Drilling operations have restarted for the Puga Valley geothermal challenge in Ladakh, India after a two-year pause to improve drilling gear.
After a two-year setback, drilling operations have began once more for the geothermal challenge of the Oil and Pure Gasoline Corp (ONGC) within the Puga Valley in Ladakh, India. Basis work on the drill pad has been accomplished, and drilling work is predicted to begin quickly.
The plan for the challenge is to drill two wells each to 1000 meters depth, the place temperatures exceeding 200 °C are anticipated. Drilling will probably be accomplished inside the present season, whereas the pilot part of the thermal energy plant is predicted by the next season. The preliminary goal for the challenge is to generate 1 MW of energy.
The challenge is supported by a Memorandum of Understanding signed between ONGC, the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh, and the Ladakh Autonomous Hill Improvement Council.
Greater stress than anticipated
Drilling within the Puga Valley geothermal challenge had been initiated in late 2022 following the signing of a contract with Iceland GeoSurvey (ÍSOR). After only a week of drilling, preliminary outcomes have been extremely optimistic – high-pressure steam at 100 °C had been tapped. A separate report said that temperatures starting from 180 to 190 °C have been discovered at a depth of simply 40 meters.
Though constructive when it comes to thermal output, the excessive pressures and temperatures encountered additionally created a setback for the challenge. With extra geothermal fluid than anticipated popping out of the nicely, a number of the fluid flowed into the Puga Stream, prompting complaints from civil society and environmental organizations.
The challenge builders then determined to pause the challenge to supply for extra applicable drilling gear. For this renewed effort, the ONGC stated that it has upgraded the gear and awarded the drilling contract to SEROS Drilling Non-public Ltd. Consultants in geothermal vitality from Iceland are additionally readily available to offer consultancy for the challenge.
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