Geneva to proceed with exploration phase of geothermal development

Last modified by the author on 02/08/2017 - 10:20
Geneva to proceed with exploration phase of geothermal development

Article written by Alexander Richter and published by on July 21st on the site thinkgeoenergy.com. Image source: flickr/ Dennis Jarvis, creative commons 

The canton of Geneve is now proceeding to the exploration phase of its geothermal GEothermie 2020 project.

In the first phase of the project five drilling zones were identified and an application for authorization to continue was filed in the Official Notice (FAO) Bulletin concerning the Mandement area.

The company Industrial Services (SIG) and the State of Geneva mapped the canton for two years, thanks in particular to seismic methods such as vibrating trucks. It is now a matter of evaluation whether the information collected on the surface proves to be favourable. “As much as we get to know the geology from the surface, we are unable to determine a flow of water without drilling and pumping tests,” says cantonal geologist Jacques Martelain in the morning newspaper RTS today.

The hope is to find a very permeable zone, straddling limestones (which contain water) and a network of faults that would increase the permeability. “This may allow us to find a sufficient quantity of water to have the flows necessary for geothermal energy,” the geologist continues.

These exploratory drilling will not exceed 1,000 meters of depth. And if the results are positive, geothermal energy can then eventually be utilised.

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