Geothermal Power Stations and Non Condensable Gas (NGC)

The total installed geothermal power generating capacity in the world is approximately 9000 MWe from 21 countries, with the United States leading at nearly 3000 MWe and The Philippines with nearly 2000 MWe (Table II). Other major countries are Italy, Mexico, Indonesia, Japan, and New Zealand, with between 400 and 800 MWe each. (more…)

Geothermal Drilling for Investigating Geothermal Resource

Geothermal drilling technology is adapted from the oil industry. Most of the geothermal wells are drilled with a rotary-type drilling rig. Because of the hard, abrasive, and high-temperature volcanic rocks of geothermal systems, the drilling bits require hard abrasive resistant teeth such as diamond or tungsten carbide. Hence, geothermal drilling is an expensive activity in geothermal development. Most geothermal wells are drilled 1 to 2 km deep to intersect faults and fractures so as to increase the success rate of production from permeable zones. (more…)