Fervo Energy’s Cape Station Next-Generation Geothermal Project
Organization: Fervo Energy
Project Name: Cape Station Geothermal Development
Location: Beaver County, Utah
Project Phase: Initial two phases underway (completion date not specified)
Bentley Software: Leapfrog Energy, Oasis montaj, Seequent Central
Additional Context: Fervo Energy’s Cape Station is the world’s largest next-generation geothermal energy development, targeting 500 MW of clean power. Advanced 3D subsurface modeling enabled precise well placement and risk management, resulting in 204,000 feet drilled (including 105,000 feet in granitic basement rock), a 100% well success rate, and 10 MW output from a single well—tripling conventional geothermal performance.
Project
Cape Station, located near existing transmission lines and sources of geological data, is the world’s largest next-generation geothermal energy development. Fervo Energy is delivering the multiphased project that will produce 500 megawatts of clean power. Leveraging Oasis montaj and Leapfrog, they generated detailed 3D subsurface characterization models to meet the requirements for an optimally designed power plant.
Facts
- Drilled over 204,000 feet across challenging geological conditions, including 105,000 feet through granitic basement rock, using advanced geothermal modeling.
- Achieved a 100% well success rate and completed drilling operations 18% under budget, improving development efficiency.
- Confirmed 10 megawatts of power output from a single horizontal geothermal well during a 30-day flow test—tripling output versus conventional geothermal systems.
“Leapfrog is the easiest, fastest, and most intuitive 3D geomodeling software available which enables us to integrate all different types of geothermal data.”
Solution
Leveraging Oasis montaj and Leapfrog, Fervo generated detailed 3D subsurface characterization models accessible in Seequent Central’s centralized environment. Bentley’s integrated applications provided a flexible and purpose-built platform for geothermal workflows, allowing the team to visualize, track, and manage large geoscientific datasets and know what to expect while drilling. The digital models enabled accurate geologic and temperature predictions to meet the requirements for an optimally designed power plant, accelerating planning and financing, shortening development timelines.
Outcome
Fervo Energy’s Cape Station project achieved significant outcomes, demonstrating the commercial and technological viability of enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) at scale. The project successfully drilled over 204,000 feet, including more than 105,000 feet in challenging granitic basement rock. By leveraging integrated digital models for precise targeting, Fervo drilled 20 fully horizontal EGS wells with a 100% success rate and finished 18% below budget. Flow tests over 30 days confirmed the ability to generate 10 megawatts of power from a single well, which triples the power output per unit time compared to conventional geothermal systems. This success was achieved with high-intensity fracture stimulation and optimized well design, increasing theoretical power density to over 75 megawatts per square mile, thereby improving land-use efficiency. The project is projected to have an anticipated USD 1.1 billion in local economic impact over its lifecycle and will deliver a staggering 500 megawatts of low carbon electricity upon completion of its initial two phases.
Software
- Leapfrog Energy
- Oasis montaj
- Seequent Central
Plan and drill high-performance geothermal wells using advanced 3D modeling to optimize every stage from exploration to output.
See how Leapfrog Energy powers next-gen geothermal success
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