Cost-efficient and space-saving drilling technology for geothermal energy applications (2024)

Cost-efficient and space-saving drilling technology:
Specifically, the Swiss company has developed a machine that is located in the borehole and has all the necessary technologies to perform the drilling automatically. Unlike existing drilling methods (which are driven from the surface), our machine allows us to work in a very small space and largely automate the process.
The drill is a 6 meter long, electrically (13kW/32A/400V) operated machine. This is lowered directly into the well on a steel cable. Once at the bottom of the well, the machine is locked by a gripper and then drills a predefined section with a percussive rotary mechanism (210J/1’500Nm). The drilled material from the section is collected within the machine and pulled back to the surface by the machine after the drilling process is completed (batch drilling). At the surface, the drill can be emptied and prepared for the next drilling operation. To minimize downtime, a second machine can be sunk into the borehole immediately. According to the simulation, the ascending and descending speed of the drill is about 15 km/h. The drilling advance is about 5cm per minute. Based on these and other variables, a borehole of about 1 km can be completed in 3-4 weeks.
The handling on the surface can be automated and fits perfectly into a container (TEU - Twenty-foot Equivalent Unit container). This means that drilling can be carried out in an area of around two parking spaces. The automation allows to drill continuously and thus efficiently (analogous to a lawn mower robot).
A major intrinsic advantage of the technology is that the borehole is always sealed against the outside. Since the container has different pressure valves and sensors, a blowout can be easily detected and prevented.

Partner sought:
The start-up is now looking for a cooperation partner with whom the technology can be industrialized, manufactured and jointly brought to market. Specifically, they are looking for a partner who can finance the development, produce and distribute the machine in an exclusive relationship. The partner should be one of the leading market players in Europe for geothermal energy applications who would like to unlock a huge market potential by penetrating previously non-accessible sites due to area restrictions.
The innovation comes from the combination of existing technologies. Most of the components are already existing in one form or another but had to be adapted to our specific application. In comparison, one could imagine the technology more like a tunnel boring machine for vertical use.

The patent application covers the entire hardware as well as the drilling process.

The specific area of activity of the partner:
Manufacturer of mining or drilling equipment/machinery (oil or gas)
Manufacturer of construction machine equipment/machinery

Note: In addition to deep drilling for geothermal energy, the technology can be used for other types of drilling, such as exploratory drilling, to seek and locate coal or mineral deposits and to establish geological structure (e.g. diamond core drilling)

The tasks to be performed by the partner sought:
Research and development agreement partner: Provision of capital and production know-how for the development to market maturity of the product.

Investment agreement: Providing capital in return for shares (equity investing). Door opener and strategic advisor for the start-up.