Monday, July 1, 2013

Technology:

University of Nevada, Reno Case Study: Optim Improves Success of Geothermal Energy Drilling (Sparks Today)



(VIDEO - 2:29 Minutes)

As the geothermal industry fights to fulfill its potential with funding drying up, Optim, a Reno-based seismic data analysis software company, could provide a solution to exploration problems, its founders said.

Company president Bill Honjas and vice president and GRC Member Satish Pullammanappallil have developed seismic imaging techniques that have increased the success rate of locating drilling targets for geothermal power to more than 80 percent, compared with the industry average of 20 percent.

It lowers the cost of exploration and reduces risks because companies are drilling more productive wells and fewer dry holes, they said, and the new method allows a larger return to investors and could drive more development.

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