At the 19th Conference on Sustainable Development of Energy, Water and Environment Systems (SDEWES), held from September 8 to 12, 2024, in Rome, research results from the TRANSGEO project (CE0100071), funded by the Interreg Central Europe program (2021–2027), were presented. This prestigious event brought together around 700 scientists, researchers, and experts from around the world to discuss innovations in sustainable development across the energy, water resources, and environmental sectors.
Tomislav Kurevija, the lead author, along with co-authors Marija Macenić, Luka Perković, and Katarina Marojević, presented a paper titled “Converting Mature Oil and Gas Fields in Croatia into Geothermal Energy Resources.” The paper is based on research conducted at the Mihovljan pilot site in Međimurje and presents initial findings from Activity A.2.3 of the TRANSGEO project. The research focuses on the potential for utilizing mature oil and gas fields in Croatia for geothermal energy production, leveraging the existing infrastructure at the Mihovljan site, located near Čakovec.
The primary goal of the study was to assess the technical and economic feasibility of converting four active wells in Mihovljan into production-injection pairs for geothermal energy extraction. Deep water-saturated aquifers at this location enable the direct use of thermal energy, with a potential capacity of 930 m³/day at a temperature of 82 °C. Simulations and hydrodynamic analyses indicated that this system could supply up to 2 MW of thermal power, with minimal electricity consumption for pump operation, which would be sufficient for heating nearby buildings and agricultural greenhouses.
These results highlight the significant potential of well revitalization to contribute to decarbonization and energy transition in rural areas of Croatia.