System Platform Approach For The Effective Development Of Borehole Tools Solving General Problems

Abstract

It is undeniable, that Geothermal Energy faces a huge disparity between claim, based on its potential and reality. Equally obvious is the big deficiency of reliable data about the conditions in and around geothermal wells, which are of great importance for the technical and economic efficiency of the related energy production. Another point is the missing resources for interactions inside geothermal boreholes, evident for interventions in case of acute problems. Mainly responsible for this is the unavailability of adequate geothermal tools, due to the high development costs and missing standardization. The ZWERG project was started in 2009 at the Institute of Applied Computer Science IAI, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology KIT. The aim of ZWERG is to create a system platform for the development of various borehole devices in a time- and money saving way, by providing blueprints and repeating modules for general problems. Basic problems like the material choice and organization, methods and devices for cooling heat-sensitive components, adequate housing and fitting designs for high surrounding pressures and typical borehole dimensions and robust jointing methods for operations in hot and corrosive environments, once solved can further be managed universally. Additionally the “geothermiewiki” an open-access website is supposed to simplify the exchange and research of important information.