WorldWide Drilling Resource

39 SEPTEMBER 2021 WorldWide Drilling Resource® tĞůů WƌŽĚƵĐƚƐ tĂƚĞƌ ^ǁŝǀĞůƐ ^ĂĨĞƚLJ ,ĂŵŵĞƌƐ Θ ƌŝǀŝŶŐ ƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ^Žŝů ^ĂŵƉůŝŶŐ ZŽůůĞƌ Θ ƌĂŐ ŝƚƐ WƵŵƉƐ Θ WĂƌƚƐ ƌŝůů ZŽĚ Θ ĐĐĞƐƐŽƌŝĞƐ ŽƌĞ ŝƚƐ Θ ĐĐĞƐƐŽƌŝĞƐ ŽƌĞ ĂƌƌĞůƐ ĂƐŝŶŐ ƵŐĞƌ ƋƵŝƉŵĞŶƚ ĚĂƉƚĞƌƐ 4"-&4!//%3*-*/( $0. 888 //%3*-*/( $0. '"9 1)0/& 64" / / %SJMJOH 4VQMZ .BOVGBDUVSFS 36/4 %&1 063 26"-*5: Moose Jaw Geothermal on the Horizon Compiled the Editorial Staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource® The community of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, Canada, is exploring the value of geothermal for a planned industrial park. Earlier in the year, the city council approved spending over $54,000 for an assessment to determine if geothermal energy south of the city could help power the Agri-Food Industrial Park. During its regular meeting, the city council voted unanimously to approve a proposal from long-time geology consultant Steve Halabura for a geothermal project in the Galilee area south of Moose Jaw and a preliminary economic assessment of the development of the city’s geothermal energy resource for agrifood production. Part of his work will be identifying potential investors and agencies willing to fund a geothermal site. He will also be determining potential power output from the geothermal energy. Results of that study are expected this summer. Fraser Tolmie, mayor of Moose Jaw said, “It’s about creating jobs and creating opportunity and capitalizing on all the resources that we have within our community to form a stable and healthy economy.” The city is focusing on what geothermal could mean for its Agri-Food Industrial Park, which is located southeast of the city on 700 acres of unoccupied land, with 75 acres already serviced. Although the park is in its development phase, the city hopes it will attract investors from the agriculture sector. The addition of geothermal technology to the park could be another attraction for some investors. “It will potentially heat a greenhouse,” Manager of Economic Development for the City of Moose Jaw Jim Dixon said. He added, “We are an agriculture hub. We are a transportation hub, and so these things all fit really well with the vision we have for the park . . .” The area is in close proximity to national rail lines and the Trans-Canada Highway. Following the evaluation, a test well could be drilled to explore if the geothermal resources would be enough for heating larger buildings and industrial infrastructure. Halabura said, “Saskatchewan has really been blessed with a wide variety of sources. We hear about oil and natural gas, but there are many other resources that are sometimes overshadowed. I really believe that geothermal is one of those resources.” Since it will take plenty of energy to power the Moose Jaw Agri-Food Industrial Park once it is fully operational, geothermal energy could be one method to support that area. Agri-Food Industrial Park. Photo courtesy of City of Moose Jaw, Canada. GEO

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