How can you incorporate geothermal resource assessment into the overall project development process?

In the pre-feasibility stage of their geothermal project in the Taupo region, Geothermal Energy Ltd. in Auckland, New Zealand, used an integrated technical solution to identify and select promising sites. They evaluated data and regulations, conducted a comparative analysis of potential sites based on criteria like temperature and depth, and identified a promising location. This approach informed their strategic decisions for further exploration and development.

In the pre-feasibility stage of geothermal project development, follow these steps: Site Selection: Identify potential sites using geological data. Desktop Study: Use existing data to assess subsurface conditions and resource potential. Surface Exploration: Conduct geological mapping, geophysical surveys, and geochemical analysis to refine targets. ESIA: Assess environmental and social impacts early. Regulatory Review: Understand legal requirements and potential obstacles. Economic Assessment: Estimate costs and potential returns based on preliminary data. Stakeholder Engagement: Engage with communities, governments, and investors to ensure support and address concerns.

Think geothermal, but before you break ground, assessment is key! The pre-feasibility stage is your chance to sift through existing data like geological maps, geophysical surveys, and historical geothermal projects. This desk study helps you identify potential sites and weed out the duds. Why it matters: Saves time and money: Focusing on promising sites early avoids wasted effort drilling in unlikely areas. Reduces risk: Understanding potential environmental and social impacts helps make informed decisions. Guides future exploration: This initial assessment lays the groundwork for more detailed studies if a site shows promise.

The pre-feasibility stage involves evaluation of geological, environmental and socio-economic factors to ascertain the viability of geothermal energy production. This stage includes initial site identification, preliminary resource assessment, environmental and social screening, understanding the regulatory and legal framework, and conducting a technical feasibility analysis. Additionally, it encompasses an economic preliminary assessment and a thorough risk assessment with mitigation strategies.

Incorporating geothermal resource assessment into the overall project development process at the pre-feasibility stage involves conducting an initial evaluation of the geothermal resource to determine its potential for energy production. This typically includes geological surveys, geochemical analysis, and geophysical exploration to assess the reservoir's characteristics and energy potential. Integrating this assessment early on allows for informed decision-making regarding project feasibility, site selection, and the design of the geothermal power plant. This proactive approach helps optimize resource utilization and mitigate risks throughout the project lifecycle.

Surface exploration: Remote sensing: Satellite images reveal clues about underground structures. Geology & geophysics: Mapping rock formations and measuring heat flow. Geochemistry: Analyzing water and gas samples for geothermal indicators. Geothermal measurements: Gauging heat flow and surface temperatures. Subsurface exploration: Drilling wells: Testing reservoir properties like temperature, pressure, and flow. Why it matters: Accurate resource estimation: This data helps you decide if the project is economically viable and worth developing. Reduced risk: Knowing the reservoir characteristics minimizes drilling risks and surprises. Optimized development: This information guides the design and location of power plants and product wells.

This phase refines the project's conceptual model with direct subsurface data, enabling precise estimation of the resource's size, temperature and extractability. It involves rigorous environmental and social impact assessments, advances regulatory and permitting efforts and refines economic viability analyses based on updated data on costs and potential energy output.

Incorporating geothermal resource assessment into the overall project development process during the exploration stage involves conducting in-depth geological, geochemical, and geophysical surveys to characterize the subsurface geology and identify potential geothermal reservoirs. This data is crucial for accurately estimating the resource's capacity and quality, which in turn informs well siting, drilling plans, and reservoir modeling. Integrating these assessments at the exploration stage helps mitigate uncertainties, optimize resource utilization, and ultimately contributes to the successful development of geothermal projects.

Seismic Surveys play crucial role in geothermal resource exploration.It can be used to identify fractured structures that allow water flow and to estimate the groundwater reservoir temperatures. Seismic surveys can cover a large and complex area, for e.g. in Geneva where reserves of superheated water are present in the region’s subsurface. Despite the diverse field types and urban development, seismic survey was able to efficiently and effectively map subsurface structures at depths of up to 3 km. The survey can be conducted using advanced seismic imaging techniques and equipment, like Sercel’s wireless nodal solution with Pathfinder technology enabling real-time monitoring of the acquisition spread and ensures optimal data recording.

