WorldWide Drilling Resource

Drilling Commences at Idaho Geothermal Project Adapted from Information by U.S. Geothermal, Inc. U.S. Geothermal, Inc. has started drilling a second leg to its existing production well, RRG-2, at the Raft River project in southeast Idaho. It will be drilled out of the existing wellbore at approximately 3500 feet below surface, to a planned final depth of approximately 5600 feet, and is expected to cross the main production zone between the original leg of Well RRG-2 and production well RRG-1. Once drilling is complete, the well will be tested and a new pump will be designed, man- ufactured, and installed based on the new production char- acteristics. The total project is expected to cost $3 million, and the well is expected to be placed back into production during the third quarter of this year. The Raft River Geothermal Power Plant is located about 200 miles southeast of Boise, at the site of a former U.S. Department of Energy geothermal installation. Although it has a design capacity of 13 net annual average megawatts, the project is currently operating at annual average of approximately 9.4 megawatts. Reservoir modeling indicates the geothermal reservoir can support the full 13-megawatt contract. Further production from the additional drilling could potentially increase plant output to its full contract limit. “Drilling of this well, which had been planned for many years, is expected to considerably improve the profitability and cash flow from our Raft River project,” said Dennis Gilles, CEO of U.S. Geothermal, Inc. “The acquisition from Goldman Sachs this past December unlocked the ability to consider capital upgrades like this one that should increase output from the facility and potentially reach its design capacity of 13 megawatts.” The California Groundwater Association will hold its 68th Convention & Trade Show at the Peppermill Resort Hotel in Reno, Nevada, October 20-22, 2016. The event starts with a golf tournament on Thursday morning. Several seminars are offered be- ginning at 1:00 p.m. Topics include discussion on the effects of speed on pumps and motors, and water treatment. A meet and greet with exhibitors is at 5:30 p.m., followed by dinner and game night. Friday, the exhibit hall of product displays is open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Meetings begin at 4:15 p.m., then the banquet and auction commence at 7:15 p.m. The schedule for Saturday includes the McEllhiney Lecture, general membership meeting, several seminars, craft beer testing, and a blackjack tournament. Go to www.groundh2o.org for more details. Where are you planning to go? How about including this show: See more events online at www.worldwidedrillingresource.info/Planning2.pdf Join WWDR 30 SEPTEMBER 2016 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®