Flowing forward

Geothermal hopeful Petratherm says it has successfully completed crucial flow tests at its Paralana project, although it will be several weeks before the results can be properly assessed. Petratherm and its drilling partners, Beach Energy and TRUenergy, say the tests are critical in helping determine how easily the geothermal energy lying some 4kms below the surface can be extracted, and in designing production flows and plant design, and to minimize corrosion

As in other wells, the presence of heat is not contested, but the developers need to understand how easily the steam can be extracted and how to plan for future wells, a 3.75MW pilot plant and a 30MW demonstration plant in coming years. Wells drilled by companies such as Panax and Origin in shallower, more conventional resources known as hot sedimentary aquifers, have found that there is not enough “flow” in the fluids lying at depth to support extraction.

The Paralana project will likely require some fracturing processes, but the developers say the presence of a naturally over-pressured system will, if extensive, assist circulation of fluids between wells and reduce the amount of pumping that will be required. “The joint venture partners have identified a natural geothermal system at Paralana. Future work will further enhance the development of this system. This may significantly lower development risks of establishing a commercial flow for power production,” the company said in a statement...

"but the developers need to understand how easily the steam can be extracted"