First Well in the Laufzorn II geothermal project successful

The short-term tests carried out using Airlift confirmed the success of the first well in the Laufzorn II project.

The ecological and economic significance of deep geothermal energy in Germany is now recognised across all party lines as an important building block of the heat transition in Germany.

For over 20 years, ERDWERK GmbH has specialised in the development of geothermal resources and has so far planned and accompanied the commissioning of both one of the deepest successful hydrothermal geothermal projects in Holzkirchen (at a depth of over 5,500 m) and Germany's largest geothermal plant, the Schäftlarnstraße project of Stadtwerke München with 6 deep boreholes.

We are therefore delighted that Erdwärme Grünwald has entrusted us with the expansion of its existing geothermal plant. Together with the existing plant, the Laufzorn II project will become one of the largest geothermal projects in Central Europe. We are proud to have played a central role in the success of the first well.

After 83 days of drilling, the first well (Laufzorn Th2) was successfully drilled to a final depth of 4,661 m MD. After carrying out the in-production setting work, including acidification and short-term pumping tests, the test results were initially below expectations. The first tests showed that although the main borehole was hydraulically connected to the Malmaquifer and the temperatures were sufficiently high, the flow rates achieved were not satisfactory.

In order to be able to respond to such a scenario and to optimise the economic efficiency of the wells if necessary, ERDWERK had already considered multilateral developments for the wells during the preliminary planning stage and made preparations for this. This meant that a 1,200-metre-long lateral branch in the reservoir could be completed within 18 days without any delay, reaching a final depth of 4,800 metres.

According to initial evaluations, the subsequent test work on the main well and the lateral yielded a productivity index of approximately 2.5 l/s/bar (or 65 l/s at a pressure reduction of 25 bar). Together with the measured thermal water temperature of around 123°C, this provided proof of the successful well. The temperature development was not yet complete at the end of the test and is expected to rise further during long-term operation.

This success would not have been possible without the trust of our client EWG and the excellent and collegial cooperation with all those involved at the drilling site and in the back office, including Angers und Söhne and the service companies.

The experience gained in the first well will be incorporated into the planning of further wells. Based on this success, we are delighted to continue the work in full as the client's representative and on-site supervision and wish the project every success!