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Geothermal energy – understanding the business case

Geothermal energy – understanding the business case 18 November 2021 CeraPhi Energy has developed technology to repurpose oil and gas wells or failed geothermal wells to produce clean energy. The technology is applied under an energy development agreement on a licensing basis. Its founders coming from a background in the oil and gas industry.CeraPhi uses its proprietary technology together with proprietary fluids in its closed loop system, whereby the fluids are circulated down the well from the surface through a custom designed close loop system, utilising only the bottom hole temperature from the existing well, the heat is transferred to a secondary system on the surface using a binary cycle principle. The CeraPhi system eliminates the need to seek subsurface hydrothermal systems as in conventional geothermal and removes the need to produce these fluids which in turn removes the risk of environmental contamination and the controversial use of subsurface water which is a natural resource itself. Not needing subsurface fluids removes the need for hydrofracturing or hydraulic stimulation which has been associated with seismic activities under similar condition as fracking, this process is eliminated using CeraPhi system. The CeraPhi well technology also enables the production of clean thermal energy production at the same time as hydrocarbon production, meaning this can provide a suitable medium to support the decarbonisation of site operations and or addition revenue stream and a clean energy transition which can be built into an exploration development plan in advance. Click here to download the Digital Energy Journal.

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IGas signs Heads of Terms with CeraPhi for repurposing Oil and Gas wells for clean energy use

IGas signs Heads of Terms with CeraPhi for repurposing Oil and Gas wells for clean energy use 23 September 2021 IGas announce on Thursday 16th September that it has entered into a Heads of Terms (HoT) with CeraPhi Energy, a specialist in repurposing oil and gas assets for geothermal energy. IGas and CeraPhi will jointly develop geothermal energy projects utilising specific wells in IGas’s asset portfolio. The first project will be sited in the Lincoln area on one of IGas’s existing sites. The development will capitalise on IGas’s deep local knowledge, surface infrastructure and existing wells and CeraPhi’s patented technology, CeraPhiWell, a closed loop downhole heat exchanger. This path finder project will be used to demonstrate the commercial potential for geothermal energy production from repurposing existing oil and gas assets for direct heat for agriculture, residential heating and cooling, and the development of hybrid energy systems generating both heat and power. Commenting Stephen Bowler, IGas CEO, said:“The signing of the agreement with CeraPhi is another important step in IGas’s drive to diversify its operations, adding to the ongoing work on hydrogen production and carbon storage and bolstering our established geothermal offering. As local authorities and other large-scale users of heat transition away from fossil fuels we are receiving an increasing number of enquiries looking to geothermal as a solution and through this growing pipeline of development opportunities, IGas is well-positioned to deliver a solution to the long-term decarbonisation for heat in the UK.” Karl Farrow, CeraPhi Energy, CEO said:“The repurposing of oil and gas wells to access subsurface thermal heat to produce baseload clean energy has to become a primary step to developing a wider appreciation of what geothermal can provide us. This agreement with IGas is yet another demonstration of the energy transition harnessing existing skills and expertise that we have in the UK to support a net zero target.”

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Geothermal Farms Could Grow Tomatoes, Melons And Pineapples

