The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) has selected two projects that will receive over $15 million to reduce project timelines and costs for developing geothermal energy through at least a 25% improvement in geothermal drilling rates. Selected through the Drilling Technology Demonstration funding opportunity, the projects will bring laboratory innovations such as those from GTO's Efficient Drilling for Geothermal Energy (EDGE) initiative into the field and, ultimately, the marketplace. They can also help support DOE's goal to deploy enough geothermal electricity to power 40 million U.S. homes.
The selected projects are:
Geothermal Limitless Approach to Drilling Efficiencies (GLADE) (Denver-Julesburg Basin, Colorado): Occidental Petroleum and its partners from industry, national laboratories, and academia will drill twin high-temperature geothermal wells using existing and novel drilling technologies. The team plans to drill to deeper (up to 6 km [20,000 ft]) and hotter (300°C [572°F]) depths than most existing geothermal, at a faster rate.
Evaluation of Physics-Based Drilling and Alternative Bit Design at The Geysers (The Geysers Geothermal Field, California): Geysers Power Company and its national laboratory and academic partners will deploy innovative drilling technology and methodologies in an effort to increase drilling rates by at least 25%. The work will include tests of fluid-drilled and air-drilled methods in a range of temperatures and conditions.
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