Brine line for Schwerin geothermal project to be drilled horizontally
Steered horizontal drilling for the brine line of the Schwerin geothermal project (Source: Stadtwerke Schwerin)
Carlo Cariaga
18 Apr 2022
Steered horizontal drilling will allow for the construction of a brine line in the Schwerin geothermal project in Germany without closure of two main roads.
Having finished the drilling of the production and reinjection wells for the geothermal heating project in Schwerin, Germany, municipal utility Statdwerke Schwerin will now work on the brine line that will connect the two wells. To avoid blocking main roads during this phase of the project, the method of steered horizontal drilling will be used.
We had previously reported on the completion of the reinjection well, the second well of the Schwerin geothermal project. The reinjection well, located in “Sportpark Lankow,” was drilled at an angle that put its endpoint about 1,100 meters away from that of the production well. The target vertical depth of 1220 meters was achieved.
The use of horizontal drilling for the brine line will allow construction to proceed without having to close off the Ratzeburger and Grevesmuhler streets. Brine will travel across 1037 meters of the brine line before it is injected back to the subsurface. In addition to the brine line, fiber optic cables and low-voltage cables will be laid along the horizontal segment.
The geothermal fluid from the production well of the Schwerin project has a temperature of 56 degrees C. This is increased to 75 to 80 degrees using four high-performance heat pumps before the thermal energy is transferred through heat exchanges.
The first trial of the Schwerin geothermal project is planned for this year’s heating season. At completion, the project is expected to supply about 15% of the city’s district heating requirements. Together with the municipal utility’s biogas facility, 20% of the district heating in Schwerin can be supplied by renewable sources.
Source: Stadtwerke Schwerin