Geothermal Farms Could Grow Tomatoes, Melons And Pineapples 23 August 2021 East Anglia could be transformed into a super-sustainable food production powerhouse growing crops like tomatoes, watermelons and pineapples by drawing heat from deep underground. That is the message from a geothermal business seeking farming partners across Norfolk and Suffolk who want to scale up to year-round crop cultivation, modelled on the success of the Netherlands. Great Yarmouth-based company CeraPhi Energy says its “game-changing technology” could transform the east of England’s food production capacity in greenhouse “villages” warmed by plentiful supplies of cheap, clean heat from the earth’s crust. Chief executive Karl Farrow, said: “Using heat as energy in its primary form, instead of using boilers to burn a fuel and generate that heat, could achieve a transformation in the way we produce and process our food.  “Why are there pineapples from South Africa and avocados from Mexico in our shops when we could be growing them ourselves? Why are we flying in tomatoes? “We could be growing Norfolk and Suffolk strawberries and watermelons, the best fruit you can grow per hectare – three cycles a year means a harvest of 40,000kg a year that could sell for £2.99 a kilo bringing in £120,000 a year – 12 months of the year.” Mr Farrow said Norfolk and Suffolk were ideal places for this technology as they had good ground gradients, especially in North Norfolk, and high temperatures aren’t needed for agriculture and food processing. Geothermal technology can also use heat to desalinate water used in agriculture, he added. The use of geothermal energy has helped catapult the Netherlands to become the second largest agricultural exporter in the world and the largest EU agri-food exporter. CeraPhi Energy, a business built on decades of expertise from the oil and gas industry, says it has developed technology to support similar expansion in East Anglia. Mr Farrow said: “Within just six years of tapping into deep heat from beneath their feet, the Dutch were exporting $111bn worth of agricultural goods, including $10bn of flowers and $7.4bn of vegetables. “Simple deep geothermal technology is heating hundreds of hectares of greenhouses to grow stacked agriculture for 12 months of the year without interruption. “Norfolk and Suffolk’s fortunes could follow Holland’s by using the clean and plentiful primary source of heat beneath our feet and decarbonise the industry at the same time.”

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Environmental Social Governance Stakeholder Engagement Expert Joins CeraPhi Energy Advisors

Environmental Social Governance Stakeholder Engagement Expert Joins CeraPhi Energy Advisors 10 August 2021 Geothermal delivery business CeraPhi Energy is building its strong focus on environmental social governance (ESG) with its latest appointment. Ilse Bermudez takes a seat on its Advisory Board as an ESG stakeholder engagement expert. Bermudez, who has been with Wood for 13 years in business development, brings a wealth of energy expertise to the board with an engineering career that has taken her around the world on offshore platforms and floating production, storage, and offloading vessels (FPSOS), and was one of the first female engineers to be hired to work in a processing facility. “I strongly feel that geothermal energy is key to improving the lives of people worldwide, and that CeraPhi is committed to this mission that I share. I am also fascinated by innovation and the endless possibilities for the usage of geothermal energy that are still to come.   “Not only am I personally committed to the 2050 Net Zero goal, but also to improve the quality of life for future generations. I want to be a part in a company that I believe in, and I believe that CeraPhi is investing in a technological leap for clean energy and human existence.”  Karl Farrow, CeraPhi founder and CEO, has known Ise for many years since meeting her in Africa when he was international business director at WOOD on a politically sensitive and challenging project.  “Ilse has just what CeraPhi needs to build on our already strong ethic around ESG to help us deliver our holistic values to energy food and water where I am sure she will play an instrumental role in the day-to-day strategic growth of the business.”

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Third Energy Turns to Well Reuse for Clean Energy Transition

