WorldWide Drilling Resource

Ronnie’s Real WWoorrlldd Ironic as it is... I had a plan for this month’s Real World andlowandbehold, it changed! Just one e-mail put me on a different track... “They’re back”! Sad to say, but those darned copycats are back again. Not only here at WWDR , but I see TEREX ® put out a Press Release this morning (3-5- 2015) warning about counterfeit cranes! Can no one think for themselves and develop their own ideas? Guess not. So here at WWDR , the issue of our “in print and online” Buyers Meet Sellers and “resource” is now being copied. Of course, the cost is higher for the counterfeit, confusing copycat items - but are you really getting what you are paying for? DARE TO COM- PARE is all we ask. Then choose what best fits your needs. As for TEREX ® , their Press Release confirms counterfeit versions of their Terex ® crawler crane models originating from South Korea have been offered. Similar to the incident reports of 2013 from China, the Terex CC 2500-1 lattice boom crawler crane is the crane model of choice for the copycat manufacturers. The units are assembled, branded, and sold as used Terex cranes at prices well under market value and are either painted white, using the Terex brand, or red, using the Demag ® brand. For more, contact Terex ® directly at terex.com. But one thing not being copied is the advantages of ensuring you are with the “inventor or manufacturer” of the items in question. So, go ahead DARE TOCOMPARE - There is only ONE true RESOURCE... WWDR ! And that truly is... Ronnie’s Real World! see you on the trail... 44 APRIL 2015 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® low bid and leave the homeowner with backup electric use which is so expen- sive the telephone poles leading to the house bend over under the strain. (Thanks William for the analogy!) The calculations and software should yield optimal length of loop without engaging backup too fre- quently. Boreholes should not be so overly conservative and robust the initial installa- tion cost to save a few hours of costly strip heating makes the whole project uneco- nomical. After all, the price of perfection is prohibitive. Rather, the owner should be given the recommended depth for an Entering Water Temperature above the equipment tested 32ºF (0ºC). The owner should de- cide, based on savings of additional steel casing to start another borehole (@$16 per foot), and other factors, whether to drill more or less than the design recommendation, to optimize howmuch backup heat to use. We are seeing a drastic reduction in the price of heating oil this year, and return on geothermal investments are getting longer in years, as cheap crude oil (and higher electric rates) are factored into the equations. Our industry must do all it can to keep initial installation costs down, while providing long-term systems that can compete with bargain-basement fuel oil. Focusing on realistic backup options might be one tool we can use. The statements and comments in this article are based on information and references believed to be true and factual. If you have any questions or comments, please forward them to me in care of WWDR . Tavino cont’d from page 41. 2",/ # / 4%,/#03())$ ',+$ 5 ),4"$+1$/ ),,- -2*- *,#2)$0 /$ 3 () !)$ %,/ !,1' /$0(#$+1( ) +# ",**$/"( ) &/,2+# ),,- '$ 1(+& +# ",,)(+& 0601$*0 ,*- 1(!)$ 4(1' 1'$0$ -2*-0 ),4"$+1$/0 " + !$ ",+ %(&2/$# 4(1' ,/ -2*- 2+(10 1, * 1"' #(% %$/$+1 ), # /$.2(/$*$+10 /,#2"10 (+")2#$ ),4"$+1$/0 7 $,1'$/* ) ),0$# ,,- (11(+&0 7 $-) "$*$+1 2*-0 7 ,0$ (10 +# ""$00,/($0 7 /( !)$ -$$# 2*-0 Optimism for St. Lucia’s Geothermal Future Adapted from Information Provided by the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science, and Technology Dr. James Fletcher, minister for sustainable development, energy, sci- ence, and technology, is optimistic about Saint Lucia’s geothermal future. He said the country’s geothermal re- source could potentially produce nearly 50% of the country’s energy demand if the current drilling program is successful. “It all depends on what the explo- ration finds, but we believe that we can get as much as 30 megawatts, which is about 50% of our demand right now,” said Fletcher. “We are looking at any- where between a 15- and 30-megawatt plant for Soufriere.” The government is in advanced negotiations with geothermal develop- ing company Ormat Technologies, Inc. Dr. Fletcher said the company is reputable, has developed resources all over the world, and has some of the best-run plants globally. Financing has been secured from the World Bank, SIDS DOCK, and the Government of New Zealand. Representatives from the World Bank, the United Kingdom Department for International Development, and the New Zealand Government recently visit- ed Saint Lucia. Teams made presenta- tions to senior government officials from ministries, which will play an important part in facilitating the island’s geothermal development, and also discussed public engagement strategies, employment, technical training opportunities, and risks associated with the project. T h e Ge o t h e r ma l R e s o u r c e Development Project has potential to provide a steady baseload of electricity and stabilize energy prices in Saint Lucia. Pete Peter Tavino may be contacted via e-mail at michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com