USA, Idaho: Drilling Begins of a New Large Diameter Well at El Ceibillo Geothermal Project

U.S. Geothermal to Deepen San Emidio II Wells (News Release)

U.S. Geothermal Inc. has announced an update on two of its advanced stage development projects.

San Emidio Geothermal Power Plant (Courtesy U.S. Geothermal Inc.) 

Drilling of a new large diameter well, EC‐5 at El Ceibillo (Guatemala), began June 9. Well EC‐5 is targeting the production zone previously encountered in well EC‐2A. Well EC‐5 will be used to test the geothermal reservoir’s flow characteristics and provide critical data required for the numerical reservoir model being developed by Mannvit Engineering of Iceland. The reservoir model will be used to determine the size, production characteristics, and power production capability of the reservoir.

Approval has been received from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to deepen two geothermal wells at San Emidio Phase II (Nevada) originally drilled to obtain temperature gradients at San Emidio. Drilling is scheduled to begin on July 11. A vegetation survey was completed in May, and a nesting bird survey will be conducted within 10 days before drilling operations commence. Extended vegetation surveys were completed over the larger resource target area in anticipation of the need for additional roads and well pads.

The two wells were originally drilled to a depth of 1,000 feet and encountered high bottom hole temperatures and high temperature gradients. Both of these are indicators of a deeper, active geothermal system. If productive zones are encountered, the wells will be tested to determine resource temperature and production characteristics of this south‐west zone.

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