UK’s First Geothermal Simulation Platform Unveiled

Aberdeen-based 3t and Robert Gordon University (RGU) have joined forces to develop the UK’s inaugural Geothermal Simulation and Modelling Platform. 

Adapting RGU’s DrillSIM:5000 oil-and-gas drilling simulator for geothermal applications, the platform supports mid to deep-single geothermal wells (MDSGW) and aims to reduce the cost of geothermal well delivery by as much as 50%.

Senior Vice-President for 3t’s Technologies service line, Clive Battisby, described the collaboration as “a strategic leap” for the industry. 

“By adapting our world-leading simulation technology for geothermal, we’re unlocking new potential for clean energy and positioning 3t at the heart of the global energy transition,” Battisby said.

RGU’s existing DrillSIM:5000 simulator has trained thousands of drilling engineers, modelling complex well control scenarios in a fully immersive environment. Under the new initiative, the system will emulate the unique pressure regimes, fluid properties and subsurface conditions encountered in geothermal reservoirs. 

Trainees will operate in a virtual rig environment, managing drilling parameters, wellbore stability and fluid circulation, providing experience directly transferrable to live geothermal projects.

“This partnership exemplifies what’s possible when academia and industry collaborate,” said Phil Hassard of RGU’s Energy Transition Institute. 

“With 3t’s cutting-edge drilling simulation technology and RGU’s research excellence, we’re unlocking the future of clean and scalable geothermal energy”.

By repurposing existing oil and gas infrastructure and retraining personnel, the project safeguards jobs for the North Sea workforce. The training hub will help to cultivate the skilled workforce needed to lead Britain’s clean energy transformation.

The Geothermal Simulation and Modelling Platform aligns with UK and Scottish government strategies, which includes the UK’s Green Industrial Strategy, Scotland’s Heat in Buildings Strategy and the Renewables Export Framework. 

Globally, 3t’s Drilling Systems technology is already the leading provider of drilling and well-control simulation, used by academic institutions, drilling contractors and energy operators in over 60 countries. 

The geothermal adaptation is a natural extension of 3t’s modular platform, demonstrating that existing simulation infrastructure can be repurposed rapidly to meet energy needs.

The platform’s first phase will focus on module development, data integration and user training, with live simulation trials scheduled for early next year. RGU students will test the system alongside industry delegates, generating real-time feedback to refine the platform’s predictive models and user interface.

As the UK ramps up renewable heat deployment, geothermal energy could emerge as a cost-competitive option of Britain’s net-zero energy mix.
 

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