Geothermal development
EGS Energy and its partners offer a comprehensive set of geothermal development services focussed on the unconventional geothermal sector, something that the team has been doing for a number of years. The EGS Energy team of geothermal specialists will cover all aspects of geothermal development from definition to reality.
Including the EGS Global Group, the wider EGS Energy team has provided geothermal development services to projects in Europe, Asia and the Americas and can drive the geothermal development process from start to finish – or simply one aspect of it as required by the client.
The Geothermal Development phase can typically be split up in to these two distinct stages, Pre-feasibility Study and Exploration, and Feasibility Study
Pre-feasibility Study
The aim of the exploration stage is to determine if there is a commercially exploitable geothermal resource and this will depend on the amount and quality of the data that can be gathered about the resource. The initial step is to carry out a desktop study which will involve the collation and analysis of all the available existing data regarding the area under consideration and its surrounding environment, in order to define the resource and scope of the following exploration activities.
Exploration
Depending on the level of data already available, the desk study is likely to be followed by field work. This will include a number of the following initiatives:
- Geological mapping of important geological features in order to get acquainted to the geological structure of the geothermal system
- Geochemical analysis of fluids from surface manifestations or shallow wells if available to get indications on the reservoir temperatures
- Geophysical explorations, like resistivity measurements, gravity and seismic profiling where needed, to get better understanding of the subsurface features of the geothermal resource
- Drilling of shallow exploration wells (usually 50-200 m) to measure temperature gradients in order to locate the up-flow zone of hot fluids in the geothermal reservoir
EGS Energy and its partners are able to provide a full range of services to make a geothermal development happen. Project management from the start of the exploration phase through to resource management of the resulting geothermal resource development, this spectrum can be covered by EGS Energy depending on the requirements of the client.
We would be happy to provide you with further details should you require them as well as further credentials on the team and the various disciplines that we cover – from finance, environmental and permitting through to geology, geophysics, drilling and reservoir engineering.
Feasibility study
If the data from the exploration and pre-feasibility stage looks positive, the following stage is to carry out a feasibility study where the development process becomes more focused on the most favourable location. In this stage, the commercial level of the geothermal resource needs to be demonstrated.
Activities in this pre-feasibility phase are likely to include any of the following:
- Drilling of pilot wells
- Drilling of a deep exploration well
- Well testing and well logging
- More detailed geophysical exploration and analysis
- Production potential assessment and reservoir modelling
- Environmental impact assessment
- Preliminary design of power plant and surface equipment
- Site selection analysis (site area, water supply, HGV access, etc.)
- Financial modelling and economic assessment
For further details or to discuss your requirements please get in touch.