Energy storage and utilization plan for waste oil wells

Can repurposing oil and gas wells be used for alternative energy?

Proposals have suggested repurposing existing oil and gas wells for alternative energy and utilization techniques like geothermal energy, hydrogen storage, and carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) as a potential solution (Cano et al., 2022; Mehmood et al., 2019; Josiane et al., 2022).

Why do oil and gas wells need to be retrofitted?

Operational expenses also accompany the retrofitting of oil and gas wells for new energy purposes. The complexities of novel energy systems, such as those for geothermal or hydrogen storage, impose continuous and often costly maintenance demands (Ahmad et al., 2022).

What is energy storage in decommissioned oil wells?

Energy storage in decommissioned oil wells entails using these wells to store a variety of forms of energy, including thermal, pumped hydro, and compressed air. The idea is to utilize the wells' subsurface reservoirs to store energy during times of excess supply and release it during times of high demand (Matos et al., 2019).

Can abandoned oil wells be used for energy storage?

This strategy offers several benefits, such as using existing infrastructure and avoiding the need to build new energy storage facilities, which can be costly and have a greater environmental impact. Additionally, in areas with favorable geological conditions, abandoned oil wells can provide a practical solution for energy storage.

How many abandoned oil and gas exploratory wells are there?

Globally, researchers have identified several million abandoned or orphaned oil and gas exploratory wells. In the USA, there are about 310,000 to 800,000 or more abandoned oil wells in the country (Liu et al., 2023).

Can abandoned wells be used for compressed wind energy storage?

Quin et al. (2021) have developed a study on compressed wind energy storage using abandoned wells, which not only eliminates the need for storage vessels but also facilitates the implementation of an isothermal process for compressed air storage, resulting in improved round-trip efficiency.