WorldWide Drilling Resource

Progressing the Research for a Geothermal Power Project Adapted from a Press Release by SaskPower SaskPower and DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. (DEEP) have signed a power pur- chase agreement, allowing for further research into the potential for the first geothermal power project in Saskatchewan, Canada. “We’re proud to continue our work with DEEP to evaluate geothermal’s potential role in our power supply,” said SaskPower President and CEO Mike Marsh. “Cleaner electricity options are vital to Saskatchewan’s future, and geothermal power is another option to explore as we work to reach our goal of having 50% of our capacity come from renewable power by 2030.” Geothermal power generation produces electricity by passing hot water through an ex- changer, which creates steam to drive a turbine. The signed agreement allows DEEP to continue a proof of concept study, which aims to address the feasibility of a five-megawatt (MW) project. The proposed plant would generate renewable, zero emission, baseload power from a hot aquifer almost 10,000 feet beneath the surface. “We’re pleased to complete this agreement with SaskPower as another step towards the commencement of Canada's first geothermal power facility in southeast Saskatchewan,” said Kirsten Marcia, DEEP’s president and CEO. “DEEP’s Saskatchewan power facility will launch a brand new clean energy sector for the country, and we anticipate significant job creation during the construction and operation of the facility. DEEP is honored to be in partnership with SaskPower and their commitment to significantly reduce provincial GHG [greenhouse gas] emissions through new and innovative projects like geothermal power.” The electricity provided by the plant would generate roughly enough power for 5000 homes, and it would offset an amount of carbon dioxide emissions equivalent to taking over 8000 cars off the roads annually. How a Leak Caused a Water Line to Plug Up Submitted by Bob Lawson in South Texas Those of you who have experienced this have guessed the answer. A couple of years ago (in my 70s) I encountered it. Melvin’s home was about 100 yards from his well. He had been living at this location for about 40 years, and started noticing his volume of water at the house begin to diminish until he had but a trickle. He had already dug up some of the line near the house, working back toward where yard faucets had a good volume of flow. As we began helping with digging up the lines, we encountered a place where a tree root had engulfed the water line. We freed the line and removed it. When the line had been laid, it had the bell-end couplings except at the place where the root had gone. Here was a short coupling, and did not seem to be aligned too well. The seep at this spot had attracted the root, and when we checked the interior of the pipe, the root had built up inside so as to plug it up. Maybe the tree did not want to share its water with Melvin. As a boy helping my father drill wells, we encountered a place where a salt cedar tree’s roots had gone down 60-80 feet and clogged the well’s perforations. And more recently, I witnessed a jet stuck in a well because roots above it had it trapped. It was an old steel casing well, with a big tree hovering above it. I doubt if much annular concrete had been used there either. Makes you realize how important annular sealing is! 19 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JANUARY 2018