Patterson-UTI Energy Inc. announced on March 8 a strategic investment in Criterion Energy Partners, Inc., a geothermal energy development company who will use the proceeds from this investment to advance its first-of-a-kind project in Texas and further execute on its technology development roadmap.
According to a press release, Criterion Energy Partners plans to combine existing technology and processes from the drilling of oil and gas wells with proprietary designs to create clean, reliable energy from subsurface heat. Criterion's immediate focus is to deliver direct heat and power to industrial customers in the Texas Gulf Coast, positioning these customers to meet their energy demand and decarbonization goals.
Andy Hendricks, Patterson-UTI's CEO, said in a statement, "We are excited to invest in Criterion, whose innovative business model leverages proven horizontal drilling and completion technologies. We share a common view that geothermal will play an important role in the energy transition, and we look forward to working with Criterion to improve the economics and reliability of geothermal power."
Danny Rehg, Criterion Energy Partners' co-founder and CEO, added, "We are extremely pleased to have Patterson-UTI as a partner and see many opportunities to work together going forward. Their business approach and execution excellence align well with our strategy and company culture. The technical capabilities of their super-spec rigs and other technical innovations are critical to driving down costs and delivering competitive economics of next generation geothermal energy developments."
Recommended Reading
The Jones Act: An Old Law on a Voyage to Nowhere
2024-04-12 - Keeping up with the Jones Act is a burden for the energy industry, but efforts to repeal the 104-year-old law may be dead in the water.
Belcher: Our Leaders Should Embrace, Not Vilify, Certified Natural Gas
2024-03-18 - Recognition gained through gas certification verified by third-party auditors has led natural gas producers and midstream companies to voluntarily comply and often exceed compliance with regulatory requirements, including the EPA methane rule.
Hirs: LNG Plan is a Global Fail
2024-03-13 - Only by expanding U.S. LNG output can we provide the certainty that customers require to build new gas power plants, says Ed Hirs.
Pitts: Producers Ponder Ramifications of Biden’s LNG Strategy
2024-03-13 - While existing offtake agreements have been spared by the Biden administration's LNG permitting pause, the ramifications fall on supplying the Asian market post-2030, many analysts argue.
Hirs: SEC’s Enhanced Climate-related Disclosures Are Unnecessary—Even According to SEC
2024-03-15 - The SEC’s rationale for enhanced climate-disclosure rules is weak and contradictory, says Ed Hirs.