Geothermal Drilling Technology & Engineering

Key technologies and engineering strategies to plan and execute a successful geothermal project

Drilling is one of the most critical and costly phases of a geothermal project. This course provides a comprehensive understanding of geothermal drilling technology and engineering principles, ensuring that participants can design, plan, and execute geothermal wells efficiently and safely.

This course provides a detailed technical understanding of drilling technology, equipment, and engineering strategies required for successful geothermal well planning and execution. Participants will explore the key differences between geothermal and conventional oil & gas well drilling, with specific focus on metallurgy, well control, and high temperature operational challenges for both surface and downhole equipment. The metallurgy required to deal with high temperature corrosive brine environments will be explained to develop a best value approach to the selection of materials to withstand geothermal conditions. Whilst not conventionally considered a Geothermal issue, well control and safety considerations will be explained to allow the students to be able to manage high pressure and high enthalpy geothermal wells.

The course will cover drilling challenges that are unique to geothermal wells including high temperature fluid handling, lost circulation, and wellbore thermal stability. The differences between geothermal and oil & gas drilling will be examined and the course will explain how industry best practices can be adapted for geothermal projects. By the end of the course, participants will have a holistic perspective on geothermal drilling, understanding its unique challenges, technology requirements, and project execution strategies.