Research drilling confirms 95 °C geothermal resource at Zaprešic, Croatia
Positive results have been announced for an exploration well drilled in Zaprešic, Croatia, completing a four-site geothermal exploration campaign by the AZU.
Drilling of the geothermal exploration well at Zaprešic in Croatia has been completed, with results so far indicating that it can cover the city’s entire heating needs. This completes the four-site geothermal exploration drilling campaign undertaken by the Croatian Hydrocarbon Agency (AZU) which has succeeded in discovering viable geothermal resources in all four sites.
The results of exploration drilling in Zaprešic were announced by Marijan Krpan, President of the Management Board of the AZU. The measured temperature at the bottom of the well was 95 °C, and the well can support a flowrate of 37 L/s. The official added that the resource was hosted by a dolomite formation, which is a good indicator for permeability.
“The results we have now are more than good, they are extraordinary,” said Krpan, further adding that the Zaprešic was the site that had the highest degree of exploration risk compared to the other drilling sites of the exploration campaign. Successful geothermal drilling campaigns had already been reported by ThinkGeoEnergy in Vinkovci, Velika Gorica, and Osijek.
“With the result in Zaprešic, we have not only concluded one cycle, but we have proven the full operability of the Hydrocarbon Agency on the ground and our ability to turn the vision of the energy transition into reality. Four positive wells out of four explored locations are proof that Croatia not only has wealth under its feet, but also experts who know how to find it,” added Krpan.
All four sites had been identified by AZU for the program “Preparation and exploration of geothermal potential in the context of centralized heating.” AZU has received EUR 50.8 million from the National Recovery and Resilience Plan (NRRP) to implement the project. Drilling was executed by CROSCO, a member of the INA group, under the expert guidance of the AZU.
The commercial use of thermal waters from the well in Zaprešic will depend on the city’s willingness to invest in facilities near the site. The AZU is also obliged to announce a public tender for the lease of the well and resource. Krpan noted that it would be logical for a city-owned company, in cooperation with the heating system operator, to hold the concession for the project.
The mayor of Zaprešic, Željko Turk, pointed out that there are elementary schools and utility companies in the immediate vicinity of the site that could be end-users of the heat. There is also a planned business zone just across the Krapina River. The mayor does not rule out the possibility of private investors working with the city to operate the geothermal resource.
Source: Index.HR, Jutarnji, and AZU via LinkedIn
