WorldWide Drilling Resource

37 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MAY 2018 Riding the Bullet Compiled by Caleb Whitaker, Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Have you ever wanted to soar across the land and under the sea at great speeds as you make your way to your next des- tination? India’s first bullet train project is underway, which involves the construc- tion of a line over 300 miles long con- necting Ahmedabad in the western state of Guirat, and the country’s commercial capital of Mumbai. Current plans foresee the Mumbai terminal station being built under the Bandra Kurla Complex, which is a modern business hub located where a number of major domestic and foreign companies have offices. According to feasibility studies, there will be 12 sta- tions along the line between Ahmedabad and Mumbai. Trains sailing across the line could reach speeds of nearly 200 miles per hour. India’s first undersea tunnel will be built between Mumbai and Thane, which is the next station. Soil and rocks at a depth of 230 feet beneath the sea are being tested as part of a geotechnical and geophysical investigation undertaken for the project. These studies will determine if the ground can support the structure of the train. The 13-mile tunnel will run for nearly 5 miles undersea, while the rest will run underground on land. The remaining distance of the line will be on aboveground tracks. The Railway Ministry opted for an elevated corridor to avoid land acquisitions, and the need to build underpasses. After the geotechnical survey is complete, a final location survey will begin, which will mark the alignment and exact spots for the pillars the trains will run across at high speeds. It currently takes around seven hours to travel between Ahmedabad and Mumbai, and the bullet train aims to reduce the time to about two hours. Construction of the corridor is expected to start later this year and be completed by 2023. High Speed Railway Corp. of India has been tasked with implementing the project. While target figures could be changed depending on later demand forecasts, the plan is for 10-car trains to make the round trip 35 times a day during the first year, carrying 36,000 passengers a day. By 2053, they aim to increase the number of cars to 16 per train, daily services to 105, and the number of passengers per day to 186,000. C&G Bringing Geothermal to the Caribbean Adapted from Information by Clean Power Nevis The Caribbean Island of Nevis has commenced its geothermal development project with a geothermal confirmation “Test Well,” which was drilled during the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Deputy Premier Mark Brantley and President of NREI / TEP Daniel Pfeffer were both present for the start of test well operations. The well was drilled to confirm geothermal reservoir properties including flow rate, temperature, and sustainability. It is estimated Nevis has up to 300 megawatts (MWs) of geothermal power, and some estimates calculate as much as 650 MWs. As Nevis becomes energy self-sufficient, its renewable resources could benefit nearby island nations through the construction of a submarine cable. After hurricanes damaged parts of the Caribbean, many eastern Caribbean nations began seeking ways of implement- ing more resilient renewable energies capable of providing 24/7 power. With an established goal to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions from power generation, Nevis is committed to leveraging its proven geothermal resources. Nevis will be the first Caribbean island to utilize Binary Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) geo- thermal power generation which has a closed-loop system with zero carbon emissions. Mark Brantley said, “This is an important step to enhancing the leadership of Nevis in the transformational impacts of the new, post-fossil fuel world economy. The Nevis Geothermal Project will create increased economic growth, reduced power costs, increase employment, and create new economic opportunities for local businesses.” GEO