USA, California:

Geysers Exploration Yields Geothermal Power Potential (Electric Light & Power)

As part of a geothermal energy exploration effort to search for geothermal resources nationwide, a $5 million U.S. Department of Energy investment to Calpine Corp. this year culminated in the confirmation of an initial 11.4 MW of equivalent steam — 50 percent more than early estimates — from three previously abandoned wells at The Geysers geothermal field in northern California.

Calpine Corp.'s Caldwell Ranch Exploration Project will develop an abandoned steam field, validating technologies that bear immediate implications for other geothermal-rich regions of California — Coso, Salton Sea and Medicine Lake.

The purpose of the Caldwell Ranch Exploration and Confirmation Project is to drill, test, and confirm the present economic viability of the undeveloped geothermal reservoir in the Caldwell Ranch area. The objective of the project is to re-open and re-complete three abandoned wells, Prati 5, Prati 14 and Prati 38, and to characterize the reservoir production flow rates, temperature, pressure, thickness, permeability, and fluid chemistry.

The project faced down barriers to bring commercial increases at unproductive geothermal wells nationwide and created 43 full-time temporary jobs and tax revenues to Sonoma County and the state of California.

Calpine further estimates that, in combination with a portion of the presently undeveloped enhanced geothermal system (EGS) demonstration project to the west, Caldwell Ranch could produce up to 45 MWe equivalent of steam. A proposed power plant has been permitted, and construction is dependent upon Calpine's ability to secure a long-term Power Purchase Agreement.

Read More.....