Third Energy Turns To Well Reuse For Clean Energy Transition

Third Energy Turns To Well Reuse For Clean Energy Transition 18 June 2021 Third Energy UK is working with renewable energy developer CeraPhi Energy to investigate reusing its non-producing gas wells for geothermal energy. Third has turned to CeraPhi Energy’s expertise and proprietary technology to assess the viability and commercial potential of repurposing wells at its north Yorkshire sites. Both companies say the results could be game-changing for geothermal ‘s role in the energy transition and have a revolutionary impact on the UK onshore oil and gas sector’s late life and ‘orphaned’ wells. Feasibility and conceptual studies for reusing the wells will start next month initially looking at MN4, KM3 and KM8 wells in the Vale of Pickering under the new head of terms signed with Third. The CeraPhi team’s focus will be on assessing the wells’ development potential for its patented technology CeraPhiWell™, a closed loop dowhole heat exchanger that draws up subsurface heat to be used for different applications for scalable baseload energy including: Direct heat for agriculture Residential heating/cooling Downhole green hydrogen production Incorporation of heat pumps for enhanced heat recovery A combination of heat and power CeraPhiWell™ is at the heart of CeraPhi’s strategy to de-risk geothermal energy scale-up using end-of-life and non-producing oil and gas wells and prove the “huge commercial potential” for geothermal energy production to achieve the 500GW of additional geothermal energy in the next 30 years in line with Paris 2050 Climate Accord for carbon reduction. CeraPhi CEO Karl Farrow Said:“This is a step change approach and to look at energy transition differently using older non-productive oil and gas assets to produce clean energy and help the decarbonisation process. “We have been discussing this with Third for more than nine months and it’s a great example of clean energy transition by an operator who can see a clear benefit and wants to lead by example.” Russell Hoare, Third Managing Director Said:“We have been assessing the possibility of repurposing our wells for geothermal energy and other uses for more than a year now, and as a continuation of the feasibility work already completed, we are excited to be engaging with CeraPhi on these specific projects with a view to developing those assets for the Net Zero future.” Third Energy aim is to diversify its existing power generation assets and develop new sources of energy consistent with the UK Government’s Net Zero 2050 targets. Mr Farrow said: “A baseload energy working alongside other renewables like wind and solar will make a significant contribution towards carbon reduction target. Also, repurposing oil and gas wells represents a new tool for the management of plugging and abandonment obligations and liabilities. “Geothermal energy production is simply the use of heat and the heat is everywhere. We know from oil and gas that the deeper you drill the hotter it gets and so he right temperatures can be accessed anywhere.” Third EnergyThe Third Energy team is proactively playing a part in innovative energy solutions and energy development in the transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy. It is transforming its facilities into a multi-purpose energy park and research centre. Third Energy is a privately-owned group of power generation and onshore gas exploration companies based in North Yorkshire. Third Energy is owned by Alpha Energy, a U.S. based energy investor. Alpha has expertise in managing and developing energy assets in Europe and the U.S.

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Ken Seymour Joins CeraPhi

Ken Seymour Joins CeraPhi

Ken Seymour Joins CeraPhi 20 May 2021 CeraPhi Energy is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Ken Seymour to head up its Geothermal Development Business Unit in Sub-Saharan Africa. Dr. Ken Seymour has >40 years’ experience in the energy sector, studying with a Shell Scholarship at University of Leeds where he obtained a first-class honour in degree in Mining Engineering and a PhD in Rock Mechanics. Commencing his career with BP in the late 1970’s as a Drilling Engineer moving on to Danbury and Ranger Oil as Drilling Superintendent, Drilling Manager, General Manager and Director. He obtained an MBA in 1994 from the Aberdeen Universities. “After working in Africa for thirty years, I find myself at the end of the hydrocarbon age, facing what seem to be a common trend in a shift in the way we use energy. I am excited by this opportunity to apply my experience in a Clean Energy space specifically the application and innovation behind CeraPhi’s geothermal technologies which can play a big part of energy security and the economic benefits within the Sub-Saharan region.” said Ken. Ken was the Director of Business Development when Ranger was sold to Canadian Natural Resources and went on as an executive board member of a six strong management committee that transformed CNR International’s management system and portfolio. He left CNR in 2003 to work as an independent consultant and has undertaken an interim management assignments for ROC Oil Company as their General Manager in Angola, Equator Exploration in Nigeria and E.ON Ruhrgas Nigeria. Since 2011 he has provided business development and drilling advisory services to Seplat Petroleum Development Ltd, ERHC Energy Incorporated, Genel Energy, Nordic Energy plc, MontD’Or Petroleum and others in recent years focusing on energy transition. “It’s great to have Ken onboard, and timing couldn’t be better with a number of projects entering FID evaluation with different partners in the African region. Our plug and play baseload energy solution can be game changer in that region bringing affordable energy and other valuable resources like access to clean water in communities where they really need it.” said Karl Farrow, CEO CeraPhi Energy.

