WorldWide Drilling Resource

Renewable Resource Initiative leads to Geothermal Field Project Compiled by the Editorial Staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® The University of Notre Dame’s coal usage is down from 85% to 15% in recent years, thanks in part to a combined heat and power plant on cam- pus. It’s part of a University initiative to reduce the carbon footprint and di- versify their means of energy production by focusing on renewable and recoverable energy. One of the interesting projects the University is working on involves geothermal energy and three athletic fields used by the Notre Dame Marching Band and RecSports. The athletic fields are called the Ricci Family Fields, and the University will be constructing a geothermal well field beneath the three field complex. The well field will contain around 700 geothermal wells, each about 300 feet deep. The process for forming the geothermal field will involve drilling each individual well, then piping the wells together, and building the earth back on top. The geothermal wel l f ield is de- signed as a closed-loop geothermal sys- tem, which means water is in a closed pipe system instead of being pulled from the ground directly. The water will be transported through the pipes to a depth of around 300 feet. The depth is impor- tant because the system is meant to use the most the earth has to offer to produce the necessary energy. For the process to work, the temperature below the earth’s surface must be around 50ºF (10ºC). From the depth, water will be brought to the temperature of the earth, then it will be brought back to the surface for heat- ing and cooling. During the summer months, water moving through the pipes will be cooled because the temperature underground wi l l be cooler than ai r temperature. Whereas during the winter months, the temperature underground will be warmer than air temperature, and the water will be heated. This process allows for the generation of cooler or warmer air on campus as needed throughout the year. When the project is concluded in the fall of 2017, the University expects the wells to essentially be able to heat and cool about 15% of the current campus, and significantly reduce their carbon footprint. Construction site of the geothermal well field, courtesy of the University of Notre Dame. I had a nice chat with this man from Maryland. He wants to help WFL after reading about it in WWDR . Thanks, Tim Rasmussen Water For Life International Deer Park, WA 48 MARCH 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®