Ram Power commences drilling in California and Nicaragua

According to a release, “Ram Power, Inc., announces that it has commenced the six-well drilling program permitted for the Orita I geothermal development project which is underway in Imperial County, California. This drilling program will define and test the resource zones that will supply steam to the planned 49.9 MW Orita I power plant. Ram Power, Inc. has contracted Nabors Drilling USA to use Nabors Drilling Rig 415 to test both permeable sand units and fault fracture units within the depth range of 7,000′ to 10,000′ to delineate the quality of the reservoir system. Spud date for the Orita well no. 2 location was April 8, 2010 and it is expected to require 45 days to drill, complete and test this first well. Drilling is planned to develop resource fluids contained in competent rock units at temperatures in excess of 400 degreesF.

The Orita resource area was explored previously by operators active in the 1980s and the area was designated as a Known Geothermal Resource Area with identified resource temperature of 574 degreesF and wells tested at commercial flow rates. The 49.9 MW Orita I project is expected to be completed by the end of 2012 and power will be sold to Southern California Edison under an existing power purchase agreement with Ram Power’s subsidiary Orita Geothermal I, LLC.

Stu Johnson, Vice President for Geothermal Resources, stated “Permitting for the drilling and for the conduct of seismic and magneto-telluric geophysical surveys used to plan the drilling was coordinated through the lead of Imperial County agencies and their staff. It is a pleasure to work with the residents of Imperial County, and Ram Power looks forward to expanding the green power geothermal base within the region.”

Regarding the 72 MW San Jacinto project in Nicaragua, Mr. Johnson stated, “The Norwood drilling rig is on site and will commence drilling next week. ThermaSource rig 104 has been shipped from Long Beach, California, to the site and will commence drilling by the end of April. Using two drilling rigs with different capabilities will assure the completion of the drilling program for the full 72 MW project before the end of 2010. Construction continues on site in earnest to meet the 2011 deadline.”

Source: Company release via Marketwire