Geothermal Vertical Well Drilling for Closed Loop

Posted August 20, 2009 07:56 by Robert

Tags: well drilling, geothermal, bertrand, coneco, verical, closed loop

We have been working with Conceo Geothermal on the design and install of vertical loops for the Waterfurnace Geothermal System. We finally got underway this week after some permitting delays. Unfortunately most towns still view wells as a drinking water thing and subject them to those regulations with respect to location and inspections. Our wells are what’s called “closed loop” (See Illustration) meaning that they are filled with a loop of plastic pipe that passes water through them to take advantage of the constant temperature of the ground. This, like spray foam insulation is an area where towns really need to modernize their building codes and requirements to make it easier to take advantage of these newer options or the added cost and aggravation will become a deterrent. I would encourage town planners to make this initiative a priority.

Our system has two 570 feet deep vertical wells, which are being installed by Joe and his crew at Bertrand Well Drilling. They are great guys to work with and have done their best to keep things clean in what is otherwise a pretty messy process. Once they reach the 570 feet, the hole is filled with plastic pipe in a loop and then that is sealed in with geothermal grout to fill the hole. Then the two “loops” will be tested to make sure there are no leaks, trenched and tied into the Waterfurnace geothermal pump in the basement. If you want to understand how this all works, its best to visit Conceo’s Site or the WaterFurnace Demo page. Hopefully the next Geothermal post will be of the fully functioning system.

Here is a good shot of the big rig set in place to drill 

Here is the first finished loop. 

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