Assessment of geothermal energy resources in the Marcellus shale

Abstract

This paper presents a basin-scale model and assessment of geothermal energy resources in the Marcellus shale in the Appalachian Basin, integrating the most recent data. This research was conducted through the following tasks: (1) review heat transfer mechanisms, (2) collect and analyze the most recent geological, reservoir, and thermal data related to the Marcellus shale and the basin, (3) computations of thermal resource characteristics, (4) develop and validate a thermal model by integrating all available data, and (5) perform a systematic and comprehensive modeling to assess thermal energy stored in the Marcellus shale through Monte Carlo simulations. The results show that the total thermal energy stored in the Marcellus shale is 4.44 × 10¹⁴ Megajoules (MJ). Pennsylvania constitutes approximately 56% of the resources with a most likely value of 2.50 × 10¹⁴ MJ. Temperature ranges from 14 to 96 °C, which is classified as low-temperature resources suitable for geothermal heating system. The greatest stored thermal energy is located in northeastern Pennsylvania, especially in Sullivan, Columbia, Luzerne, and Wyoming counties. This method and its application to the Marcellus shale enhance the understanding of geothermal resources in the Appalachian Basin.