO2 dissipation into the wellbore boundary, enhancing overall reservoir performance under extreme conditions. The findings suggest that this novel CO2 foam stimulation technology offers a significant advancement in geothermal energy recovery by not only outperforming conventional methods but also addressing sustainability concerns, making it a promising tool for future energy extraction in environmentally sensitive regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Harshini, R.D.G.F. & Ranjith, P.G. & Kumari, W.G.P., 2026. "CO2 foam vs. conventional Methods: Enhancing deep geothermal energy recovery in extreme conditions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PB).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:256:y:2026:i:pb:s0960148125015691
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2025.123905
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Cong, Ziyuan & Li, Yuwei & Pan, Yishan & Liu, Bo & Shi, Ying & Wei, Jianguang & Li, Wei, 2022. "Study on CO2 foam fracturing model and fracture propagation simulation," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(PB).
    2. Zhang, Wei & Wang, Chunguang & Guo, Tiankui & He, Jiayuan & Zhang, Le & Chen, Shaojie & Qu, Zhanqing, 2021. "Study on the cracking mechanism of hydraulic and supercritical CO2 fracturing in hot dry rock under thermal stress," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 221(C).
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