A Private Commercial HDR Energy Extraction Program: Technical Details, Expectations for Power Generation and Proprietary Procedures

Abstract

This paper exposes details of the first private program for the extraction of heat energy in quantity from hot dry rock. The operation, a carry forward of the ongoing vital basic research by the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory has a target net production of 20.7 MW(e) from a yield of 104 MW (t) per earth loop. The program includes three loops. Successful execution of the Corporate design will result in about 50,000 M2 of fracture per kilogram/second of fresh water fluid extraction, requiring the achiement of 18 parallel en-echelon vertical fractures per loop. The summary reviews the principles of rock mechanics involved, outline the specific advantages of the proprietary procedures, describes the site area elected from Operation No. One, energy economics and the reasons for confidence that the design can be executed. The Program is intended to result in a prototype installation which represents the beginning of HDR energy as a commercially viable, environmentally clean and inexhaustible source of power on an energy hungry planet.