Drilling for Geothermal Data in West Virginia
Dr. Shikha Sharma, WVU professor of Geology and IsoBioGeM lab director, is leading a team of researchers who will gather data from an exploratory borehole well near Morgantown in May 2023. Funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, the team will provide the first geological data on whether geothermal reservoirs can be a clean energy source for parts of West Virginia and Mid-Appalachia.
This exploratory well will be a simple borehole drilled 3 miles vertically to assess the geothermal heat potential in this region. The well will be used to collect critical rock samples and data on heat temperatures. It will not be a production well, meaning no energy or heat will come out of the well, only scientific data and rocks. No fracking is involved.
Learn More : Exploring Geothermal Energy for West Virginia