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Petratherm successfully completes fracture stimulation at Paralana

Petratherm successfully completes fracture stimulation at Paralana Paralana 2 Well Injectivity Test in January 2011 showing some hydraulic pumps (left) and Coil Tubing Unit (right) (source: Petratherm, June 2011)
Alexander Richter 19 Jul 2011

Australian geothermal development company Petratherm says it has successfully completed a fracture stimulation at the Paralana 2 well in South Australia's north, passing a milestone in its development efforts.

Reported today, Australian geothermal development company Petratherm says it has successfully completed a fracture stimulation at the Paralana 2 well in South Australia’s north.

The successful trial put the company on track to deliver Australia’s first commercial geothermal power by the end of next year.

The operation was designed to create fractures in the subsurface rocks, at least 500 metres from the main well by injecting high pressure water to cause micro-earthquakes.

Seismic monitoring showed the largest quake was a magnitude 2.6 while most were below 1.0.

Petratherm said the 2.6 quake was felt at the well bore, but not by people in the surrounding area.

Preliminary analysis of the fracture stimulation suggested the fractures extended for about 900 metres from the main well.

The company will next create a subsurface geothermal reservoir by injecting high pressure water into the subsurface rocks.

The hot, geothermal waters can then be extracted to generate electricity.

“Further assessment and processing of the considerable data collected during the fracture stimulation works will be undertaken over the next few weeks,” Petratherm said.

“Additional information and analysis will be provided.”

Before the latest tests the company said if they proved successful it would be on track to produce Australia’s first commercial geothermal power by the end of 2012.

It plans to drill a deep production well in the second half of 2011 and complete the final tests during the first half of 2012.

This would allow commercial commissioning of 3.75 megawatt powerplant by the end of next year.”

Source: 9News