Did you know that less than 10 metres below the surface of the earth, temperatures can remain stable all year round?
Gathering the internal heat of the planet’s core and the external heat of the sun, a steady stream of thermal energy lies untapped below the ground.
That is, unless our geothermal well drilling service helps you to harness this sustainable energy source. When professionals like Teckna Group install them correctly, geothermal wells can function for around half a century, requiring little maintenance.
What is geothermal well drilling?
The term ‘geothermal drilling’ covers a wide range of jobs, but the experts at Teckna Group are capable of performing tasks of any scale, from small to large. We have the experience and industry knowledge required to drill holes in your land safely and efficiently.
There are multiple types of geothermal systems, which can involve drilling from shallow depths of around 200m to several thousand metres deep. Shallow wells use ground source heat, absorbed from the sun’s radiation, while deeper wells rely on heat from activity closer to the Earth’s core.
You can use this geothermal energy simply as heat, or even to produce electricity via a steam turbine. The two primary types of geothermal well systems are closed loop and open loop.
A closed loop system circulates heat transfer fluid through a continuous loop of piping – the fluid absorbs heat from the ground, and a heat pump extracts this thermal energy. This loop can feature one geothermal well or multiple wells, depending on the scale of the system and its location.
An open loop system uses two geothermal wells – one to extract water from the ground, and another to hold the expelled water once the heat pump has extracted its thermal energy.
Whichever system you use, for whichever purpose, geothermal energy is a reliable source. Since temperatures underground remain relatively stable, it’s easier to predict and manage the power output of a geothermal well or ground source heat pump with higher accuracy than other sources.
Why choose Teckna Group for geothermal well drilling?
No job is too difficult for our team of dedicated professionals, who use specialised geothermal drilling rigs to operate in some of the most difficult strata. Our rigs install temporary steel casing whilst simultaneously drilling the borehole, ensuring maximum safety and ground protection.
Our efficient geothermal drilling service can use a variety of flushing mediums to drill to depths of over 200m, including air, water, and mud. If the ground conditions are ideal for geothermal well drilling, we can complete the process quickly by completing as much as 100-150m per day.
In addition to our specialist geothermal drilling equipment, we also operate loop installation and grouting equipment, installing ground source loops easily and economically without damage.
Cutting-edge geothermal drilling equipment
We consistently upgrade our equipment and training at Teckna Group, ensuring that we always have the best possible tools to guarantee the high quality of our work.
For example, the latest edition of the duplex pump, with a high-water flow, maintains strong pressure to thoroughly clean the geothermal well borehole during the drilling process.
Track-mounting equipment allows for fast loading and easy manoeuvrability around the site of the geothermal drilling project, which in turn improves the efficiency of our service.
We also operate imported mud separation units to keep the area as clean as possible. These units separate the drilling waste from the water, keeping disposable content to a minimum. They also allow us to leave the project area in a tidy condition, rather than making a mess.
Compliance with geothermal drilling rules
As part of our professional installation service, we always operate to the latest geothermal drilling standards, sourcing high-quality products from within the UK. This includes geothermal drilling equipment sourced from reputable manufacturers such as MGS (Marton Geotechnical Services).
At Teckna Group, we pride ourselves on being one of the leading specialist drilling companies in the ground source sector, offering a range of geothermal drilling services to ISO 9001:2015 standards.
Our geothermal borehole drilling complies with the highest standard of materials and workmanship, and we make sure to work within the rules of the Ground Source Heat Pump Association.
We also comply with the British Drilling Association, Environment Agency, and Microgeneration Installation Standards as we continue to provide an excellent service.
Contact us for geothermal well drilling services
If you’re interested in reducing your dependence on fossil fuels and providing a sustainable form of energy for your property, then contact Teckna Group to discuss your project requirements.
As a core part of our activities, we accept nothing but the best quality for every task involved in our geothermal drilling service. From installing pipework and manifold systems to testing the connected pipes and adding heat loss fluid to the completed system, we never leave a stone unturned.
