GGA
Hot Topics
Western GeoPower announces
"rig test" results:
Western GeoPower Corp. a renewable
energy development company, today announced that the "rig testing" carried
out by independent consultants GeothermEx, Inc. on the WGP-1 well at
the Western GeoPower Unit 1 project at The Geysers Geothermal Field
in Northern California indicates that the well is a strong producer
with an initial steam flow rate of 140,000 lb/hr (63,500 kg/hr) at
a wellhead pressure of 137 psia, with a static reservoir pressure of
at least 279 psia. Drilling of the well continues and flow testing
will occur on completion of the well. The WGP-1 well has to date been
drilled to a depth of 7,060 feet (2,150 m) out of a projected target
depth of 11,000 feet (3,350 m).
Production
casing was set to a depth of 5,000 feet (1,520 m). Several steam zones were
encountered between 5,400 feet
(1,650 m) and 7,030 feet (2,140 m); additional productive zones may be encountered
as the well is deepened further.
"The GeothermEx team is very pleased that the results from this initial well
have exceeded our earlier projections as detailed in our feasibility report of
October 2006," said Dr. Subir Sanyal, President of GeothermEx. "In particular,
the static reservoir pressure has been shown to be at least 279 psia, compared
to 250 psia assumed in the above-mentioned report; therefore, the average stabilized
well productivity should be higher than the 70,000 lb/hr estimated earlier. The
results also provide encouragement that future wells may continue to reflect
similar high productivity characteristics in this region of The
Geysers field that has been shut-in for twenty years."
California-based GeothermEx is a recognized
international authority in the evaluation of geothermal resources and
has been involved in the development of all the producing geothermal
fields in the United States and over 750 projects
worldwide. Their knowledge of The Geysers geothermal field is extensive,
having been associated with the development of the field for over
30 years.
"We are very satisfied with the high degree of expertise and foresight that GeothermEx
has demonstrated throughout the planning and execution of this successful first
well," said Kenneth MacLeod, President and Chief Executive Officer of Western
GeoPower. "The high productivity of the well suggests significant cost savings
may be realized through the drilling of fewer wells than anticipated if a similar
successful outcome
is repeated in future wells." The Western GeoPower Unit 1 plant is projected
to start commercial operations in early 2010. Previous estimates by GeothermEx
suggested a requirement for nine or ten wells at an average of 3.66 MW per
well, however, the number will be revised downwards should future well capacities
continue to exceed expectations.
The Geysers geothermal field, located 75 miles north of San Francisco, California,
is the largest producer of geothermal electricity in the world. Commercial
geothermal power has been generated continuously at The Geysers field since
1960, the present generation level being about 900 MWe of clean, baseload
electricity. Western GeoPower's Unit 1 project is situated in the south-western
region of The Geysers field in Sonoma County. About Western GeoPower Corp.
Western GeoPower Corp. is a renewable energy company dedicated to the development
of geothermal energy projects for the delivery of clean, sustainable, baseload
electricity generation. The Company is developing The Western GeoPower
Unit 1 geothermal power plant at The Geysers Geothermal Field in California,
United States and the South Meager Geothermal Project in British Columbia,
Canada. On behalf of Western GeoPower Corp.
Kenneth
MacLeod, President & CEO. April
24, 2008 (Article
courtesy of George Frye)
Western GeoPower Terminates
Agreement with PG&E
Western GeoPower Corp., a renewable energy
development company, today announced that it has exercised its right
to terminate the Power Purchase Agreement dated May 9, 2007 between
its whollyowned subsidiary Western GeoPower, Inc. and Pacific Gas & Electric
Company (PG&E) of San Francisco
for the supply of electricity from the proposed Western GeoPower Unit
1 at Geysers Geothermal Field in California.
California Public Utilities Commission approval
was not received within the time-frame stipulated in the Power Purchase
Agreement. “The termination of the Power Purchase
Agreement will not affect the projected start of commercial operations
in early 2010 for the Western GeoPower Unit 1 power plant,” said
Kenneth MacLeod, President and CEO of Western GeoPower.
