The main technical activities in the project included: planning, drilling with air hammer, installation of collectors and testing the performance of our wells. For planning (activities ranging from permitting to engineering studies) Rock Energy found that for projects of a similar scope, decision-making can be done within a 2-6-month timeframe. For drilling activities, we have analyzed mechanical elements to find the right compressor functions suitable for the drilling rig and redesigned drill bits to obtain the most optimal function. Drilling was completed at an average rate of 26 days for a 1,500m well and we identified significant room for improvement, such as cement planning. Our experiences showed us the that we will be able to drill a 2,000m well within the timeframe of one month and that there are significant opportunities to reduce sound emissions coming from compressors and boosters.
At the next stage we installed collector pipes to move water through the well for heat absorption and studied the optimal setting of the pump in the well to ensure an appropriate heat delivery rate. To verify this, we built a test rig which also allowed us to test the accuracy of our simulation model which estimates the heat extraction of our deep energy wells. Based on results achieved in the pilot test at Oslo Airport, we also realized that our future wells need to be tighter to ensure that they don’t fill with formation water or debris, thus well sealing will be added to our future wells.
We have identified that the best market segments during the first phase of GEODEPower exploitation are Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden as Nordic countries have the right balance between need and opportunity. For these segments we have concluded that the Independent Power Producer Developer and the Build Own and Operate are the most opportune models for our business operations as well as our clients’ needs.
