Geodynamics proves up hot rocks project
Wednesday, 1 April 2009
Bevis Yeo
GEODYNAMICS has moved a step closer towards commercialising its hot rocks projects in the Cooper Basin after an independent consultant verified the successful completion of the Habanero closed loop test.
Geothermal consultancy GeothermEx said in its report that the closed loop test had successfully proven Geodynamics’ concept of extracting heat from hydraulically stimulated hot fractured rock.
It added that it saw no fundamental technical barriers in drilling to the target depth for this project while the drilling to date had demonstrated thermal energy in-place to be 1800 petajoules of measured resources and 7600PJ of indicated resources, suggesting the Cooper Basin hosts a world-class geothermal resource.
GeothermEx also said that Geodynamics’ closed loop system kept all dissolved solids and gases from being exposed to air, removing any possibility of environmental pollution.
A Geodynamics spokeswoman told PetroleumNews.net that the company planned to focus on completing its 1-megawatt pilot plant, which would power its Habanero operations and the town of Innamincka when completed.
She added that commissioning of the plant is expected in April. This will be followed by a 50MW commercial demonstration plant based around nine wells.
The spokeswoman said the final investment decision for the plant is expected in June 2010.
The company had previously said the plant would start producing electricity in 2012.
Stage 3 of the company’s business plan involves building a 500MW plant that consists of 10 50MW modules, each similar to the commercial demonstration plant.
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