Geothermal Drilling for Green Energy

by Zackery Brett

Geothermal Heat Pumps (Ground-Source Heat Pumps) are electrically powered heating and cooling systems which transfer heat to and from the earth via a refrigeration process. Geothermal Heat Pumps have been in operation for over 40 years and operate on the same principle as your household refrigerator or air conditioner.
At depths below 30 feet (10 meters), ground temperature stays a constant 42 - 55 deg F. (6-12° C) year-round. During the winter season, a geothermal system absorbs the heat from the earth, amplifies it and transfers it into your home. During the summer, the system absorbs the heat from indoors and releases it back underground. On most models of Geothermal Heat Pumps domestic hot water is produced any time the heat pump operates.
Studies by the US Department of Energy and Natural Resources Canada ranked new generation geothermal heat pumps above all other heating and cooling systems in their ability to conserve energy and reduce CO2 emissions.
When compared to an electrically heated home, geothermal heat pumps consume less than 1/3 the amount of electrical energy to heat the structure, which is close to 66% reduction in energy consumption. Consequently the electric utility company generates only 1/3 the emissions it normally would.
Geothermal Heat pumps are available for both commercial and residential heating and cooling systems in a variety of output capacities, which can accommodate any building design.
What can a home or business owner expect from a Geothermal (Ground Source) Heat Pump?

• Savings : Compared to electric heat, a Geothermal Heat Pump (GHP) will provide saving of 66% or more on your heating costs, due to the energy conserved during the geothermal process.
• Comfort : The Geothermal heat pump is completely automatic in operation providing heating, cooling and hot water with a centrally located heat/cool thermostat.
• Cleanliness : There is no combustion in the home therefore the system is exceptionally clean.
• Durability : Geothermal heat pumps are have an excellent track record for long life and can be protected up to 10 year extended warranty.
• Reliability : A Geothermal system is housed indoors and underground, protected from harsh elements. With few moving parts the systems are virtually maintenance free.
• Green Energy : Heating and cooling a home with a renewable energy resource is one more step towards minimizing the negative environmental impact.

Most geothermal systems require vertical drilling, unless the location and the design permit for horizontal (trench) installation. The soil properties and the thermal performance of rocks vary widely and the size of the geothermal system and the ground conditions at the installation site will dictate how much drilling or trenching will be required. These variations indicate the importance of an accurate estimate before any geothermal loop design can be finalized.

The drilling equipment used can play an enormous role in the final price tag of the entire geothermal system. An experienced drilling contractor, with the right drilling rig can execute all the necessary drilling and piping within a few hours, but even the most experienced driller with inferior drilling equipment will require days to complete the same project, increasing the costs exponentially. We have been manufacturing drilling equipments since 1988 with 270 units in operation around the world. We conceive, design and manufacture our own drilling equipment, constantly setting a performance standard within the drilling industry. Our main objective is to satisfy our customers' needs in drilling performance, safely, reliability and cost reduction. We achieve this by custom engineering our rigs specifically as the geothermal drill units.

The GT/GWT Series geothermal drilling rigs, versatile, safe and reliable are proving to be ideally suited for the ever-growing demands of the rapidly emerging ground source heat pump (GSHP) geothermal industry.
The powerful single or double rotary head and the machine's 35,000 lb (15,000 kg) pullback strength mean that the GT/GWT series geothermal drilling rigs can drill very rapidly up to 1200 ft (400m) to enable the quick installation of the geothermal systems' closed GSHP loop. Also, the GT/GWT series rigs, being considerably smaller than a typical drilling unit, are ideal for accessing difficult terrains and constricted space sites.
Geothermal Energy - Saving the environment, while saving you money.