Geothermal Resource Exploration, Assessment and Development
Sunrise Engineering, Inc. offers a full range of geothermal exploration and planning services from initial site studies through feasibility and design. Our geothermal technologies include the use of the Sunrise Matrix Evaluation for Geothermal Assessment (MEGA) process, a cost and time effective process to identify geothermal resources. It is a method that systematically evaluates data and compares prospective exploration projects with existing producing sites. The following is a list of services we offer:
Reconnaissance & Due DiligenceBack to Top
- Data collection, review, compilation and analysis
- Geological reconnaissance
- Hydrogeologic evaluation
- Shallow temperature hole drilling
- Gradient well drilling
- Soil and water sampling for laboratory analysis
- Chemical data management, quality control and interpretation
- Water chemistry analysis
- Geophysical surveys
Develops discrete geothermal prospects over large areas by:
- Data collection, review and compilation
- Geological reconnaissance
- Shallow temperature hole drilling
- Soil and water sampling and laboratory analysis
- Geophysical surveys
- Exploratory well studies and drilling
- Resource development
Exploratory Well Drilling
Once geothermal resource prospects are identified, exploratory wells (and/or slim holes) will need to be drilled to verify and collect more data about the resources:
- Land Lease Nomination (if public land is involved)
- Well Site Selection
- Drill Pad and Access Road Design
- Development of Operations Plan for Drilling
- Well (Slim Hole) Design
- Drilling Program Preparation
- Contractor and Subcontractor Selection
- Permitting and Environmental Clearance
- Budget Control and Monitoring
- Drilling Supervision
- Design and Supervision of Well Testing
- Fluid Sampling for Laboratory Analysis
- Well Completion and Site Clean-up
Once more data are obtained from deep exploratory well drilling, a feasibility study is performed to determine how to develop a geothermal site. Depending on the temperature and volume of available resources, a site can be used for power generation, direct use (building heating, hot springs, fish farm or crab farm, etc.) or abandonment.
- Geothermal reservoir engineering
- Reservoir volume estimation
- Numerical modeling of heat and solute transport
- Water right assessment and application
- Cost estimate and economic analysis
- Selection of resource development option
- Modeling of generating capacity
- Hydrogeology studies to determine flow expectations
- Low/High temperature power plant evaluation
- Site conditions, geotechnical studies
- "Plan of Operation" development
- Environmental concerns, environmental studies
- Cooling reservoir and dam evaluation
- Injection well studies
- Preliminary design and layout
- Funding scenario
- Cash flow projection
Funding and Financing Assistance Back to Top
- Locate Private and Public Sources of Project Funding
- Assistance in negotiating with power providers for contracted power purchase
- Prepare technical section of Official Statement for Bonding
Development and Design Back to Top
To produce a construction-ready set of geothermal design plans and specifications to successfully construct the geothermal field and power plant:
- Interaction, and compliance with agency review comments (BLM, Forest Service, etc.)
- Cooling water reservoir/dam
- Substation and electrical transmission
- SCADA and controls
- Power plant and site
- Utilization planning
- Permitting and environmental clearance
- Optimization of production and injection well locations
- Power generating estimates
- Design of civil work
- Geotechnical studies
- Substation and electric transmission
- Design of cooling water facilities
- Cash flow projection
- Develop comprehensive design plan set
- Develop thorough specifications package
- Prepare full bid package and facilitate contractor bid process
Construction Administration Back to Top
Field supervision and testing to ensure the design is carried out in the construction phase.
- Administration of bidding and negotiation of contractors and suppliers including evaluation of bidders and contract negotiations
- Review and approval of contractors' and supplier's submittals
- Construction observation and construction quality control enforcement
- Review of contractor's and supplier's work and approval of quality control plans
- Factory inspection
- Witness of turbine tests
- Supervision of onsite start-up, testing and commissioning
- Onsite inspection of entire facility including impoundment, diversion, powerhouse, mechanical equipment and electrical
- Management of construction process
- Preparation of operation and maintenance manuals
- Contract record drawings
- Warrantee oversight
- Not just good intentions, we provide training that is adequately structured focused on system operations.
- Typical subjects covered are:
- Monitoring of control systems
- Operations
- Maintenance
- Troubleshooting
- Data evaluation
- Our courses are tailored to provide your personnel with the knowledge to operate and maintain your specific installation
