SPG making first use of coiled-tube drill in geothermal for second Alum well

In Canada, Sierra Geothermal Power Corp. says its second Alum observation well is being drilled coiled-tube technology to make deep drilling faster and more cost-effective. Coiled-tube drilling has been used in the oil and gas industry but is a first for drilling a geothermal well. Well 26-19 will test temperature and permeability to depths of several thousand feet. Xtreme Coil Drilling Corp. is under contract to drill the well with XTC 200 Rig # 4. The geological information obtained from Well 26-19 will be integrated into SGP’s 3D geologic model for Alum. One objective is to compare coil-tube drilling rates to conventional and core drilling rates in a geothermal field. Well 26-19 is eligible for reimbursement on a 50:50 cost share basis through the DOE’s Geothermal Technologies Program grant, awarded to SGP in 2009.