WorldWide Drilling Resource

(661) 201-6259 bitcoinc.us Bitco, Inc. (800) 348-8809 diedrichdrill.com (503) 682-1001 rockmore-intl.com (800) 833-2040 flomatic.com Diedrich Drill Flomatic Corporation Rockmore International (800) 538-5823 jetlube.com (800) 241-1935 simmonsmfg.com Simmons Mfg. (800) 356-5130 bakerwatersystems.com These companies provide outstanding service! To advertise yours here, call: (850) 547-0102 or e-mail: wwdr@worldwidedrillingresource.com 56 APRIL 2017 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® World’s First Commercial Geothermal-Hydro Power Plant Adapted from a Press Release by Enel Green Power North America, Inc. Operations have started at the world’s first integrated, commercial-scale geothermal-hydro power plant at the Cove Fort site in Utah, operated by Enel Green Power North America, Inc. The Cove Fort binary cycle geothermal well received a fully submersible down hole generator, which resulted in the unique combination of geothermal and hydroelectric power at one site. The initial testing phase revealed the addition of the hydro generator to the geothermal injection well generated an overall increase in output of 1008 megawatt hours between July and September 2016. During this time, the plant’s operational efficiency was improved because the increased output was enough to offset the energy consumption of the plant by nearly 9%. The geothermal well takes water heated by the earth and pumps it to the surface under pressure, where the binary power plant uses heat from the water to generate electricity. Then, the downhole generator in the injection well cap- tures the energy of water flowing back into the earth, thereby generating addi- tional electricity. The likelihood of potential damage to the well is decreased by the generator’s ability to create pressure against the flow of water, reducing the flow’s turbulence into the well. The result is a world-class innovation, which can reduce operational and maintenance expenses while potentially producing addi- tional revenues. “The operation of this technology, a world’s first, is a major milestone for the geothermal industry and a reinforcement of our commitment to innovation and energy efficiency," said Francesco Venturini, head of Enel’s Global Renewable Energies. “We are creating innovative solutions that are making renewable energy better, stronger, and smarter. As a result, we have once again discovered a more resourceful way to maximize plant operations and power generation with the aim of using this technology at our facilities around the world.” With an installed capacity of 25 megawatts, Cove Fort began operations in 2013. It generates up to 160 gigawatt hours of electricity each year, which powers more than 13,000 households while avoiding the annual emission of about 115,000 tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. The Cove Fort site operated by Enel Green Power North America, Inc.