WorldWide Drilling Resource

Update on Canada’s First Geothermal Power Plant Compiled by Bonnie Love, Editor, WorldWide Drilling Resource ® C anada is well on its way to developing its first geothermal power plant. As previously reported in WWDR ( January 2018 ) , the site for the plant is in Southeastern Saskatchewan. The project is being led by DEEP Earth Energy Production Corp. which proudly announced drilling of the first geothermal test well has been completed. The well, managed by Frontier Project Solutions and drilled by Horizon Drilling, reached its target total depth of over 11,500 feet in December; making this the deepest well ever drilled in Saskatchewan’s history. “This is a major step forward for the first renewable energy project of its kind in Canada,” said Kirsten Marcia, president and CEO of DEEP. “Successfully drilling and validating the resource poten- tial is the biggest achievement this project has seen to date.” The company took full advantage of Saskatchewan’s knowledge of drilling in the Williston Basin and even used drilling technology from the mining and gas and oil industries. Preliminary data indicated the bottom hole temperatures exceed 250ºF (125ºC) while the drill stem test (DST) results indicated the reservoir pressure and permeability exceeds the minimum threshold for the project. The well was completed with a slotted production liner, in preparation for the second phase of the pilot project which includes a production flow and build up test. More than 650 feet of core samples were recovered across the targeted reservoir, including the Winnipeg and Deadwood Formations and ending at the Precambrian bedrock. Detailed geotechnical core analysis will be conducted which will tie into specialized geophysical data including detailed micro images of the reservoir rocks captured inside the well. The next step for the project includes drilling and coring an injection well on the same location. During production testing operations, produced brine from the source well will be injected and disposed of into the injection well, enabling a production/injection doublet. Further geothermal parameters including corroboration of the initial DST data with confirmation of pressure, temperature, and reservoir permeability will be acquired during this step which includes a 30-day injection and production flow and build up test. In addition to providing five megawatts of clean, geothermal power for the province, the local community will use excess heat from the facility for a 45-acre commercial greenhouse. The government of Canada is supporting the project by providing $25.6 million in funding for the facility. Justin Trudeau, Prime Minister of Canada said, “Today’s announcement is an investment in the future of Saskatchewan, and all our children. DEEP’s project has the potential to transform how the province and the country produces energy, while creating good, mid- dle-class jobs for Canadians. This is another example of how we’re taking action to fight climate change today while strength- ening our communities for tomorrow.” 302-684-3197 FAX: 302-384-0643 142 Broadkill Rd. • Milton, DE 19968 www.atlantic-screen.com email: atlantic@ce.net Manufacturers of Slotted & Perforated Pipe ranging from ½” to 24” diameter Atlantic Screen & Mfg., Inc. • Well Rehab. Products • Manholes • Bentonite • Filter Sock • Inline Chemical Mixers • Sampling Bailers • Clear PVC Pipe • Locking Caps GEO Oil/Water Exploration by Harold White To the readers of WWDR , I think of you as friends or family. I write and talk, hoping it will interest you. I get a call or letter now and then, like family. I would like to talk to the oil, gas, water well, saltwater, lithium, etc. drilling contractors about if and why they miss what they are looking for. Is it just a drill in an oil field and certain area where the spacing tells you where to drill? How do you arrive at a point, saying you want to drill right there at that exact spot? Are you in a proven or unproven place and want to drill a hot water geothermal well? Are you in a saltwa- ter area trying to get fresh water? Any drilling at any depth has to be surveyed and adjusted for plumb by sur- veying the downhole drift, deviation. Set up the drill above the taget so the drill bit touches the ground at the target point with a plumb tower and stabilizers, etc. Let the drill bit and stabilizer pull. Hold back some weight so the drill string is pulled straight and plumb. Let the drill bit and stabilizer work like a plumb bob. Take a lot of surveys going down. We do everything we can to drill a plumb straight down the well because I am locating creeks and rivers underground that are not very wide. Most creeks aboveground are less than 20 feet wide and smaller. The underground creeks are the same, and that is part of the reason to find a place where a lot of creeks cross over and under each other. We have a larger target, even though they are at dif- ferent depths. We know we will probably not drill into all of the creeks, but we will probably hit some. Harold Harold White may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com EXB 48 APRIL 2019 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®