Deep Earth Energy has announced they have started drilling on the first well for its geothermal power facility near Torquay, SK. 

"This drilling is required as part of the final construction engineering for a 5 megawatt (MW) power facility," they stated in a press release. "Final testing results from the drilling program will refine the assumptions made on the reservoir and effectively optimize the design parameters. This will be Canada’s first geothermal facility and will be a transformative energy innovation for the Saskatchewan."

"We are thrilled to announce these amazing steps forward for the DEEP project,” says Kirsten Marcia, President and CEO of DEEP. “This project will deploy conventional drilling and proven power generating technology that, when paired together, will introduce an entirely unique renewable power resource for the province of Saskatchewan.”

"DEEP’s long term strategy is to build hundreds of megawatts of geothermal power facilities with a vision of a cleaner energy future for our province supported by SaskPower’s goal to reduce emissions from 2005 levels by 40 percent by 2030. The proposed facility would generate renewable, zero emission, baseload power from a hot (120˚C) aquifer. The produced electricity will be sold under an existing Power Purchase Agreement with SaskPower and will generate roughly the power required by 5,000 homes and offset about 27,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, equal to removing 7,400 cars off the roads annually."

“Geothermal is one of the most dependable sources of renewable energy globally and the only renewable that can produce reliable baseload power that runs 24/7,” adds Ms. Marcia. “The facility will use Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbine technology to generate clean baseload power. This is well-established technology that pumps the geothermal fluid through heat exchangers, then transfers that heat to an organic fluid that vaporizes and drives a generator to produce clean electrical power. This project has the potential to launch Canada’s geothermal power industry alongside the United States, which has been leading this sector globally for decades.”

Horizon Drilling was awarded to drilling contracted and began on November 15th. 

The well will test the Winnipeg and Deadwood formations 3,500 meters down which will make it the deepest well drilled in the province. 

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