Deep borehole project by American company unearths granite 387 feet below ground for geothermal energy extraction, setting a new depth record.
Quaise Energy Breaks Record with Millimeter Wave Drilling Demonstration
Quaise Energy, a US-based company, has made a significant breakthrough in the energy sector with its record-breaking millimeter wave drilling system. The company, which is part of Polaris Renewable Energy (TSX: PIF), demonstrated its technology at a granite quarry in Marble Falls, Texas.
The demonstration, witnessed by a total of 56 observers, included a gyrotron, a drilling rig, and an operator's cabin. The gyrotron generates millimeter waves, enabling a radically different form of drilling, potentially capable of reaching superhot, superdeep geothermal layers.
During the event, the team drilled a hole to a depth of 387 feet (118 meters), making it the deepest ever drilled with millimeter-waves. This is a highly successful result, as it was the first attempt by the team. The drilling rates were impressive, reaching up to 16 feet (five meters) per hour through some of the world's hardest rock, which is extremely fast compared to typical commercial drilling rates.
Quaise Energy's production goal is to drill 8.5 inches per hour. The company's next goal involves using the millimeter wave technology to drill 10 times deeper and reach a full kilometer within the next months.
The millimeter wave technology, powerful enough to ablate the pink granite into grey ash at the demo site, could unlock access to superhot and superdeep renewable geothermal energy. Quaise Energy's CEO, Carlos Araque, stated that the company aims to make geothermal the workhorse of the energy transition.
Live footage, real-time data displays, and guided tours were available during the event, allowing the attendees to view the borehole itself through a camera lowered down the shaft. Samples of the ablated granite were made available during the tour.
The technology demonstrated by Quaise Energy could revolutionise the energy industry, providing a sustainable and efficient solution for accessing geothermal energy. The company is planning more live demonstrations to showcase its breakthrough superhot geothermal technology and transform global energy production.
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