Screenings and peer review support for geothermal resource exploration, development, and monitoring

Athanor Geotech has developed an innovative geochemistry-based method to validate and control geophysical investigations, optimizing the technological and cost outcomes of geothermal campaigns.

Traditional exploration and exploitation methods involve high entry costs and exponentially increasing budgets, while our approach begins with minimal investment and follows a stepwise process where cost increases are linear and based on fully informed decisions.

Let’s take a closer look at our approach:

Decision gates may lower exploration cost risk.

Decision Gate Zero // PRE-FEASIBILITY

Let’s answer these questions: what are the main opportunities in the area? What are the most interesting areas?

Method: Identification of the opportunities for the exploration and exploitation of geothermal resources, based on the analysis of publicly available data.

Decision Gate One // GEOCHEMICAL EXPLORATION

Let’s answer the question: is it worth investing in a detailed exploration campaign?

Method: the geochemical screening allows a quick and cost-effective evaluation of the geothermal resources, the heat sources and the reservoir conditions. This is a fundamental tool for the validation of the geothermal opportunities, helping to fine-tune the more expensive investments in geophysical campaigns and exploration wells.

Decision Gate Two // GEOPHYSICAL EXPLORATION

Let’s answer these questions: what are the drilling targets? What are the subsurface parameters to be considered for the drilling campaign?

Method: based on the results of the geochemical screening, the geophysical campaign is aimed at identifying and characterizing the potential geothermal reservoir, delivering a “Recommendation To Drill” (RTD) report.

Decision Gate Three // DRILLING DESIGN

Let’s answer these questions: how many wells will be drilled? What are the time and cost constraints? What are the main risks? How can these risks be mitigated?

Method: definition of the drilling campaign, including the design and engineering of the selected geothermal wells, with the related budget and with an extensive risk assessment. Delivery of the drilling campaign report.

Decision Gate Four // DRILLING PROGRAM

Definition of the drilling program for each well, with the final delivery of the “Authorization For Expenditure” (AFE) document.

Decision Gate Five // POST-DRILL EVALUATION

Fluid and cores characterization to manage the risks and sustainability of the cultivation of the geothermal resources.

Athanor Geotech, founded in 2023, is led by experienced engineers with strong expertise in subsurface characterization of geothermal resources.

The company has gathered the experience and the expertise of professionals that have worked for tens of years in geothermal projects and disciplines such as geochemistry and geophysics, both onshore and offshore.

Athanor Geotech’s engineers have a track record of work for geothermal projects in different areas spanning from the Mediterranean to Africa, Asia, and Central America.

Earth’s heat is a primary source of natural energy. Geothermal resources can supply this energy to research and industrial clusters, enabling holistic transformation of their processes.

Marine geothermal energy is an untapped resource, available on a global scale. 

Half of the world’s current energy demand could be met by the geothermal energy naturally released from submarine volcanic areas.

Marine geothermal potential has been recognized for 60 years. Today, offshore geothermal resources are both attractive and viable, leveraging expertise from the offshore oil and gas industry and supporting new applications like hydrogen production and rare earth element extraction.