The DEEP project in Saskatchewan is Canada’s first attempt to bring large-scale geothermal power onto the grid. Current development focuses on the Deadwood Formation, a deep saline aquifer at roughly 120 °C. While this temperature is just enough for electricity generation, it limits the efficiency and economics of the system
This project takes the next step by looking into into the Precambrian crystalline basement below the Deadwood. These rocks are hotter, making them attractive for power generation, but they are naturally very tight, with almost very low permeability (<1mD).
The research project has two main directions: (1) integration of existing DEEP datasets and well records, including lessons from DEEP multi-stage hydraulic fracturing trials, to establish a calibrated thermal–hydraulic–mechanical (THM) modeling framework; and (2) generation of new experimental and numerical evidence on fracture propagation, permeability enhancement, and reservoir sustainability in Precambrian basement rock. Together, these activities will provide the first systematic assessment of whether EGS is technically and economically feasible in the basement rocks.
The anticipated outcome is a technically rigorous feasibility study that will clarify the role of deep basement EGS in Canada’s geothermal strategy. By bridging detailed modeling, laboratory testing, and field-scale datasets. The project will deliver insights that guide DEEP’s future development planning and provide decision-makers at Natural Resources Canada with early-stage evidence on the viability of crystalline basement stimulation. The study will also lay the groundwork for potential pilot demonstration.