Our engineers are experts in the field, with many years of experience in the geothermal drilling trade, so you can rest assured that our professionally installed systems are worth the investment.
For further information on our range of borehole drilling services, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the team by calling 01257 421 700. Alternatively, you can request our professional advice on geothermal well options by emailing your details and queries to enquiries@tecknagroup.co.uk.
Geothermal Well Drilling FAQs
Is geothermal drilling the same as fracking?
No, geothermal drilling and fracking are two different processes. It’s easy for people to confuse them, because they both seem to involve drilling underground for an energy source.
However, fracking is an oil and gas industry term, which actually involves high-pressure injections of water, sand, and chemicals into the ground to ‘fracture’ the rocks and release shale gas. The gas escapes through the man-made fissures and is extracted at ground level through a well.
Geothermal well drilling is unrelated to harvesting shale gas, because it relies on renewable geothermal energy. These geothermal systems use pumps to retrieve hot water from underground, but they don’t require drilling as deeply as fracking operations, causing less geographic intrusion.
In some cases, geothermal drilling can also involve injecting fluids into the ground, but this is known as ‘hydraulic stimulation’. Even if this is needed to loosen materials in the earth, it’s at a much lower pressure than fracking, posing less risk of tremors and pollution.
Does geothermal drilling disrupt habitats?
At Teckna Group, we conduct all of our relatively shallow geothermal drilling processes with the safety of everyone in the vicinity at the forefront of our thinking. This isn’t just in regard to human life, but also to wildlife and the environment itself, including any nearby animal habitats.
We aim to provide a clean and effective service whilst being as environmentally friendly as possible, ensuring that any disruption is kept to a minimum. Geothermal wells can co-exist with flora and fauna in woodland or farmland areas, with minimal underground/surface disturbances.
As a company, Teckna Group promotes the maintenance of flourishing natural habitats – we will never destroy an animal habitat just to obtain a preferred site. We work closely with our clients to thoroughly evaluate their proposed site before committing to geothermal drilling in the area.
When sited, installed, and maintained carefully, geothermal energy systems can produce clean energy without sediment runoff, gas discharge, or noise concerns. Once work is complete, the underground well should barely be visible on the surface, and shouldn’t pollute the air or water.
We take advantage of modern technologies to minimise environmental effects. If you’d like to find out more about our methods of evaluating sites for underground habitats, please get in touch with us and a member of our team will gladly discuss the topic with you.
How long does it take to drill a geothermal well?
The timescale of geothermal drilling varies from project to project, due to a variety of factors. For example, it could be extended or shortened due to the equipment that the geothermal drilling company has at their disposal, or the size of the job.
This is why we’re unfortunately unable to assign an exact timeframe for a geothermal well drilling project. We wouldn’t want you to believe that every deadline is set in stone, then experience frustration if any delays occur throughout the process.
Geothermal drilling projects are often dependent on multiple parties working together, but for our part, we always work to the best of our ability to achieve the desired outcome as quickly as possible. At the same time, we aim to minimise disruption and maximise quality.
Obviously, the deeper and larger the well, the more drilling will be required – therefore taking longer to complete the work. We usually inform prospective clients that the entire process of installing a geothermal system can take 6 to 8 weeks:
- Evaluations, permissions, and designs – 2 to 3 weeks
- Drilling (usually 3km to 5km deep) – 3 to 5 days
- Trenching between boring and property – 1 to 2 days
- Piping connections – 2 to 5 days
- Installing or modifying ducts – 1 to 2 weeks
- Electrical connections – 2 to 3 days
- Thermostat and control setup – 1 day
Of course, geothermal well installations can take longer depending on the depth of the well and any obstacles that may be encountered along the way. Once completed, a geothermal heat pump system can last for 20 to 50 years with the proper maintenance.
