Drilling & Well Design
RESPEC provides geothermal drilling engineering services, including well design, workover design, and detailed drilling procedures and permit preparation. Our drilling engineers design wells to meet long term project needs and reduce drilling risk, considering the analysis of available data to determine the most efficient drilling practices and develop less expensive, more efficient drilling techniques.
Project Spotlight
Estevan, SK, Canada
In the Williston Basin, RESPEC is helping Deep Earth Energy Production Corp. tap asedimentary heat from basal aquifers 3,500 meters below the surface.
Ngatamariki, New Zealand
RESPEC engineers led exploration and drill design, ultimately proving the economic viability of what is currently the largest binary power plant in the world.
South Sumatra, Indonesia
A team led by RESPEC engineers designed a fluid collection and injection system for dual 49 MW geothermal power plants.
Taupō, New Zealand
RESPEC staff prepared the process design for the Nga Awa Purua project located next to the existing Rotokawa Plant.
Well Planning
Reconnaissance performed by RESPEC typically consists of visiting active geothermal manifestations to characterize temperature, electric conductivity, pH, flow, geochemistry, presence of gas bubbles/composition, odors, precipitates in fluid. GPS and drone surveys support detailed mapping of the study area. Geologic data includes maps of the study area, cross sections, regional and local structures, fault kinematics, and alteration mineralogy. Geophysical surveys and interpretation include magnetics, gravity, magnetotellurics, and passive microseismic monitoring. In sedimentary basins, oil and gas well data are used to characterize the target reservoirs and temperatures—all available data are integrated into a conceptual model of the geothermal system for further analysis.
Well Drilling
During drilling and surface construction RESPEC typically is Owner’s Engineer (OE). RESPEC engineers and scientists have experience contracting for the design and implementation of drilling and constructing resource production and power generation facilities, direct heat use, and operating and maintenance contracts. Procurement packages and contract approaches can vary and change the risk profile of the company and contractors. The funding entity usually is involved in the procurement decisions, which may include the following:
- Contracts with equipment and service providers
- Engineer/Procure/Construct (EPC)
- EPC/Manage
- EPCM/Operate for a period then transfer to the client
Well Construction
RESPEC’s engineering team organizes and manages on-site well operations and engineering oversight of operations. We excel in pre-drilling services such as rig, equipment, and vendor selection, as well as operations oversight, review, and reporting throughout the drilling operations process.
Our on-site geothermal drilling management and supervision team provides recommendations and oversight of operations for domestic and international drilling programs and coordinates service companies and drilling-related logistics. We work with service companies and management to determine the most appropriate course of action throughout the well execution and workover process. Our teams continually report to regulatory and agency filing services, fulfilling permit applications and specific reporting requirements, from initial planning through lessons learned cataloging and submission of well-completion reports and lookback analysis.
Our on-site and office-based drilling personnel provide management with recommendations concerning drilling engineering decisions, balancing all drilling variables while using available equipment in the most efficient manner to minimize time and costs.
Well Maintenance
Drilling the first wells in any project represents the period of greatest risk. RESPEC prefers to drill two to three slim-hole deep wells to determine the commercial feasibility of the resource. Drilling wells, logging, and flow testing significantly improve the understanding of the available resource, allowing for energy reserve estimation, production thickness and petrophysical characteristics identification, and geothermal system and power evaluation.