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Drilling in supercritical geothermal condition

Objective

"The aim of the “Drilling in dEep, Super-CRitical AMBients of continentaL Europe: DESCRAMBLE"" project is to develop novel drilling technologies for a proof-of-concept test of reaching deep geothermal resources and to contribute to a low-carbon European society. To achieve this target the first drilling in the world in an intra-continental site at a middle-crustal level will be performed. The test site is an existing dry well in Larderello, Italy, already drilled to a depth of 2.2 km and temperature of 350 °C, which will be further drilled to 3-3.5 km to reach super-critical conditions unexpectedly experienced, and not controlled, in a nearby well in 1979.
The project will be organized into two main phases: (1) Drilling in super-critical conditions, including drilling components, well materials, design and control; (2) Geo-Scientific activities for predicting and controlling critical conditions, which considers petrological, physical and chemical characterization, simulation and monitoring, including high temperature and pressure tools.
Main expected outcomes:
• Improved drilling concepts in deep crustal conditions
• New drilling materials, equipment and tools
• Physical and chemical characterization of deep crustal fluids and rocks
The site is perfect for such an experiment, as it is representative of most deep crustal levels in Europe, cost effective since drilling to reach the target is reduced to a minimum, practical due to the high probability of encountering super-critical conditions. The productivity and efficiency of the project are guaranteed by the combination of industrial and research participation and by the recognised expertise of the consortium in geothermal R&D as well as oil and gas drilling, bringing together excellence in the respective sectors.
DESCRAMBLE will explore the possibility of reaching extremely high specific productivity per well, up to ten times the standard productivity, with a closed loop, zero emission, and reduced land occupation."

Call for proposal

H2020-LCE-2014-2015

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Sub call

H2020-LCE-2014-1

Coordinator

ENEL GREEN POWER SPA
Net EU contribution
€ 4 135 000,00
Address
Viale Regina Margherita 125
00198 Roma
Italy

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Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Private for-profit entities (excluding Higher or Secondary Education Establishments)
Other funding
€ 8 862 320,00

Participants (6)

CONSIGLIO NAZIONALE DELLE RICERCHE
Italy
Net EU contribution
€ 425 558,75
Address
Piazzale Aldo Moro 7
00185 Roma

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Region
Centro (IT) Lazio Roma
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 0,00
RHEINISCH-WESTFAELISCHE TECHNISCHE HOCHSCHULE AACHEN
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 325 825,00
Address
Templergraben 55
52062 Aachen

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Region
Nordrhein-Westfalen Köln Städteregion Aachen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
CHRISTIAN-ALBRECHTS-UNIVERSITAET ZU KIEL
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 413 607,50
Address
Olshausenstrasse 40
24118 Kiel

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Region
Schleswig-Holstein Schleswig-Holstein Kiel, Kreisfreie Stadt
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITAET BERGAKADEMIE FREIBERG
Germany
Net EU contribution
€ 364 908,75
Address
Akademiestrasse 6
09599 Freiberg

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Region
Sachsen Chemnitz Mittelsachsen
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Other funding
€ 0,00
SINTEF AS
Norway
Net EU contribution
€ 145 577,50
Address
Strindvegen 4
7034 Trondheim

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Region
Norge Trøndelag Trøndelag
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 15 000,00
STIFTELSEN SINTEF

Participation ended

Norway
Net EU contribution
€ 943 157,50
Address
Strindveien 4
7034 Trondheim
Region
Norge Trøndelag Trøndelag
Activity type
Research Organisations
Other funding
€ 56 267,50