GEOTHERMAL PROJECT COST ESTIMATING By Lorie M Dilley
GEOTHERMAL PROJECT COST ESTIMATING By Lorie M. Dilley
Exploration – chemical, geophysical, aerial photos
Drilling Costs • Wells – Determine # of wells based on temperature, flow rate, and production required. • MW/well = F/50 – 3. 5 (temp. > 175 F) – 200 F: 0. 5 MW – 400 F: 4. 5 MW • Low temperature 0. 1 to 0. 4 MW/well • Drilling success rate 25% to 80% increase as knowledge of field increases
Temperature “Gradient” holes
Drilling Costs • Slim hole/temperature gradient Drilling: 3 to 4 inch – 3, 000 ft: $1. 5 to $2 M • Production Drilling: 9 to 12 inch – 3, 000 ft : $3. 9 to $4. 3 M – 5, 000 ft: $4. 5 M – 30 to 40 days of drilling – 8, 000 ft: $7. 5 M • Alaska Factor: 1. 25 to 2 times
Infrastructure Needs • Construction – camp, access, skilled workforce • Plant – power generation, piping, geothermal wells, waste fluid disposal – trained operators • Support Facilities – transmission line, road, living quarters, water supply & storage, wastewater treatment, maintenance shop, drilling equipment/ core shop, • Facilities: greenhouses, pools, rooms
Power Production
Plant Costs UTC System : 200 to 250 k. W is about $1, 300 per KW $260, 000 Binary System: $1, 600 to $2, 400 per k. W : 1 MW to 5 MW -$1. 6 M to $2. 4 M Steam Plants: $1, 500 per k. W 5 MW to 25 MW - $7. 5 M to $37. 5 M
Support Facilities • Roads – equipment, access wells, : gravel sources estimated cost is $30 to $250 per cubic yard depending upon material source location and quality – route selection critical • Site Development – pads for plant, shops, living quarters, greenhouses – gravel, placement • Transmission line – route selection – closer to village – power use $200, 000 to $400, 000+ per mile
Costs • < 1 MW: UTC - $7 M to $30 M • 1 MW to 10 MW : Binary - $40 M to $100 M • Greater than 10 MW: Steam - $100 M to $400 M Based on drilling depths, gravel costs, temperature of resource, flow, size of project.
- Slides: 11