Nevada Geothermal Power increasing output at Faulkner 1 plant
Alexander Richter
9 Jan 2010
Nevada Geothermal Power completes two new deep injection wells that will increase the operating output at its Faulkner 1 plant to 40 MW, with additional wells planned.
According to a recent statement by the company, “Nevada Geothermal Power has completed two new deep injection wells that, when connected, the company said will enable the Faulkner 1 plant to operate at approximately 40MW of net generation capacity. Two or more additional wells will be drilled as part of the current programme to further optimise production from the existing plant.
The company said that drilling progress has been faster than anticipated and the overall programme is expected to be completed under budget, with the first two injection wells exceeding expectations.
‘Drilling progress has been faster than anticipated and the overall programme is expected to be completed significantly under budget. The first two injection wells exceed expectations and NGP believes that the results will enable us to considerably enhance production at Faulkner 1,’ said Brian Fairbank, president and CEO of Nevada Geothermal Power.
Injection well 55-15, which is located half a mile west of the existing production well field and 1300 feet north of existing injection well 57-15, was drilled to a total depth of 7707 feet, with a maximum recorded temperature of 395°F (202°C).
The company describes injection test well 58-11, which is located under a mile northeast of the existing production field and was drilled to a total depth of 4627 feet, as an excellent injector well despite being smaller in diameter than other reservoir development wells. The maximum down-hole temperature of the well was 330°F (166°C).
The larger of two drilling rigs currently on site is set up and is currently drilling well 91-15, designed to be a 400°F (200-°C) production well. The second smaller rig will be used to drill remaining injection wells.
Pipeline construction has commenced starting with injection well 55-15, expected to be connected by the end of January, 2010, with subsequent wells to be brought on line as they are completed.
Nevada Geothermal Power is an emerging renewable energy producer and developer focused on producing geothermal electric power from high temperature geothermal resources in the US. Its four sites are at different levels of exploration and development, with an estimated potential of over 200MW in capacity from current leaseholds.”
Source: New Energy World Network