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Rig Zone’s Matthew Veazey Interview With CeraPhi Energy CEO Karl Farrow On Geothermal Energy A Different Kind Of Renewable Resource

Rig Zone’s Matthew Veazey Interview With CeraPhi Energy CEO Karl Farrow On Geothermal Energy A Different Kind Of Renewable Resource 13 May 2021 A topic that has received considerable interest in the oil and gas community recently is exploiting geothermal energy. In April Rigzone presented one company’s insights on the potential for tapping into geothermal via some abandoned oil and gas wells. Given recent curiosity about geothermal, and to explore geothermal-oil and gas collaboration opportunities, Rigzone has sought out additional perspectives on the renewable resource and will present them in the coming days. One such voice is Karl Farrow, CEO of the geothermal project development firm CeraPhi Energy. “Geothermal energy is the next and future source of baseload energy and it’s not a struggle against oil and gas,” Farrow told Rigzone. “It’s an important tool in the evolution of how we will produce energy with results and benefits we now demand for a sustainable future.”   Farrow also offered Rigzone his observations on a unique characteristic of geothermal among renewables, who could benefit from sourcing geothermal from abandoned oil and gas wells, and more. Read on for his insights. Rigzone: What makes geothermal stand out as a renewable resource? Karl Farrow: Geothermal is the only 24/7 100% clean source of baseload energy, meaning that it can provide continuous energy in theory forever. There are more than 6 billion years of stored energy under our feet, which is primarily the heat from the earth’s core radiating out trying to naturally escape. Geothermal is effectively the core’s heat connecting with natural subsurface water systems that create natural thermal gradients. In a market context, as a baseload resource geothermal energy is the only renewable resource that does not require ancillary services in order to be integrated into the grid – which is a significant cost and output issue for all variable dispatch resources, including wind and solar. In fact, the ability to produce geothermal energy either inside or within close proximity to populated areas will actually serve to reduce the demand for long-distance transmission and ancillary services. Rigzone: We keep hearing the term “energy transition.” Where do you see geothermal fitting in with the energy transition, particularly in North America? Farrow: The exploration of oil and gas has revolutionized the last 100 years of development on earth in both technology and infrastructure. Oil and gas is possibly one of the largest economic sectors globally, with most countries having some kind of business related to it. As we have scaled our global economy over the last 100 years, we have seen a natural negative effect on the environment specifically through energy demand and production. This activity continues. The transition now away from fossil-burning fuels is a natural turning point resulting from our wider understanding of sustainability. Renewable energy provides the commercial alternative that fills the gap, and geothermal further fills the gap as a baseload source of energy. Importantly, geothermal development is enabled by and relies upon all the expertise and technologies developed within the oil and gas sector over the last century, meaning the existing supply chains, resources and expertise will drive and support this particular element of the energy transition. We will always need oil and gas for certain essential purposes, but if we can position ourselves in a carbon-neutral environment with geothermal as a baseload energy provider, from an energy perspective then a massive shift into a real positive energy transition will occur. Rigzone: In the context of converting orphaned oil and gas wells to geothermal, who do you see as the primary end-users among industrial, residential, and/or commercial markets? Farrow: All of the above, specifically with utilization of heat. We currently use a vast amount of energy from electricity to produce heat and cooling. If we were to use just the heat from geothermal efficiently for industrial, commercial, and residential uses more effectively, that in itself would make a significant impact on our ability to decarbonize. Having a baseload energy working alongside other forms of renewables such as wind and solar will make a significant contribution towards immediate carbon reduction targets, while additionally, the repurposing of oil and gas wells represents a new tool for the management of plugging and abandonment (P&A) obligations and liabilities. Within the energy sector geothermal can provide targeted energy services across upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors, while from the investment perspective they place hard assets in the ESG (Environmental, Social, and corporate Governance) column which addresses a clear and present mandate. Finally, stranded well sites and/or fields offer energy supply solutions which could support the development of micro-grid and/or small energy hubs which, as mentioned above, can significantly reduce the cost, stability, and reliability issues with the power grad and transmission system. Rigzone: What are some misconceptions that someone in the oil and gas sector might have regarding geothermal? In other words, what might seem far-fetched about geothermal but actually is not? Farrow: I think there are three key points to mention with respect to misconceptions about geothermal energy. Perhaps the biggest misconception is that geothermal energy can only be produced where volcanic and natural fault systems are present. This assumption is primarily due to the fact that most conventional geothermal projects have been historically developed where thermal gradients are relatively shallow. However, geothermal energy production is simply the use of heat and the heat is everywhere. We have drilled millions of wells around the earth over 100-plus years in oil and gas, and we know from logging these wells that the deeper you drill the hotter it gets and thus accessing the right temperatures anywhere can be achieved. In simple terms, by just focusing on accessing and transferring heat and inducing an activator fluid you then produce thermal energy through vapor expansion which is sufficient to turn a turbine. The hotter the temperature, the greater the thermal reaction when fluid is introduced. Second, there are misconceptions that stem from the “hybrid” structure of geothermal energy production: the oil and gas sector tends to

