Netherlands commits to geothermal industry standard for sustainable well design

Drilling rig on site on Bergschenhoek project site, Netherlands (source: Zublin)

Alexander Richter 12 Mar 2021

As of 2021, all new designs for geothermal wells in the Netherlands will comply with a new Industry Standard Sustainable Well Design, so announced during an online meeting. The members of Geothermie Nederland unanimously agreed to this Industry Standard so that all stakeholders can continue to rely on safe and responsible extraction of geothermal energy. With those efforts, Geothermie Nederland bundles more than 10 years of experience in its own Industry Standard Sustainable Well Design.

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This is essential to be able to use geothermal energy as a natural source of sustainable energy in the energy transition. In the presence of operators and drafters of the industry standard, Radboud Vorage handed over the Industry Standard Sustainable Pit Design to Theodor Kockelkoren, Inspector General at State Supervision of Mines (SSM).

Trust

During the presentation, Theodor Kockelkoren, Inspector General State Supervision of Mines, spoke to the members of Geothermie Nederland: “An adequate design of geothermal wells and adequate protection of groundwater and drinking water contribute to the confidence of citizens and government in geothermal energy.”

Radboud Vorage, chairman Geothermie Nederland: “This industry standard is a milestone for our sector. We have also listened carefully to the concerns of the various stakeholders such as SSM and the water extraction sector. As a sector, we will of course continue to innovate and the industry standard will grow with it.” ‘

Promising future

The geothermal energy sector is a young sector with a promising future. Heat from the subsoil makes it possible to heat buildings and greenhouses in a sustainable way. Because it is important that geothermal energy is generated safely and responsibly, the geothermal energy sector has developed an industry standard for the design of geothermal wells.

Herman Exalto, Program Manager Geo-Energy at EBN, “Geothermal energy has enormous potential. Standards are needed for the sector to grow. Much has been learned from the first geothermal energy projects and that has now translated into an industry standard so that we can extract geothermal energy safely and sustainably.

Safe and responsible extraction

After about ten years of experience with geothermal energy extraction in the Netherlands, it has become apparent that some of the first generation of geothermal wells have to deal with corrosion or other well integrity problems. This experience and the recent innovations in well design are the starting point of the industry standard. This industry standard describes the process to achieve the safest possible and responsible well design over the entire life cycle, from design to decommissioning. In this way, the sector guarantees the well integrity of geothermal wells and is

reduces the risk of formation fluids leaking to the subsurface and mixing of shallow water layers outside the wells. The industry standard therefore plays an important role in the

further professionalization of the geothermal energy sector. Well designs created from January 2021 must meet this standard.

The norm

The industry standard is the standard for the design of geothermal wells. All members of Geothermie Nederland are obliged to use this industry standard when designing new wells. Operators who adhere to this standard work safely and comply with the

Dutch legislation and regulations. take into account their surroundings & environment and have a sustainable well design for the entire life of the well.

Enforcement

New well designs must, among other things, be submitted to SSM, which tests whether the designs comply with Dutch legislation and regulations and maintains ongoing supervision throughout the entire lifespan of the geothermal well.

Creation

The industry standard has been set by a multidisciplinary team of well design specialists such as technical engineers, reservoir engineers, well engineers and geologists. Their insights and experiences have been incorporated into the standard. The standard has been tested by experts including members of Geothermie Nederland and EBN. The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Climate Policy and SSM have been informed about the process of establishing the industry standard. Dio Verbiest, specialist at Geothermal Energy Netherlands: “In collaboration with EBN, we worked very hard for a year to be able to draw up this industry standard. All specialist knowledge built up with 10 years of practical experience of operators and from international studies comes together in this industry standard.”

• Download ‘Introduction Industry Standard Sustainable Pit Design’ (in Dutch)
• Factsheet on the Industry Standard Sustainable Pit Design (in Dutch)

Source: Geothermie Nederland