In a world where the depletion of natural resources is causing growing concerns, it is crucial to find ways to operate in a more sustainable and environmentally friendly way. Geothermal energy is an almost emissions-free and climate change-mitigating alternative for energy production.

Drill rig manufacturer Geomachine has developed a groundbreaking solution for geothermal drilling. The product development project is currently at a stage where the first drill rig designed and built specifically for this purpose is being introduced.

Deeper, more cost-effective, and efficient

Traditional geothermal wells have typically been a few hundred metres deep. For larger energy needs, multiple wells have to be drilled at a site.

The significant difference in Geomachine's solution is that heat wells can now be drilled significantly deeper cost-effectively and efficiently. The drilling depth reaches 2000m, where temperatures are much higher than in shallower wells. This means that a single well drilled to 2000m can extract energy comparable to 20-30 shallower wells. In addition to heating and cooling, medium-depth geothermal wells can also be used as energy storage. Heat can be stored during the summer and utilised during the heating season, enabling the balancing of seasonal variations in energy consumption.

Geomachine's new well drill technology is particularly suitable for heating large-scale property complexes

Thanks to its efficiency, Geomachine's new well drill technology is particularly suitable for heating large-scale property complexes and locations where waste heat is generated during normal operations. It is also an excellent solution for densely built-up areas, because, instead of several wells, a single well can be enough to meet the energy needs of a specific site.

State-of-the-art well drilling technology

Geomachine has been manufacturing equipment for geotechnical and geological ground investigation for decades, and its parent company, Tampereen Konepajat Group Oy, has strong expertise in the manufacturing of mobile work machinery and down-the-hole hammer equipment. This expertise has been the foundation for the product design of Geomachine's new geothermal well drilling solution.

The solution includes the GM2000 drill rig, an air pressure system, and an intelligent operation control and data logging system for optimising the drilling process.

In the development of the GM2000 rig, special attention has been paid to the overall drilling costs. The boom has a robust lifting capacity of 60t, and with the DTH drilling technology, the rig can efficiently penetrate even the most challenging Scandinavian granite. The rig's innovative rod handling platform and sensor system also contribute to smoother and safer operations.

 

Drilling to 2000m deep requires 2-3 GMair35 compressors, which are optimised for ease of use and cost-effectiveness. The GMair80 booster provides additional power for drilling by compressing the air produced by the compressors to a pressure of up to 79 bar.

The intelligent GM2000 solution incorporates a CAN-bus control system, which automates the drilling process and adjusts its parameters to optimise drilling speed and minimise equipment wear. Through machine learning, the system continuously improves the overall cost-effectiveness and efficiency of the process. All functions of the drill rig can be controlled remotely, enhancing safety.

Geomachine has also integrated measurement technology used in ground investigations into its geothermal solution. The GMTracker data logger records, processes, and visualises real-time drilling data, storing it in the GMCloud cloud service. The driller can also add observations from the drilling process to the software while it is ongoing. GMTracker allows the analysis between multiple sites, further enhancing the drilling process as the amount of data collected by the data logger increases.

More intelligence and usability

The development of the GM2000 solution is ongoing with the focus on increasing the rig's intelligence and advancing its automation to an even more sophisticated level. Additionally, electrification of the machinery plays a significant role while making the solution even more sustainable.

As the GM2000 continuously becomes smarter, its mechanical functionality is also being improved. The ultimate development goal is to make geothermal well drilling the most cost-effective, profitable, and environmentally friendly option for energy utilisation in the future.

How the GM2000's productivity is maximised 

• DTH technology;

• 9m drill rods with large inner diameter;

• 60t lifting capacity;

• Fast drill unit movements;

• Automated drill rod handling;

• Drilling automation and visual control;

• Remote control;

• State-of-the-art hydraulic system;

• Sufficient air supply and onboard water pump;

• Easy transport and quick setup with auto-level function.

Got a story? Email: duncan.moore@aspermont.com