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Senior Oil Field Executive Joins CeraPhi Energy team to head Middle East Geothermal Energy Business from Dubai

Senior Oil Field Executive Joins CeraPhi Energy team to head Middle East Geothermal Energy Business from Dubai

Senior Oil Field Executive Joins CeraPhi Energy team to head Middle East Geothermal Energy Business from Dubai 5th May 2021 CeraPhi Energy is please to announce the latest addition to its team, Nezar Ashfar, former Baker Oil Field Services Operations and Business Development Manager with more than 33 years of experince in international drilling actvities in the energy sector. “It’s great to have Nezar onboard as we now start active engineering projects and opportunities within the region,” said Karl Farrow, Ceraphi Energy CEO. “The CeraPhi Energy business model is exactly what is needed within the region and we are already seeing a huge amount of interest from all angles,” said Ashfar. seeing a huge amount of interest from all angles,” said Ashfar. “Decarbonization is a challenge in general but regions where the climate changes very little also need an impact solution and one that is linked to the legacy business and the core strengths and skill sets which is oil production.   CeraPhi solutions provide a natural transition to clean energy using the skills and expertise within the region from the Oil and Gas sector.” “Nezar is well known to some of the CeraPhi team historically,” Farrow said. “He has been deeply engrained in the region for many years so is ideally placed to lead the energy transition challenge within the region where we are already dealing with technical and commercial proposals for our deep geothermal integrated energy solution.” Ashfar holds a master’s degree in engineering from Strathclyde University along with numerous studies in Project Management, Advance Finance for Business, People, Team Performance Optimizations, and Situational Leadership. He has been responsible for the development and management of multimillion dollars contracts in many counties across the region in senior roles for UK and USA oilfield services companies and major operators within the region as he takes up the role of Middle East North Africa Manager for CeraPhi. CeraPhi Energy is a UK company, incorporated in the U.S. in 2020. CeraPhi Energy is the world’s first integrated geothermal delivery company with a novel approach and proprietary delivery platform. As an energy developer, CeraPhi provides a unique differentiator in the development and delivery of commercial scalable heat networks and self-sustainable energy hubs. CeraPhi’s integrated technology platform with robust performance provides huge benefits in cost, time, scalability and reliability.

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Engineering scholar to put geothermal gamechangers on the spot in online debate

