Inclined / Horizontal Geothermal Wells

Modern geothermal projects are increasingly looking to inclined and horizontal wells to maximize contact with hot rock and fluids. Traditionally, hydrothermal and EGS projects relied on vertical wells, but horizontal drilling can tap more fractures and heat, much like in oil and gas reservoirs. The challenge has been drilling long laterals in hard, high-temperature formations. This opens an opportunity to significantly improve geothermal well productivity and project economics by adopting proven directional drilling techniques in the geothermal sector.

A case in point is the geothermal well in Hungary, which targeted a deep Paleozoic reservoir (~3.5 km MD). Drilling through mixed lithology (marl, andesite, limestone, etc.) was time-consuming and required many bit trips. Applying advanced drilling technologies could greatly mitigate such challenges. Meanwhile, recent EGS project in Western US provides a striking example of horizontal drilling success. These examples show that inclined/horizontal geothermal wells – whether in conventional hydrogeothermal fields or advanced EGS/AGS projects – are a playground for use of GA Drilling´s innovative downhole tools.

The value of horizontal geothermal wells lies in both improved output and cost savings. By intersecting more of the fracture network or reservoir volume, a single horizontal well can produce significantly higher flow rates than a vertical well, making projects more viable even in tighter rock. In addition, advanced drilling tools can substantially cut drilling time and costs. use of NexTitan in inclined and horizontal wells enable geothermal developers to unlock greater resource potential (more heat per well) while reducing drilling non-productive time, thus improving the overall economics of hydrothermal, EGS and AGS.