US Geothermal reports successful tests of well at Neal Hot Springs
Drilling rig at Neal Hot Springs, Oregon (source: US Geothermal)
Alexander Richter
14 Oct 2010
US Geothermal reports succesfull drilling and testing of third production well at Neal Hot Springs project in Oregon.
U.S. Geothermal Inc. announces “that its subsidiary, USG Oregon LLC, has successfully drilled and tested NHS-8, the third production well at the Neal Hot Springs geothermal project located in eastern Oregon. The production well encountered the reservoir zone at 3,604 feet. The well flowed under artesian pressure at a rate of 2,770 gallons per minute (“gpm”). The production temperature of the well is 287.5 F (142 C). USG Oregon LLC is owned 80% by US Geothermal and 20% by Enbridge Inc.
Two existing production wells have previously been drilled and tested. Well NHS-1 intersected the reservoir at 2,287 feet and flows under artesian pressure at a rate of 2,315 gpm with a production temperature of 286.5º F (141º C). Well NHS-5 encountered the reservoir at 2,796 feet and flows at a rate of 1,500 gpm and with a production temperature of 286º F
(141º C). Wells with a flowing temperature of 286 F (141 C) and a pumped flow rate of 2,000 to 3,000 gpm are considered very viable to substantiate commercial power generation.
“Well NHS-8 has the highest temperature and artesian flow rate of any well drilled at Neal Hot Springs. This is a great well. With the upcoming completion of well NHS-2 we may have all production needed for the 23 net megawatt (“MW”) project. We will now turn our attention to injection strategy”, said Daniel Kunz, President and CEO.
A fourth production well, NHS-2, is being drilled at a location in between NHS-5 and NHS-8 and is currently at a depth of 1,188 feet with a target depth to the reservoir of 3,220 feet.
Subject to establishing reservoir pressure support via injection wells, this production well may complete the total required production wells needed for the 23 net MW project.
A second injection well, NHS-13 was recently drilled and is currently undergoing injection testing. The first injection well, NHS-10 was already completed and test results indicate an injection capacity of approximately 1,100 gpm.”
Source: release via company website
