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Well tests ongoing at Tu Deh-Kah geothermal project, BC, Canada

Well tests ongoing at Tu Deh-Kah geothermal project, BC, Canada Fort Nelson, BC, Canada (source: Chris Shervey / flickr, Creative Commons)
Carlo Cariaga 30 Jun 2022

Well tests are ongoing to assess the commercial viability of putting up a power plant at the site of the Tu Deh-Kah geothermal project, BC, Canada.

Well testing is currently ongoing at the Tu Deh-Kah geothermal project at British Columbia, Canada. Owned by Fort Nelson First Nation, this project can potentially result in the first geothermal power plant in British Columbia. The power plant is expected to have a capacity of 7 MWe with potentail to expand to 15 MWe.

Previously known as Clarke Lake, the Tu Deh-Kah geothermal project was renamed to decolonize the site’s identity and better reflect its indigenous nature. We had previously reported on the successful drilling of two wells in the project. The ongoing well testing will assess the commercial viability of the wells for power and heat production.

Project coordinator Jamie Capot-Blanc has an oil and gas background but says that much of the technology is similar.

“We need to prove that we can pump this fluid for 30 days in order to go into commercial financing and develop the rest of the field,” said Capot-Blanc. A maximum temperature of 128 degrees Celsius has been measured for the geothermal fluid and that there is enough porosity to allow the water to flow. During the first round of well testing, 10 million liters of water pumped over 50 hours.

Federal funding of CAD 40.5 million was granted for the project in March 2021, as we previously reported. An additional funding of CAD 100,000 was awarded by the provincial government earlier this year.

“We see in the proposed development an unparalleled opportunity to stimulate economic recovery and at the same time, contribute to B.C.’s efforts to reduce carbon emissions,” said Fort Nelson Mayor Gary Foster.

“We have a great opportunity here to revolutionize the North, and not only provide something for our people, but prosperity and unity. And that’s what it’s really about, bringing everyone together,” said Fort Nelson First Nation Chief Sharleen Gale.

Source: Yahoo News