Enhanced and Advanced Geothermal Systems (EGS and AGS) are new methods of creating geothermal installations that are starting to gain real traction – for example, projects in Nevada and Utah. Compared with conventional hydrothermal wells, they are technically challenging to drill and will need accurate well positioning and horizontal drilling. The drilling and measurement tools and techniques developed for the unconventional oil and gas boom in the US are ideal for this purpose – with one significant omission.

There is huge economic leverage from temperature in AGS and EGS, and wells will need to be drilled at temperatures which are much higher than the current capabilities of oil and gas drilling equipment. The industry needs a step change in its approach to these temperature capabilities.

This presentation will describe the drivers behind the need for higher temperature tools, including the potential for working with some mitigating technologies such as insulated pipe, and will outline a brand new approach to the temperature resistance of the electronics and sensors needed. It will describe how a combination of component selection, a completely reimagined approach to downhole electronics – looking nothing like the boards currently used in oil and gas – and multiple cooling strategies will allow measurement and control to be reliably implemented at higher temperatures, initially above 400F and ultimately as high as 572F. This will finally make reliable drilling at high temperature a reality.