Geothermal Drilling Innovation and Safety Standards Advance
Key Questions
What drilling partnership aims to accelerate geothermal projects?
Baker Hughes and H&P have formed a partnership to deploy a dedicated geothermal drilling rig, addressing industry fragmentation and speeding up project execution.
What new safety guidelines were introduced for geothermal wells?
The IADC released its first geothermal well-control guidelines, adapting oil-and-gas practices to manage flash-steam risks highlighted by the Fervo Cape Station blowout.
What is Quaise Energy advancing with Project Obsidian?
Quaise is developing superhot geothermal at Newberry Volcano using millimeter-wave drilling in a hybrid strategy, with phased capacity growth from 50 MW to 1 GW.
How are oilfield technologies being adapted for geothermal use?
Physics-based drilling methods and Vallourec's qualification of OCTG tubulars for higher temperatures are maturing supply chains for western U.S. geothermal projects.
Why is completing the final phase critical in geothermal jobs?
While drilling receives much attention, successfully finishing the final 10% of the geothermal loop is essential for overall project success and reliability.
Baker Hughes and H&P have formed a partnership to deploy a dedicated geothermal drilling rig, addressing industry fragmentation and potentially accelerating project execution. Separately, IADC released its first geothermal well-control guidelines, adapting oil and gas practices for flash-steam risks—especially relevant after the Fervo Cape Station blowout. Quaise Energy's Project Obsidian at Newberry Volcano advances superhot geothermal using millimeter-wave drilling, with a hybrid drilling strategy and phased buildout from 50 MW to 1 GW. New physics-based drilling methods and oilfield tubular adaptation (Vallourec qualifying OCTG for higher temps) signal maturation of drilling technology and supply chains for western US projects.