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Geothermal System Development

Photo of production wells

Drilling of production wells can account for 30-50% of the cost of a geothermal project.

Geothermal system development includes:

  • Producing new drilling technologies for reducing the cost of geothermal wells through an integrated systems approach that focuses on improvements to key subsystems.

  • Improving energy conversion technologies, including better heat exchangers and condensers.

The Geothermal Technologies Program plans to demonstrate a robust Diagnostics-While-Drilling (DWD) subsystem in geothermal wells, including a high-speed data link, a downhole instrumented sub-assembly for controlling a drag-cutter drill bit, and a software package to assist the driller in controlling the drilling operation.