Geothermal well drilling is a process used to extract natural heat from within the Earth’s crust for various purposes, including heating buildings, generating electricity, and other industrial applications. Once geologists and engineers carefully select a site based on geological surveys (area with high geothermal potential), drilling rig is transported to the site.The drilling stage include: - surface casing; drilling the wellbore; - geothermal reservoir encounter: where hot water or steam is present - installing production casing - production and injection wells: sometimes two wells are drilled: a production well to extract the hot fluids and an injection well to return cooler water or fluids back into the Earth to maintain the pressure

Incorporating geothermal resource into the overall project development process during the drilling stage involves using the data gathered from exploration to guide the drilling process. This includes identifying optimal drilling locations, well depths, and the potential for encountering productive zones within the geothermal reservoir. Additionally, continuous monitoring and analysis during drilling provide crucial information for confirming resource characteristics and adjusting drilling strategies as needed. Integrating resource assessment at the drilling stage is essential for maximizing well productivity, minimizing risks, and ensuring the overall success of geothermal projects.

The drilling stage involves drilling wells to directly access the geothermal reservoir, providing crucial data on temperature, pressure, permeability, and fluid composition. This stage validates the preliminary assessments and conceptual models, offering concrete evidence of the resource's viability. The outcomes from drilling are critical for refining reservoir models, updating estimates of potential energy output and conducting accurate environmental assessments. Successful drilling not only de-risks the project by confirming the geothermal resource's characteristics but also plays a key role in securing further financing and regulatory approvals, marking a pivotal moment in transitioning from exploration to actual project development.

During the construction stage it will involves utilizing data from exploration and drilling to inform the design and construction of the geothermal power plant and associated infrastructure. This includes optimizing plant layout, selecting appropriate equipment, and implementing reservoir management strategies based on the assessed resource characteristics. Additionally, integrating resource assessment at the construction stage ensures that the plant is efficiently integrated with the geothermal resource, leading to sustained performance and long-term viability of the project.

This phase involves the careful design and construction of the plant and its infrastructure, tailored to the specific characteristics of the geothermal resource such as temperature, pressure, and flow rates. Key activities include engineering the power generation components, building access roads, laying power transmission lines, and implementing environmental management plans to mitigate construction and operational impacts. This stage is critical for ensuring the power plant's efficiency, sustainability, and compliance with environmental regulations.

Construction and development stage include the continuation of well drilling, the execution of geoscientific studies in detail, the evaluation of the probable reserve, the extraction of the fluid, the design of the project, and the construction of a power plant generation. The exploitation process of the resource involves the management of the geothermal fluid from its extraction to its exploitation through the production of electrical energy or any direct use of heat. Techniques are applied during the exploitation to optimize the use of the fluid and its transport to the generation plants, guaranteeing the continuous operation of the field and observing and controlling the reservoir evolution.

Incorporating geothermal resource assessment into project development involves conducting surveys, analyzing data, and interpreting results to understand the resource's potential. This information guides critical decisions in project design and planning. During the operation and maintenance stage, continuous monitoring of the geothermal resource ensures optimal performance and informs maintenance schedules. Regular assessments help in maximizing efficiency and longevity of the geothermal system

The operation and maintenance (O&M) stage involves ongoing monitoring of the reservoir's conditions to identify and mitigate any adverse trends through strategic adjustments in extraction rates or operational parameters. These insights enable the fine-tuning of power plant operations to maintain optimal efficiency and the implementation of maintenance practices aimed at preserving equipment integrity and minimizing environmental impact. By integrating detailed resource assessment into the O&M stage, operators can proactively address challenges, enhance the project's economic viability and secure a consistent, sustainable energy output, ensuring the geothermal plant remains a robust component of the energy mix.