Further Horizontal Drill Hole Planned
Kirchweidach, 14th September 2011 – For almost four months the company GEOenergie Kirchweidach GmbH has been drilling down, now operations on the second drill hole for the geothermal energy project at Kirchweidach have been suspended for the time being. “As scheduled, we have reached a depth of 3,800 metres with a total drilling section length of approximately 5,000 metres”, informs Mr. Bernhard Gubo, Managing Director of GEOenergie Kirchweidach GmbH. In the projected geothermal power plant, the second drill hole is to serve the purpose of channelling the water previously pumped up through the first hole back into the subsurface. “In order to ensure that the geothermal power plant will actually reach the scheduled capacity, it is essential that with both drill holes we hit a water resource of comparable size”, explains Mr. Gubo. Now, with the first drill hole we were able to tap the explored water resource as expected thus setting a benchmark which currently has not yet been reached with the second drill hole as to the pumping rate. “As to the reservoir temperature found to be 132 °C, this result already goes beyond our expectations, especially since further rises in temperature are possible under operating conditions. This fact goes to confirm the quality of the location and is a motivation for us to take further action and try and achieve the best possible result at the Kirchweidach location”, says Mr. Gubo.
New Horizontal Drill Hole in a Depth of 3,000 Metres
A new horizontal route is expected to open up further zones of karst formation forecast by geologists to be existent in the subsurface. Thus, some additional suitable hot water resources will be harnessed for the projected geothermal power plant. In a depth of almost 3,000 metres the drilling bit will be applied once again to start a new drill hole in deflexion from the one already existing. “This means that we are able to use the better part of the existing drill hole and therefore may press ahead with the new horizontal drill hole without further delay”, explains Mr. Gubo.
Commencement of Operation Scheduled for 2013
The said rework is to be tackled as early as end of September after some maintenance work and a thorough check-up of the drilling rig will have been carried out by the German Technical Inspection Agency TÜV. “Despite the necessary rework we are determined to stick to our ambitious schedule of commissioning the geothermal power plant in spring 2013”, says Mr. Gubo.