User-Coupled Confirmation Drilling Program

Abstract

The U.S. Department of Energy, Division of Geothermal Energy, is sponsoring the User-Coupled Confirmation Drilling Program (UCCDP) to absorb a portion of the high front end risk and cost of geothermal development by providing cost haring of hydrothermal reservoir confirmation for direct heat applications. The development scenario to achieve the hydrothermal direct heat goal of 1.0 Quad (33,400 MWt-yr) by the year 2000 is reviewed and a summary of the program is presented. The UCCDP will share the cost for exploration, drilling, flow testing, reservoir engineering, and injection well drilling (if required) for projects selected through a competitive process. The federal percentage of cost share will be determined by a negotiated formula based upon usability of the thermal fluids intersected by the production well. This program is expected to act as a major catalyst to promote the development of hydrothermal direct heat utilization in the United States.