New Geothermal Drilling In Aix-la-Chapelle

The Countdown Starts
Last minute preparations for deep hole drilling at RWTH Aachen

Technical University. We have finally made it: following a period of extensive preparatory activities surrounding the drilling site are in full swing. Between the main building and the university library the last preparations for the start of the „RWTH-1" geothermal drilling are being made. The drilling tool is being lowered to a depth of 2500 meters over a drilling period of three months. Using the earth's heat at that depth, the Functional Study Center of RWTH, („SuperC"), which is still in the planning phase will be heated and cooled. Drilling activities will continue round the clock in three shifts. This project is a EU-Demonstration Project supported by a Euro 3.4 million grant (We have reported this in the past on several occasions).

Early this week the Bachor company from Würselen near Aachen starts work by erecting the riser. By the middle of the week the Anger's Söhne company who carries out the drilling project commences with the erection of the drilling rig. The set-up is currently on its way from Switzerland to Aachen with on-site erection starting by the middle of next week according to current planning.

True to the very nature of this project exploiting regenerative energy, environmental principles are being maintained during all support measures. The top soil that has to be removed around the drilling site was donated to the newly founded Floriansdorf near Aachen. The recycled gravel to refill the surface stems from the demolition site of a residential settlement in Eschweiler near Aachen. Only those surfaces used for the storage of service equipment have been covered with asphalt - also as a protective measure to save the underground. Next, concrete was poured for the drilling basement and the foundations for the drill rig anchoring were set. The installation of water and electricity supplies were to follow. Immediately next to the drill hole a monitoring device was installed to check the quality of the ground water.

The Düren office of the Mining Authority has over the past few weeks conducted a series of acoustic measurements around the drill site. The data collected serve as a basis for comparative measurements to be made during actual drilling activities and serve the efforts of all participants to keep noise levels down to a minimum by following a systematic approach.

The SuperC Geotherm project organizers have constructed an information stand directly opposite the drill site to provide comprehensive information to the interested public. This station is open to visitors from Monday to Friday from 09:30 a.m. to 05:30 p.m. and on weekends from 11:00 a.m. to 04:00 p.m. During the past two weeks more than 1000 visitors have taken advantage of this opportunity. The current s state of affairs can be downloaded from the following address: http://www.superc.rwth-aachen.de.

The project group also offers an extensive sight-seeing program: a large number of school classes have taken advantage of this and enrolled for guided tours across the drilling site and to the information station. We are currently preparing a press conference for editorial offices on the occasion of the official opening of the drilling site. We will issue invitations to this event in the next few days. Furthermore, we are organizing a two-day conference for journalists to take place from SEP 07 to 08 / 2004, in which we will provide detailed background information to this drilling project such as its background, its aims and the framework to this project. You will receive an invitation on a separate occasion. We advise you to mark this event in your calendar.

Contacts: Projektgruppe SuperC Geotherm Wüllnerstrasse 2 D-52056 Aachen Telephone +49 / 241 / 80-99070 or -94948 Email: [email protected]