XGS Energy reported it has operated its closed-loop geothermal system on a commercial scale for more than 3,000 hours, adding that the project demonstrates the technology’s potential for competitive economics.
The company said in its 30 September announcement that its recent test marks the first operation of a water-independent geothermal system under commercial conditions.
The demonstration was carried out at the Coso geothermal field in California’s Mojave Desert, owned by Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure and operated by Coso Operating Company.
“This milestone is a testament to the extraordinary dedication and talent of the XGS team and our partners,” Josh Prueher, CEO of XGS, said in the announcement. He added that the achievement supports the company’s plan for a 3-GW near-term commercial pipeline.
Flow testing demonstrated what the company described as record performance for a water-independent geothermal system, including a sustained temperature difference of more than 158°F (70°C) between injection and production. The company noted that geothermal power output is directly linked to the temperature differential between injected and produced fluid.
XGS said the project involved a workover of an idle well and the placement of its proprietary thermal reach enhancement (TRE) technology, which it reported was completed in less than 24 hours.
The Palo Alto, California-based company, previously told JPT that TRE is made of a highly-conductive material that is pumped downhole as a liquid slurry through perforations in the well casing to contact hot rocks.
XGS added that its production models were also verified during the test, with actual performance falling within 2% of predicted values.
XGS said the predictability and control of field performance distinguish its closed-loop approach from other geothermal projects, which it noted are subject to shifting reservoir conditions. “XGS’s ability to deliver a highly predictable geothermal system in any subsurface environment, paired with validated power production models, significantly de-risks our project development and financing,” said Axel-Pierre Bois, chief technology officer for XGS.
XGS said that with the formulation of the TRE material validated, its development efforts will shift to well design, drilling speed, and surface plant costs, with an emphasis on applying oil and gas best practices to reduce costs.
In June, XGS announced an agreement with Meta to provide 150 MW of geothermal energy to support the social media company’s data center operations in New Mexico.