DOE awards nearly $9.2 million for drilling tech

In Washington, of $151 million in grants announced by the DOE for energy research, $9.15 million was awarded to Foro Energy Inc. of Littleton, CO for the development of new geothermal drilling technology that would help access geothermal energy in deep, hard basement rock. The research would develop a hybrid thermal/mechanical technology that would drill faster and produce less wear and tear on the drill bit. The grant was the largest given to 37 recipients and the only one devoted to geothermal.