Here at Teckna Group, we understand the importance of geothermal ground surveys. After all, they are a crucial part of the borehole drilling process, as they provide a detailed evaluation of the ground that will be used, ensuring it is not only safe, but effective too. Such is the extensive service that we provide, we’re able to offer geothermal surveys for GSHP sizes from 6kW to 1200kW or even larger! This should give you the peace of mind that we’re the people to call upon if you need assistance with your project, no matter what the requirements may be.
Geothermal surveying is done to produce reports that are required for the designs of a geothermal system. This allows your solution to be bespoke to your needs, tailored to your environment and specific desired outcomes. This means that the process has to be detailed and thorough at all times, something that the experts at Teckna Group are more than happy to achieve. With our many years of experience in geothermal surveys, we are able to provide a well thought out approach on every occasion.
The installation will be to the latest MIS 3005 requirements, making sure that the project is eligible for any government funding further down the line. To give you an insight into the end result, here’s what our geothermal ground surveys include:
- The site, geology and thermal conductivity will undergo thermo-geological assessment
- A discussion to define the requirements of your geothermal system, heating and cooling loads
- The borehole design, modelling, borehole quantity and depth with required spacings
- A site visit to assess the ground temperature of a borehole with a thermal response test
- Based on thermal response tests or drilling feedback the re-calculation and final design confirmation
- Borehole designs of the geothermal survey and installation will be to the latest MIS 3005 requirements to enable the project to comply with the relevant requirements to receive funding from the government
Geothermal surveying, along with a Thermal Response Test, is largely recommended for larger GSHP as the scale of the project means that more thought may need to be put into its logistics.
A geological geothermal survey will give a strong indication of the thermal characteristics of the site, where the boreholes are to be drilled and where they can be installed in the interests of safety and optimum performance. As you can see, accuracy is crucial in any such project, so is something we take very seriously as part of our operations here at Teckna Group.
By finding out this information in a geothermal survey, will enable the MCS lookup tables to be used to estimate more accurately the heat recovery per metre of a borehole.
In the absence of any geological data assembled from geothermal ground surveys, Teckna Group will estimate the borehole requirement using our expert knowledge and experience, as well as by using conservative values for heat recovery. However, this can result in 5-10% more borehole metres being drilled than absolutely necessary.
On larger installations, this can easily mean a difference of one borehole or more. This may not seem like a lot at first glance, but with each borehole being likely to add £4-5,000 to the cost of the total installation, it soon begins to make sense to invest in a geothermal survey.
Here is some more useful information about a Teckna Group ground survey:
- As a rule of thumb, installations of up to around 15kW Heat pump capacity can be estimated solely using the MCS tables.
- Installations of 15 to 30 kW should be dimensioned with the help of a geological survey.
- Installations of above 30 kW definitely require a geological survey and could well benefit from a TRT.
If you feel like a geothermal survey is the right next step for you, then the experts at Teckna Group will happily assist you. To get in touch with us today, give us a call on 01257 421700 or email us at enquiries@tecknagroup.co.uk. You can also fill out our online enquiry form with any detailed enquiries you may have.
How long does a geothermal survey take?
As part of the whole geothermal borehole installation process, the survey actually takes the longest. At Teckna Group, we of course look to perform our service as quickly and efficiently as possible, but if there is any oversight here then the rest of the project can fail.
This is why we pride ourselves in the depth of our surveys, ensuring that the process can move along smoothly but still giving your individual requirements the detail they require. Although we look to take a matter of days for the installation of your borehole drill, this is usually because the groundwork has already been put in place so a smooth installation can commence.
A geothermal survey usually takes around a week to complete, as we evaluate each aspect of the site, making sure it is safe to work on. Once it’s given the green light, installation can start.
How do I prepare for a geothermal survey?
When it comes to performing a geothermal survey on your site, there is actually very little preparation that needs to be done. It would be useful if you could clear the area that you intend to use of any debris or hard to move items, speeding the process up. But if you have forgotten or are unable to do so, not to worry, as our experts will go about making the area as clear as they can in order to perform the necessary checks and evaluations.
We use our experience and expertise in the field to do the hard work for you, meaning that you can sit back, absorb our work and ask any questions if you need to. We will get back to you as to whether the site you require is of the ideal conditions to install a borehole.
How important is a geothermal survey?
Geothermal ground surveys are arguably the most important part of the process when it comes to installing a borehole drill. Getting the foundations in place ensures that the rest of the process can go by without a hitch so that any disruptions aren’t discovered later down the line that can delay the project significantly or even abandon it all together.
This is why we perform a detailed process at the survey stage so that every variable can be checked at length ensuring that it is 100% safe and effective to install at your required site. With a thorough geothermal survey, your drill could encounter problems before it has even been installed, or damage could be done further down the line, resulting in costly repairs.
