AltaRock Facing Delays
AltaRock Energy, which received $6.25 million from the U.S. Department of Energy for the first demonstration project of enhanced geothermal energy, is facing major delays according to an article by James Glanz of the New York Times.
Unidentified scientists told the New York Times that after two months of drilling the company has only reached a depth of 4000 feet. AltaRock started drilling at 3200 feet, the bottom of one of the older holes at The Geysers in Northern California.
According to the New York Times, the drill bit snapped off at least once and the company has had to start drilling the hole again. AltaRock originally expected to reach a final depth of 12,000 feet after 50 days of drilling.
Enhanced geothermal energy appears to hold great promise for replacing electric power plants run on fossil fuels. It is, however, not without problems. The initial investment needed to develop enhanced geothermal is steep. In addition, technological advances are needed for development of pumps to move great volumes of water through fractures in deep, hot rock. Now add drilling problems to the list.
The AltaRock project seems to have overcome the issue of steep initial costs by partnering with the DOE in this demonstration project and by reportedly raising $30 million from investors, including Google.
Here is a video produced by Google explaining enhanced geothermal systems.
The Rest @ The Examiner.com
Unidentified scientists told the New York Times that after two months of drilling the company has only reached a depth of 4000 feet. AltaRock started drilling at 3200 feet, the bottom of one of the older holes at The Geysers in Northern California.
According to the New York Times, the drill bit snapped off at least once and the company has had to start drilling the hole again. AltaRock originally expected to reach a final depth of 12,000 feet after 50 days of drilling.
Enhanced geothermal energy appears to hold great promise for replacing electric power plants run on fossil fuels. It is, however, not without problems. The initial investment needed to develop enhanced geothermal is steep. In addition, technological advances are needed for development of pumps to move great volumes of water through fractures in deep, hot rock. Now add drilling problems to the list.
The AltaRock project seems to have overcome the issue of steep initial costs by partnering with the DOE in this demonstration project and by reportedly raising $30 million from investors, including Google.
Here is a video produced by Google explaining enhanced geothermal systems.
The Rest @ The Examiner.com
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