Geysers Geothermal Field, located 75 mi north of San Francisco, California,
is the largest producer of geothermal electricity in the world. Commercial
geothermal power has been generated continuously at Geysers field
since 1960, the present generation level being about 900 MW of clean,
baseload electricity. Western GeoPower’s Unit 1 project is
situated in the southwestern region of Geysers field in Sonoma County. (Courtesy
of Geothermal Energy Association, ©February 11, 2008)
Energy Bill Will Revitalize Geothermal Research
December 17, 2007 Washington, D.C. [RenewableEnergyAccess.com]
Despite removal of a Renewable Portfolio Standard, Production and
Tax Credits, the Senate passed Energy Bill will advance geothermal
research and development for decades to come according to the Geothermal
Energy Association (GEA).
"We applaud Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid for their overall accomplishment.
This energy bill shows the tide is turning."
--Karl Gawell, Executive Director, GEA
The Senate passed bill includes the "Advanced Geothermal Energy Research
and Development Act of 2007." The underlying bills were H.R.
2304 , sponsored by Rep. Jerry McNerney (D-CA) and S.1543 introduced
by Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM).
Both had bipartisan co-sponsorship and support. The final provisions
direct the Department of Energy to undertake a broad and aggressive
research program to promote geothermal energy and authorize a total
of $95 million annually for this new initiative.
"The geothermal provisions come at a crucial time in the history of the
industry. Renewed research, development, and public-private partnerships
are needed to continue the momentum we've seen in the past few years," said
Karl Gawell, GEA's Executive
Director. "We applaud Speaker Pelosi and Leader Reid for their overall
accomplishment. This energy bill shows the tide is turning."
Copyright © 1999-2007 Renewable Energy Access
The Bottle Rock Power Plant commenced commercial operation on October 1, 2007.
This marked a significant achievment for the Plant that had ceased operation in September 1990 while owned and operated by the California Department of Water Resources.
Bottle Rock completed the requisite reliability and start-up tests, including the output net rate capacity test, all of which were necessary to receive the approval of the affected agencies and companies so as to begin commercial operation. Bottle Rock is delivering 15 megawatts per hour (net) of electricity to the grid. that amount of electricity will increase noticeably when two more wells are completed during November of this year and added to the Plant's total steam production.
Prior to commencing commercial operation, Bottle Rock
sold energy to the supplemental energy market under a Test Energy Schedule.
Such an endeavor allowed the Plant to refine its operation protocols
and adjust to its new digital control system as well. - Ron Suess, Bottle Rock Power L.L.C.
Western GeoPower gets greenlight for geothermal drilling
Filed from Houston / 10/1/2007 9:09:39 PM GMT/
USA: Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada-based Western GeoPower Corp. received approval from the California Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources to drill up to six wells on four existing pads and utilize existing roads at the company's Unit 1 geothermal project at The
Geysers geothermal field in northern California.
The drilling program is part of Western GeoPower's plan to develop a 25.5 MW (net) geothermal power plant at the site of the former Pacific Gas & Electric Unit 15 steam field in the southwestern region of The Geysers.
The company is securing a conditional use permit from Sonoma County, Calif., along with related state and county permits required to commence the program. Western GeoPower expects to receive these permits by the end of November. Permitting for additional wells beyond the initial six is being applied for under a separate application to Sonoma County for a conditional use permit to construct the power plant; approval is expected sometime in 2008.
Western GeoPower expects to begin drilling in December. The selection of a drilling contractor will be completed by mid-month. The initial drilling program is expected to take between 15 and 18 months to complete, with each well expected to take up to 90 days to drill, test and skid or move the drilling rig to the next location. Additional wells will be drilled before commercial operations begin in early 2010 to ensure optimum capacity for the steam field and plant operations.
As of April 2007, the Unit 1 leasehold was increased by 413 acres to 1,017 acres. While initial estimates in October 2006 showed the then 600-acre leasehold could commercially support a 25.5 MW (net) power plant for at least 20 years, earlier production records from the extended leasehold show one well that had an initial capacity of 7 MW, suggesting that capacity could be increased beyond 25.5 MW (net) for the proposed Unit 1 power plant, with the possibility of a second plant being added if additional capacity is demonstrated.
The majority of the equity component of project financing for the Unit 1 project has been accomplished through the recently announced funding of US$18.6 million. Western GeoPower expects to raise additional funds through the exercise of outstanding warrants that expire in December 2008. Western GeoPower will secure the balance of the project financing next year through a combination of construction loan and long-term debt financing.
Copyright © 2007, ODS-Petrodata Inc.
(Article courtesy of George Frye)
