A New Generation of Frontier Explorationists
In 2006, Dolan Integration Group opened its doors with a clear goal to remain diversified in our skill set. The nascent shale revolution was in full swing and organic geochemistry was a high demand skill in the early part of this century in the U.S. DIG began to develop a laboratory that would concentrate on hydrocarbon fluids. We compile and update data sets that continue to serve our client’s needs. We service exploration, development, production, and environmental components of the many businesses we serve.
Applying the techniques and workflows developed for oil and gas exploration toward risk assessment of renewable, sequestration & storage, geothermal, and geologic hydrogen energy can provide the efficiency of resources that were unknown to early oil and gas exploration geologists. Tremendous data sets exist today supporting the evaluation of components in sedimentary basins across the globe. These resources can be applied to emerging low carbon industries as the need for services increases.
Geothermal, carbon capture, and geologic hydrogen systems have been and will be defined by the essential components and processes. When evaluating these components on a regional scale, one might be considered a frontier explorationist. Evaluating regional subsurface maps, the explorer will engage in de-risking certain components to focus the exploration effort into an area identified for additional investment.
Geothermal energy, carbon capture and geologic hydrogen should develop regional scale evaluation models to quickly de-risk the occurrence of essential components to the respective systems.
Sources of geologic hydrogen may require conduits to mantle with trap/seal permeability as essential components of an effective geo-hydrogen system.
Regional geothermal models are needed for sedimentary basins. Calibration data already exist for these models such as heat flow data, oil and gas well bottom-hole temperature data, pressure data and fluids characterization.
Carbon capture facilities are evaluated in limited areas today, but the areas needed to inject greenhouse gases (GHG) into subsurface reservoirs are expanding rapidly. Repurposed or bypassed oil and gas reservoirs are all good candidates for this effort.
One thing that is documented is mantle-derived sources of hydrogen gas. Given this system’s complexity, assessing its effectiveness requires regional screening and frontier exploration.
