Geodynamics hits milestone in geothermal drilling
Posted: 5 February 2008
Geodynamics Limited has confirmed the completion of the first production-scale well at its Cooper Basin geothermal tenements, with its Le Tourneau ‘Lightning Rig’ released from the well this morning.
The installation of surface valves and pipe work at Habanero 3 represented final well completion after the drilling team had reached its target depth of 4,221m (13,850ft) on January 22.
The Lightning Rig was released from the well at 6am (local time) today.
Geodynamics Managing Director Gerry Grove-White said the practical completion of Habanero 3 was a significant milestone in the development of the company, making it the largest well of this depth ever drilled onshore in Australia.
"This is a major milestone not only for Geodynamics, but also for geothermal development around the world," he said.
"Experts involved in Enhanced Geothermal System programs in the United States, Europe and Japan are looking to the success of the Habanero project to justify new developments in those countries and today we have proven a Hot Fractured Rock production well of this depth can be successfully drilled.
"It is a credit to our drilling team that they have successfully overcome the challenge of drilling a commercial-scale well through a highly overpressured reservoir at a depth of 4200m and a temperature of 250C."
The drilling operations team is now focused on dismantling the rig for relocation to Jolokia 1, a new well to be drilled about 10km away from the original three wells to further prove and extend the geothermal reserves Geodynamics has in its tenements.
Mr Grove-White said the company was also preparing for open circulation testing between Habanero 1 and Habanero 3 to begin in the next 10 to 14 days, with closed circulation testing to follow.
"This Proof of Concept will demonstrate the viability of heat extraction from the hot rock underground heat reservoir," he said.
Geodynamics Limited is the largest ASX-listed company in Australia whose focus is on developing hot fractured rock geothermal electricity.
Hot rock geothermal energy is produced using heat extracted from buried hot granites by circulating waters through an engineered, artificial reservoir or underground heat exchanger.
Geodynamics has created the largest of these reservoirs in the world at its Cooper Basin site.
Posted by Richard Price, Editor, EnergyME.com
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