Dr. Bill Eustes is a professor emeritus with the Petroleum Engineering Department at the Colorado School of Mines and an instructor with the TOP Energy Training consortium. I am really excited for this conversation because we talk about the high level steps that go into drilling a well, the safety and environmental considerations with drilling, as well as what the future holds around advancements in drilling technology and how what we’ve learned in oil and gas drilling can be applied to things like geothermal energy and CO2 sequestration. Be sure to listen because you will be sure to learn a thing or two in this really informative and interesting conversation!
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About Dr. Eustes
After 25 years as a faculty member of the Petroleum Engineering Department at the Colorado School of Mines, Dr. Alfred William Eustes III retired and was granted emeritus faculty status. Prior to that, he was an ARCO Oil and Gas field drilling engineer. His recent drilling research work has involved NASA robotic drills for the Moon and Mars, NSF Antarctic deep ice drilling and coring, lost circulation studies, geothermal drilling, and other drilling projects. He is a DOE National Renewable Energy Lab Joint Appointee developing geothermal drilling improvements.
Dr. Eustes has a BSME (78) from Louisiana Tech, MSME (89) from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a PhD-PE (96) from the Colorado School of Mines and is registered as a Professional Engineer in the state of Colorado.
Dr Eustes is also an instructor for the TOP Energy Training consortium. I am really excited for this conversation because we talk about the high level steps that go into drilling a well, the safety and environmental considerations with drilling, as well as what the future holds around advancements in drilling technology and how what we’ve learned in oil and gas drilling can be applied ot things like geothermal energy and CO2 sequestration.
We Discuss
Introduction
Background, experience in oil and gas and what he does now.
How Oil and Gas Wells Are Drilled
- Many mineral owners want to learn how oil and gas wells are drilled. From when they hear that a well is going to get drilled on their minerals, many wonder what are the steps that need to be undertaken to turn the stake in the ground into a producing oil or gas well.
- We’ve covered this in previous episodes, including Episode 15 where we talk about how long it typically takes from beginning to end and when you will start getting paid royalties.
- For our listeners who may not be familiar, what are the steps involved with the drilling phase for a new well?
What are some of the most critical operations or steps along the way that if they aren’t done correctly can cause issues - How common is it for operational issues like getting stuck downhole and having to fish a segment of drill string out?
- In the case where something does happen, how often does the operator fail to get unstuck or have to abandon a partially drilled wellbore and drill a sidetrack?
Drilling Technology
- What are some of the latest technologies you are most excited about in terms of improving the way wells are drilled?
- Have drilling contractors adopted technology like automation and AI to improve the safety and efficiency of the way oil & gas wells are drilled?
Energy Transition
- Geothermal energy and the learnings from oil & gas drilling & completions that have been applied to geothermal energy. What are some of the overlaps between drilling for oil & gas and geothermal energy to tap the heat underground to generate electricity?
- How will drilling play a role in the energy transition with CO2 sequestration and enhanced oil recovery?
- What are the current technical limits around making deep geothermal energy more feasible? Is the technology even there currently to drill a deep geothermal well or what will it take for us to get there?
Let’s talk a little about the Top Energy Training which you are also a part of. We had Jim Crompton on a few months ago to talk about orphan wells. I understand you are also an instructor with Top Corp. What do you teach as part of that program and who is it for?
Resources Mentioned in This Episode
- MRP 15: They are Going to Drill on my Land – How Long Before I Start Getting Paid Oil & Gas Royalties? (Hint: It Might Be Faster than You Think!)
- Utah FORGE (Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy)
- Dr. Bill Eustes’contact information at the Colorado School of Mines
- TOP Energy Training Consortium
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