Meet the Champions Who Used Oil Industry Know-How to Break Ground in Geothermal Energy

Enthusiasm for geothermal energy is growing, including among oil and gas workers who are learning how they can apply their skills and experience to geothermal technology. Just ask José Aramendiz and César Vivas, two University of Oklahoma (OU) Ph.D. students whose team just won first place titles in the technical track of the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) 2023 Geothermal Collegiate Competition (GCC).

After graduating as a petroleum engineer from the Industrial University of Santander in Colombia, Aramendiz began a 12-year professional journey specialized in drilling and assumed various roles from Drilling Fluids Engineer to Directional Drilling and Operations Optimization. "This experience sparked my interest in orienting my career toward geothermal energy, which led me to OU, where I'm currently pursuing my doctoral studies focused on the area of well construction for geothermal applications."

Vivas was also introduced to geothermal energy in Colombia after years working as a field engineer in oil and gas, specializing in Well Construction Operations. Vivas is now learning more about the "heat beneath our feet" through his doctoral studies. After participating in the GCC, Vivas said, "I was delighted to recognize that the knowledge and experience I gained in more than 10 years in the oil and gas industry could be transferred to the geothermal industry."

The oil and gas industry and the geothermal industry have several similarities, including the process of exploring and accessing energy below the earth's surface. For example, in locations where conventional hydrothermal resources do not exist, enhanced geothermal systems use techniques similar to those in oil and gas to create the right conditions for accessing geothermal energy. As Vivas and Aramendiz learned through the GCC, these commonalities mean that skilled workers in oil and gas can readily apply those skills to geothermal efforts-giving them the chance to be a part of America's expanding clean energy workforce.

The GCC invites teams from collegiate institutions to develop real-world geothermal solutions while competing for cash prizes and gaining resume experience in the renewable energy industry. For the 2023 competition, Aramendiz, Vivas, and their OU teammates designed a system of geothermal wells to heat and cool the Osage Nation's 40,000-square-foot greenhouse, supporting efforts for native food sovereignty in Pawhuska, Oklahoma.

The next step for the OU team is to host a community event where Aramendiz, Vivas, and their teammates will recognize the community members who contributed to their project and discuss how their winning design can benefit the Osage Nation. "Personally, the GCC helped me understand the important role petroleum engineers play in the development of geothermal energy, but most importantly how geothermal energy can positively impact the life quality of our communities," Aramendiz added.

The DOE Geothermal Technologies Office has funded the GCC for more than 10 years, giving students like Aramendiz and Vivas valuable real-world experience working in sustainable energy. As the United States works toward creating a clean energy future, opportunities that use existing technologies and skillsets for renewable purposes-like the GCC-help bring us closer to economy-wide net-zero carbon emissions.

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