Enhanced Geothermal Systems: Technology Advancing Ahead of the Law

This presentation explores enhanced geothermal systems (EGS), their potential to expand geothermal energy, and the evolving legal issues around ownership, regulation, and water rights.

Credit(s)

0.9

Duration

44 minutes

Advancements in geothermal energy technologies present exciting opportunities to meet growing energy demands while supporting decarbonization goals. Traditional geothermal systems rely on natural reservoirs of hot water or steam to extract and utilize heat; conversely, enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) involve drilling into hot rock and injecting fluid to create or enhance subsurface fractures, enabling heat extraction through engineered circulation. Unlike traditional geothermal systems, EGS has the potential to be successful almost anywhere that possesses sufficient subsurface temperatures. However, state-level geothermal laws and regulations have generally not kept pace with technological developments in the application of EGS, often raising critical legal and regulatory questions regarding ownership of geothermal resources, how geothermal resources are defined and regulated, and how water rights fit into the geothermal development equation.

This presentation will delve into some of the most recently developed geothermal technologies, with a focus on EGS and the unique scientific challenges, and then segway into the law and regulation currently applicable to EGS, including the recently updated geothermal laws and regulatory provisions enacted in Colorado.

Speakers

Credits

Materials

0.9 CLE Credit

This course has been accredited for CLE credit in Colorado. CLE credit hours shown are for Colorado only. A CLE course number for Colorado will be provided to attendees on their certificates of attendance once a course has been completed. New Mexico attorneys who complete a course must notify us (cle@rmmlf.org) because we are required to report credits for you. If this course has been approved for RPL/CPL credit with the American Association of Professional Landmen (AAPL), the credits will be listed below in a separate section for AAPL. If applicable, Component Codes for AAPL recertification will also be provided. Please contact RMMLF if you need independent verification by the provider of your attendance or participation for CLE purposes. Except as provided above, RMMLF generally does not apply for accreditation from any other MCLE/CPD organizations for its online legal education program. Upon completion of a program a certificate of attendance will be issued to all attendees. Except as provided above, attendees must verify with their respective state bars and CPD organizations and their specific rules as to whether or not the certificate of attendance will be recognized by that body for MCLE/CPD purposes, and the number of CLE/CPD credits that may be available. The live presentation of the on-demand program has been accredited in most mandatory states as part of a larger course, but such accreditation does not assure recognition of the on-demand program.

BRENT D. CHICKEN is a member of Steptoe & Johnson PLLC in Denver, Colorado. Brent is an experienced energy and natural resources attorney with extensive knowledge of the challenges faced by exploration and production, midstream, and downstream/utility companies operating in the energy industry. He regularly represents his clients in complex commercial litigation disputes, business transactions, administrative/regulatory law and procedure, and title examination matters. In his litigation practice, Brent frequently defends his client’s interests in the courtroom, in arbitration, and in mediation related to various mineral matters, including constitutional, contract, and real property issues. For his clients that are undertaking transactions, he provides guidance on the title, due diligence, and contractual issues during the purchase and sale of oil, gas, and mining properties involving mixed fee, state, federal and tribal rights. He prepares accompanying sales, indemnity, surface use, and subsurface penetration agreements. In the regulatory realm, Brent advocates for his clients before various state and federal oil, gas, and mining agencies; prepares and presents regulatory applications for well spacing, well density, well location exemptions, statutory pooling, flaring, bonding, and mine delineation; undertakes administrative appeals of negative agency decisions and inspections; and defends application protests.

DR. JOSEPH MOORE is the Managing Principal Investigator of Utah’s Frontier Observatory for Research in Geothermal Energy (FORGE), a field-scale laboratory for developing and testing tools and technologies for EGS development. He received his M.S and Ph.D. degrees in Geology from the Pennsylvania State University in 1972 and 1975. After a few years as a uranium exploration geologist, he joined the University of Utah Research Institute (now the Energy & Geoscience Institute) where his focus turned to geothermal energy. He currently holds appointments as a Research Professor in the Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering and as an Adjunct Professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at the University of Utah. Since the mid-1970s, Dr. Moore has published more than 150 papers and reports on the geology and geochemistry of geothermal systems. His work has been supported by the U.S. Department of Energy, geothermal exploration and development companies, the NSF, U.N., and US AID. In recent years, Dr. Moore served as the Principal Investigator of the successful Raft River, Idaho EGS Demonstration Project, which illustrated the importance of cold-water injection as a tool for enhancing reservoir permeability.

Enhanced Geothermal Energy Systems – Tech Again Outpacing Law

0.9

44 minutes

July 18, 2025

Member Price: $65.00
Non-Member Price: $95.00

About this course

Brent D. Chicken

Dr. Joseph Moore

Subscribe to our email list

Pages

Disclaimers & Policies

Enhanced Geothermal Energy Systems – Tech Again Outpacing Law

0.9

44 minutes

July 18, 2025

Member Price: $65.00Non-Member Price: $95.00

About this course

Brent D. Chicken

Dr. Joseph Moore

Subscribe to our email list

Pages

Disclaimers & Policies

Member Price: $65.00
Non-Member Price: $95.00