The contract includes drilling of the two geothermal wells that are located in in Bergschenhoek, the Netherlands. The wells will be drilled directionally to planned depths of about 2,500 meters and 2,800 meters.
The geothermal wells will be drilled using Huisman’s LOC 400 drilling rig, which is claimed to be a fully containerised modular rig fitted with an automated pipe-handler and rig floor. This will be sixth project for LOC 400 in Europe, including three geothermal energy projects.
Huisman claims that the LOC 400, which is designed in house and constructed, is an efficient, safe and environmentally friendly alternative to conventional drilling rigs. No personnel are required on the rig floor for both casing while drilling and conventional drilling, according to the company.
The rig also allows controlling of pipe handling and connection making from the driller’s cabin. The pipe handler can manage pipes without the risk of causing damage to the thread and it can allow protectors to be removed. Besides, it enables the pipe to be doped while being on a horizontal pipe rack, 1.5m above the ground.
As per Huisman, LOC 400’s top drive, stabbing arm and power tong allow for easy, safe and reliable connections. Apart from this, the drilling machine is said to have a small foot print and is easy to transport.
This is not the first time that Huisman has ventured into geothermal market. Previously, it worked on a project in the city of The Hague in the Netherlands. For the project, Huisman used the LOC 400 to drill two wells to depths of nearly 2400 meters and 2700 meters.
Image: Huisman to drill two geothermal wells in the Netherlands. Photo: Courtesy of Huisman Equipment B.V.
