Jan 9 2010
Nevada Geothermal Power has completed the drilling of two new deep injection wells that will allow the Faulkner 1 plant to operate at about 40MW (net) when connected. Production in the existing plant will be increased with the addition of two or more wells as part of the existing program.
Brian Fairbank, CEO and President of Nevada Geothermal Power, remarked that the drilling progress was much faster than expected and that the entire program is expected to be completed within the fixed budget. The first two injection wells exceeded the company’s expectations and hence the company assumes that the outcome will increase the production at Faulkner 1.
Injection Well 55-15 was drilled to a depth of 7707 feet. This well is situated ½ mile west of the existing production well field and is 1300 feet north of the existing injection Well 57-15. The Well 55-15 recorded a maximum temperature of 395°F (202°C).
Injection test Well 58-11 was drilled to a depth of 4627 feet and it is situated ½ mile northeast of the existing production field. In comparison with other reservoir development wells, Well 58-11 is smaller in diameter (7 7/8 inches) but is an exceptional injector. The Maximum down-hole temperature of this well was 330°F (166°C). A new area for injection is supported by Well 58-11 that also helps to further extend the area of the observed high-temperature geothermal reservoir to the north thus enabling the well field management in the future to be flexible.
The site is at present set up with the larger of the two drilling rigs that is being used for drilling Well 91-15, which is designed to be a production well of 400°F (200-°C). The remaining injection wells will be drilled by the second smaller rig. Pipeline construction has started for the injection Well 55-15 and is expected to be connected by the end of January 2010. This will be followed by the inclusion of other wells as and when they are completed.
Source: http://www.nevadageothermal.com/s/Home.asp