IMPACT TECHNOLOGIES LLC

Recovery Act: Microhole Arrays Drilled With Advanced Abrasive Slurry Jet Technology To Efficiently Exploit Enhanced Geothermal Systems Project Description This project proposes to develop a cost-effective microhole drilling and completion technology with the Flash Abrasive Slurry Jet (ASJ) system and optimize it to maximize the efficiency of fluid circulation and heat removal for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS). The proposed approach is expected to address the key obstacles that currently prevent EGS from becoming a technically feasible, commercially viable major contributor for electricity generation, namely: (1) reduce costs for drilling and well completion and (2) increase the volume of hot rock from which heat can be extracted. Project Objectives The proposed approach addresses both of these tightly coupled aspects (i.e., high drilling/completion costs and small stimulated rock volume) of the overall EGS challenge. The project objectives are to: (1) evaluate and optimize the FLASH ASJTM system for drilling and completing microholes into deep 300˚C geothermal reservoir rocks; (2) optimize the completion method (hole sizing, length and placement of microhole arrays) for effective reservoir stimulation and heat recovery; (3) evaluate and optimize the required directional (kickoff, steering, measurement) capabilities for microholes; and (4) demonstrate the potential for effective and efficient exploitation of EGS using microhole arrays. Potential Impact of Project Advancing microhole FLASH ASJTM drilling technology for application in deep geothermal reservoirs and the completion of relatively inexpensive arrays of holes for injection and/or production of the EGS working fluid can allow for a significantly increased clean, domestic EGS electrical generation. The configuration of microhole arrays and their operation can be optimized to (a) significantly increase the probability of intersecting flowing fractures (through larger number of boreholes and their flexible alignment with the local stress field), (b) reduce the risk of creating short-circuit flow paths between injecting and producing wells, and (c) maximize heat removal from a larger volume of stimulated rock matrix.

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