Engineering Scholar To Put Geothermal Gamechangers On The Spot In Online Debate

Engineering Scholar To Put Geothermal Gamechangers On The Spot In Online Debate 27 April 2021 A next generation engineer is to quiz a panel of geothermal experts on a mission to deliver large-scale commercial projects across the world as the missing piece of the renewables energy jigsaw in a live debate. Sixth former and Arkwright Scholar Beth Suckling will chair and moderate a four-strong team with more than a century’s engineering experience in the first webinar by geothermal development company CeraPhi Energy in front of a global virtual audience. Sixth former Beth, 17, will set tough questions to the team driving a commercial geothermal revolution in the UK and overseas, chosen because reversing climate change is “in her name.”   More than 100 people from around the world have already signed up for the event on Thursday (April 29), Drawing on Earth’s Giant Battery to Complete the Energy Transition. Beth, in her first year of studying A levels in maths, further maths, engineering and physics at the University Technical College Norfolk, with ambitions of a career in renewable energy via a degree level apprenticeship, will take the helm of the Question Time-style debate on Zoom. Karl Farrow, CeraPhi CEO, said: “We are doing what we are doing to address climate change for future generations and create a cleaner world and new careers for people just like Beth. “We like to do things differently at CeraPhi and could have easily gone down the usual webinar format, but what better than having an aspiring engineer at the start of her journey, with a passion for renewables, and part of the generation that we are fighting to change the world for, to ask the real questions about the potential and details of geothermal energy?” Thursday’s panel will be Chris Sladen CBE, chair of the Geothermal Energy Advancement Association; Martin Hindicky, CeraPhi Energy chief business officer; Per Gwalter, CeraPhi’s chief project officer, with more than 30 years’ energy industry experience and involvement in delivery and engineering of more than 10 high profile European and global geothermal developments at government and private sector level, and Farrow, who has led global operations for major project developers and managed multi-billion project portfolios. “This is all about the future. Beth represents the future. It is imperative that we involve people in what we are doing, give them a chance to explore all they can to shape their future,” said Farrow, a founder of CeraPhi Energy, which has offices in Great Yarmouth, London and Houston. Beth has been researching geothermal and discussing questions with her peers. “I want a career where I can make a difference and changes. I am looking forward to finding out about how geothermal can make a change to the energy system.” Beth is no stranger to a challenge; she won through the highly-competitive Arkwright Scholarship process in her GCSE year to be awarded the much sought-after title, which partners her with employer sponsors support them through sixth form and secure bright futures. She rides the 30-mile hour-long trip to school and back every day on her 125 motorcycle, after stripping back and rebuilding an old 50CC bike, and manages to fit in eventing her horse, Belle, that she saved up to buy with her sister by a cleaning job and working at a horse yard aged 15. Sophie Skipp, of the UTCN, said: “Beth is an incredibly motivated and capable young woman.” “At UTCN we strive to find opportunities and challenges for our students to explore as much about careers and different sectors. CeraPhi have offered a fantastic opportunity students to learn more about what links their lessons to real work in their future.” The CeraPhi Energy event is being held in conjunction with the East of England Energy Group (EEEGR). To join the webinar, register at: https://www.eeegr.com/events/transition-to-net-zero-heat-beneath-our-feet/  

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New Industry and Academic Association to Focus on Advocacy for Geothermal Energy 26 April 2021 Ashima Goyal

New Industry And Academic Association To Focus On Advocacy For Geothermal Energy

New Industry And Academic Association To Focus On Advocacy For Geothermal Energy 26 April 2021 LONDON – April 26 – the newly-formed Geothermal Energy Advancement Association (GEAA) is pleased to today announce its mission statement and its founder members. Mission statement: GEAA is a not-for-profit stakeholder-driven association that advocates increased investment in and awareness of this sustainable source for zero-carbon power, electricity, heat and hot water. GEAA aims to promote Geothermal’s future role and the necessary policy and legal frameworks needed to accelerate its use. It is open to all those interested in advancing geothermal energy and its role in helping transition to a Net Zero world using less petroleum. Geothermal energy is an abundant, constant, clean renewable energy source that is present naturally underground everywhere on planet earth. It can be accessed via boreholes to provide a reliable, stable, 24/7, zero carbon emission energy base-load for power generation and heating, both for on-grid and off-grid standalone projects. It is totally independent of weather. Geothermal has a very small surface footprint, has no direct carbon emissions and does not consume large amounts of finite mineral resources. Geothermal can also utilise existing petroleum industry subsurface and engineering skills, infrastructure, technology, and boreholes. With increased investment, and a wider understanding of how geothermal energy can be used, geothermal can become a key part of a global low-carbon future.

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