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The Retrofit Revolution: How GreenFire Energy Is Turning Abandoned Oil & Geothermal Wells Into Continuous Clean Power Without New Drilling

The Retrofit Revolution: How GreenFire Energy Is Unlocking Geothermal Power Without Drilling a Single New Well By: Robert Buluma   While much of the geothermal energy sector has been focused on breakthrough drilling techniques—deeper wells, hotter reservoirs, and complex engineered systems—a quieter revolution has been unfolding in the background. Instead of chasing entirely new subsurface frontiers, one company has chosen a radically simpler question: What if the answer was already in the ground? GreenFire Energy is advancing a retrofit-first geothermal strategy that targets one of the most overlooked opportunities in the global energy transition: existing wells that are underperforming, depleted, or completely abandoned. Rather than drilling new holes into the Earth, the company is reusing the infrastructure that already exists—turning stranded assets into continuous sources of clean, baseload electricity. This approach is not just technically elegant. It may also be one of ...
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SLB partners With Star Energy To Fast track Geothermal Energy

Advancing Geothermal                                    Development: SLB and Star energy Geothermal Join Forces  


The geothermal energy sector is set to take a major leap forward with the recent announcement of a collaboration agreement between SLB and Star energy Geothermal, a subsidiary of Indonesia’s Barito Renewables. This partnership aims to leverage cutting-edge technologies to revolutionize geothermal asset development, enhancing efficiency and economics in an industry critical to the global energy transition .


A Collaboration Rooted in Expertise  

Star energy Geothermal, known for managing 886 MW of installed geothermal electricity capacity, brings decades of expertise in geothermal resource development and operations. Partnering with  SLB, a global leader in technology solutions for the energy sector, this collaboration is expected to tackle longstanding challenges in geothermal development, such as high project risks and costs.

Irlan Amir, vice president of Renewables and Energy Efficiency at SLB, highlighted the significance of the partnership:  
"In developing technologies for the geothermal industry, collaborating with customers is critical for focusing on the use cases with the most significant economic impact. We look forward to delivering groundbreaking technologies that lower project risks and improve the overall project economics of this clean, firm, and flexible energy source.

Technological Innovations for Geothermal Advancement  

The collaboration will focus on several key areas, including subsurface characterization, drilling, and production technologies. Building on past projects where SLB  optimized well placement and utilized artificial intelligence (AI) to enhance geothermal drilling, this agreement aims to further integrate advanced solutions to shift the economics of conventional geothermal projects.  Some of the artistic projects which SLB has placed hands on is the Eavor's Geothermal Technology

Hendra Soetjipto Tan, president director of Barito Renewables and CEO of Star energy Geothermal, emphasized the strategic importance of this partnership:  
"Aligned with our strategic expansion to support energy transition, our goal will be enabled by leveraging advanced technologies to enhance the efficiency and economics of our current and future assets."

Implications for the Global Geothermal Sector  

This collaboration comes at a time when geothermal energy is gaining traction as a reliable, clean, and flexible energy source. By addressing technical and economic challenges, SLB and Star energy Geothermal aim to unlock the broader potential of geothermal projects worldwide. This partnership not only strengthens Indonesia’s leadership in renewable energy but also sets a benchmark for innovation and collaboration in the global geothermal industry.

The Future of Geothermal Energy  

With SLB's technological prowess and Star energy Geothermal’s operational expertise, this partnership is poised to deliver transformative solutions for the geothermal sector. As the world accelerates its shift to clean energy, such collaborations will play a pivotal role in overcoming barriers to geothermal development, paving the way for a sustainable energy future.

Stay tuned for updates as this groundbreaking collaboration unfolds, promising to reshape the geothermal landscape and redefine the economics of clean energy projects globally.

Source: SLB

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