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Former Gas and Oil Lab Open for Geothermal Testing Adapted from Information by TNO TNO, the Netherlands Organisation for applied scientific research, announced companies active in geothermal energy now have access to an advanced state-of-the-art laboratory in Rijswijk, South Holland. The Open Innovation Centre for Well Technology (OIC-WT) can be used for full-scale testing and experimentation with new drilling techniques and materials under high pressure and extreme temperatures. The former Shell technology laboratory has been transformed into a geothermal technology innovation lab, in collaboration with a consortium of partners including TNO, TU Delft, Utrecht University, EBN (Energie Beheer Nederland B.V.), Ministry of Economic Affairs, the province of South Holland, the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations, and the municipality of Rijswijk. “As a drilling company, we have a lot of R&D [research and development] knowledge and installations in-house, but the equip- ment in this lab is unprecedented,” said Peter de Vin, director of Huisman Geo. “And that, combined with the in-depth knowledge of two universities and TNO, makes this facility an innovation center where Dutch industry can take major steps to make geother- mal energy a success. As far as we are concerned, things are still going too slowly. This enables us to move things up a gear.” According to Gert-Jan Heerens of TNO, geothermal energy plays an important role in the energy transition; it is one of the most important sources of renewable energy supplies. Geothermal energy could potentially supply about a quarter of the country's total demand for heat. However, there is still much to be done in terms of more efficient and cost-effective drilling, with an increasing focus on safety. In short, many technical innovations are needed. These can be developed and tested under the most extreme conditions of high pressure and temperature, at the facility. The consortium decided to open the facilities to any company interested in working on new methods and products. “This will bring about ideas. Like the universities, at TNO we can make the connection between scientific knowledge and its appli- cation in practice. In this way, together we can achieve much more at a much faster pace. Who knows, maybe we'll develop methods or equipment here that will soon spread worldwide,” stated Heerens. The facilities are impressive. There is a huge drilling installation, including a full-size rig, above a well nearly 1640 feet deep which can be used to test new materials and methods. The center also has overhead cranes, hydraulic presses, pressure vessels, piping systems for pumping and testing liquids, multiple flow loops, and two drill holes. Almost all underground conditions can be realistically simulated to determine how ma- terials and components will behave under high temperatures belowground. The beauty of the open innovation model is companies do not have to invest in test facilities themselves. “That's just too expensive and that's why potentially wonderful findings remain unused. Even for a well-equipped company like Huisman, this lab is a technological land of milk and honey in this field. Not only do we want to test materials, but we are also interested in the data that comes out of it. I am thinking, for example, of collaborating with companies that specialize in sensor technology. By integrating sensors into the drilling process, you can drill much smarter and accurately predict when maintenance is needed. In this way, you can reduce the costs over the entire life span. Here in the lab, you also meet entrepreneurs from other sec- tors. I can see surprising combinations happening and therefore innovations,” explained de Vin. The cooperation is not l imited to industry, universities and polytechnic institutions are also welcome in the OIC- WT. “We'll have to build about 700 geo- thermal doublets in the long run. Now there are less than 25 of them. And once built, they need maintenance. But there is no training for that in our country. Companies that bui ld wel ls are now mainly focused on oil and gas produc- tion. Here, students can get to know the world of geothermal energy, conduct research, and carry out experiments that are impossible elsewhere. This should also lead to acceleration,” said Heerens. Empire State Water Well Drillers Association Annual Meeting January 14-15, 2020 For more information, visit us online: www.nywelldriller.org January 14 th 9 am - 4:30 pm Board Meeting, Variety of Classes (TBD) 4:30 - 7:30 pm Cocktail Party & Trade Show January 15 th 9 am - noon General Membership Meeting Turning Stone Resort Casino Verona, NY For Hotel Reservations: 800-771-7711 www.turningstone.com 17 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2019 GEO